Fishing Report

Walleye fishing has slowed down. Anglers are catching them in waters 25 feet deep off the Fermi Power Plant and in 15 to 20 feet of water off Stony Point. Another good area has been near the Banana Dike and around the Detroit River shipping channel. Crawler harnesses in purple or gold with bottom bouncers have produced the best catches. Try drifting on rough days and troll on calm days for the best action. Plenty of white bass are being caught in front of the Metro Park and are hitting on anything with a worm. No reports of perch as most anglers are targeting walleye.

Walleye fishing in the central basin has been good. Fish have been caught 3 miles offshore from Vermilion to Lorain, 5 miles N of Cleveland in 42’ to 48’ of water, 6 miles N of the Wildwood State Park in 60 to 64' of water, 2 to 4 miles NE of Fairport Harbor in 45 to 65’ of water, and 2 to 4 miles NW of Geneva in 50 to 65’ of water. Fish have been caught on worm harnesses or bloody nose, watermelon, killer bee and copper back spoons trolled with dipsy or jet divers. Fish are suspended and anglers are fishing down 20 to 40'. Yellow perch fishing has been excellent less than 1 mile out of Lorain, 2 miles N of Willowick in 38' feet of water, 2 miles N of Bratenal in 32-35', 2 miles NE of Ashtabula in 24-36’ of water, 2 miles N of Conneaut in 36-42’ of water. Fish have ranged from 7 to 11 inches. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish. Shore anglers are catching yellow perch at Mentor Headlands pier and Fairport Harbor pier. Anglers are using spreaders with shiners. Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent from Fairport Harbor to Perry in 10 to 24’ of water. Fish have been caught on tube jigs, jigs tipped with minnows or leeches, or by trolling crankbaits. White bass fishing has been good 1/2 mile N of Eastlake CEI power plant. Anglers are using agitators with white jigs. Shore anglers are catching white bass at the Eastlake CEI pier using agitators with white/yellow twistertails and small spoons.

Walleye fishing continues to be excellent with many limits being caught. Fishing has been best N of West Sister to the Canadian border near Middle Sister, 2 to 4 miles N of “B†can of the Camp Perry firing range, and along the Canadian border W of North Bass. Drifters are using mayfly rigs or worm harnesses with bottom bouncers, while trollers are using worm harnesses with inline weights or bottom bouncers and jet or dipsy divers with spoons. The best yellow perch fishing in the western basin has been around Ballast Island and E of Kelleys Island. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Boat anglers continue to catch both chinook and atlantic salmon from the Shipping Channel to the #3 Green Can and around the Lighthouse. Spoons in color combinations green and white or green and blue seem to catch fish.

Salmon fishing over the past week has been slow. Lake trout in the 2 to 5 pound range were caught in 150 to 200 feet of water. Several sub-legal splake have also been caught as the large ones have been hard to come by. Whitefish action was slow.

Lake trout fishing has slowed a bit for boaters heading out of both the Upper and Lower Harbors. There were reports of strong currents which can make deep water lake trout fishing difficult. Most of the boats are heading north off Presque Isle Point and trolling spoons or cut bait in waters 140 to 200 feet deep.

Yellow perch have been caught in the marina at Menominee. Fair walleye fishing was reported along the entire lower river when fishing in the evening. Smallmouth bass, freshwater drum and northern pike were also caught.

Anglers are still picking up salmon and lake trout in the 50 to 70 feet of water between Sand Point and Carla's Cafe on U.S. 41, and between the L'Anse Marina and Township Park. Some nice catches of northern pike and yellow perch were taken in the marina at Baraga. The perch were hitting on worms and the pike on minnows and crank baits. In Traverse Bay, lake trout were taken in 130 to 150 feet of water.

On the East Bay, boat anglers have been catching a good number of lake trout along the South Bank in 70 feet of water using spoons and cowbells. A few chinook salmon have also been caught in shallow waters 15 to 30 feet deep. Good whitefish action this past week south of Elk Rapids in 40 to 50 feet of water. Smallmouth bass were caught in shallow waters along Deepwater Point. On the West Bay, boat anglers continued to catch a fair number of lake trout along the Brush Grounds and the White Walls in 70 to 110 feet of water. Whitefish were taken on spawn and wigglers in 40 to 70 feet of water near the mouth of the Boardman River.

