Fishing Report

Few anglers have been out, but some walleye were caught in 19 feet of water from Brest Bay, and in shallow waters off Luna Pier. Fair catches were reported between Turtle Island and the Toledo Lighthouse when using jigs and crawler harnesses. Strong wind and wave action has caused cloudy water conditions. Good numbers of white bass have been caught.

Boat anglers have caught and landed chinook salmon in the 3 to 10 pound range when trolling in waters 10 to 40 feet deep. Coho, lake trout and splake have also been caught. Shore fishing was slow.

Excellent walleye fishing along the entire lower river. Boat anglers are jigging minnows or trolling Rapalas. Shore anglers are jigging off the Hattie Street Bridge or casting near the First Dam. Pier anglers have caught walleye in the late evening.

Anglers have been catching chinook and coho over the past week however; both boat and pier fishing remain slow.

Fishing has been a bit slow. Those targeting northern pike reported fair fishing on the east end by the canal. Try still-fishing with sucker minnows under a slip bobber. Some had success when trolling with plugs in Big Cove, which is located off Hemlock Campground.

Northern pike have been caught southeast of Kenwood Park. Rapalas have been the ticket, and chartreuse has been the hot color. Bass fishing has been good, especially in the canal between the lakes.

Yellow perch were caught on the west end of the lake. Good numbers of northern pike have been caught, but the fish are running small. Largemouth bass are hitting on spinners.

A few walleye have been caught on crawler harnesses, crank baits or plugs in waters 10 to 25 feet deep. Yellow perch are in deeper waters 50 to 70 feet deep near East Jordan, Dutchman?s Bay and just outside the harbor.

On the East Bay, anglers continue to catch a few whitefish off the Hump near Elk Rapids. White Swedish Pimples and sand digger jigs were required to fish the deeper waters as the fish remain 230 to 240 feet deep. Whitefish along with a good number of lake trout were taken off Deepwater Point in 130 feet of water. The West Bay is producing good numbers of lake trout when jigging spoons near the Brush Grounds. Whitefish can be found off Bingham Road in 200 feet of water.

Boat anglers have caught chinook salmon when trolling with downriggers. Chrome red headed J-Plugs and large spoons in green or blue have worked best. Slow brown trout fishing.

Boat anglers caught chinook salmon in 150 to 200 feet of water off Point Betsie and near the Herring Hole. Pier anglers have caught light numbers of chinook, lake trout, brown trout and northern pike when fishing off the South Pier.

Boats trolling to the north are picking up chinook and lake trout in 125 to 175 feet of water. Blue, green, and silver body baits or spoons seem to work best.

Fishing has been slow. Boat anglers caught a few brown trout in the harbor. Chinook have been caught both south of the harbor and north towards Big Sable Point. Trolling dark colored spoons worked best. Pier anglers have not caught any trout or salmon, but a few walleye were taken at night.

Boat anglers are taking good numbers of chinook salmon when trolling in waters 30 to 150 feet deep right in front of the harbor. Some are jigging for walleye off the short pier next to the Coast Guard Station. No perch to report.

Pier fishing has slowed, but anglers are still able to take alewife in cast nets to use for bait. Most of the fish caught have been chinook salmon, and only one walleye recorded. Boat anglers are taking good numbers of chinook when trolling blue or green spoons in waters 40 to 140 feet deep. Coho and steelhead have also been caught. No word on perch.

Boat anglers are catching chinook and lake trout when fishing 70 to 100 feet down in waters 100 to 140 feet deep. Coho and steelhead can be found 20 to 50 feet down. Green, blue or chartreuse spoons were hot. Some are using green and white flies and silver dodgers. Pier anglers are fishing