Pier fishing has been slow, but a few chinook were caught off the very end of the pier when using alewife. Trolling was best to the north near Point Betsie and straight out in front of the piers, though the fish seem scattered. Try trolling in 150 to 350 feet of water with spoons in the colors green, blue, red or purple.

Pier fishing from the blue rail back into Portage Lake has been good for rock bass and largemouth bass. Trolling for trout and salmon has paid off for a few boats near the Barrel or straight out from the piers. Good catches of chinook and lake trout have come on green, blue, or glow spoons in waters 135 to 250 feet deep. Look for the temperature breaks.

Fishing was a bit slow with only light numbers of chinook, lake trout and steelhead taken off the Shelf. Those fishing in the harbor and off the piers had no luck because of all the bait fish in the area.

Recent south/southwest winds have pushed warmer waters into the area, and the fish are starting to move in closer. Boat anglers are fishing both south and north to the point in waters 150 feet deep and catching lake trout and steelhead. A few smaller chinook salmon have also been caught, but not many. Pier anglers had no luck.

Due to the weather very few anglers have been out. Salmon have been taken south of the breakwall while fishing 17 to 80 feet down at dawn. During the day the fish can be found in 100 to 130 feet of water fishing 70 to 100 feet down, trolling with herring rigs behind a flasher fly. The best flies are blues and orange, and the best spoons are blue dolphins and glow spins with accents of orange.

Pier fishing is still somewhat slow. Anglers are catching a few steelhead using cooked shrimp. Freshwater drum are also being caught. Boat anglers are taking a few steelhead and salmon in the top 50 feet of water in waters 50 to 80 feet deep on downriggers. The best colors are orange, yellow or green.

Overall fishing is slow from the Berrien Springs Dam to Jasper Dairy Boat Launch. Steelhead anglers can find a few fish downstream of the dam. Try targeting the creek mouths. Catfish anglers are fishing through the night using live or cut bait.

Overall fishing is slow from the Berrien Springs Dam to Jasper Dairy Boat Launch. Steelhead anglers can find a few fish downstream of the dam. Try targeting the creek mouths. Catfish anglers are fishing through the night using live or cut bait.

Fishing for summer run rainbow trout remains hot off the piers and in the mud lines of the river. Favorite baits are live alewives or shrimp.

Salmon fishing has been good up around Forty Mile Point with most boats bringing in fish averaging 5 to 10 pounds. Steelhead and lake trout have also been caught. Downriggers have been set 25 to 50 feet down in waters 55 to 120 feet deep. Dipsey divers set 25 to 45 feet down have also caught fish. Good lure colors have been yellow, blue, green and white. Cut bait and flashers have also been successful.

Trout and salmon anglers have been fishing straight out of the harbor or between the Lighthouses. Try 40 to 60 feet down in waters 60 to 90 feet deep. Green has been the hot color, followed by blue, black, purple and white. Look for the thermocline and any structure as the chinook like the colder water. Try fishing the shallow waters in the early mornings or late into the evening, as that is where the bait fish are.

Anglers fishing up towards Stoneport have caught chinook salmon averaging 7 pounds when trolling 33 to 37 feet down in waters 50 feet deep.

Boat anglers have caught trout and salmon in 130 to 185 feet of water northeast of the Nordmere Wreck. Chinook, lake trout and pink salmon have been caught when trolling spoons. Most of the boats going out continue to target walleye, especially at night. The fish are averaging 4 pounds and 17 to 24 inches long. Trolling along the end of Sulfur Island or inside Grass Island might be your best bet for catching the large walleye. Freshwater drum have been caught on crawlers off the end of the pier.

Lake trout fishing has been fair in waters 110 to 150 feet deep.

Anglers are having fair success for walleye in the morning hours using night crawlers. Boat anglers reported fair catches of lake trout in waters 100 to 140 feet deep.

Lake trout are out in 110 feet of water. A few salmon have been caught off Tawas Point. Walleye are being taken in the bay.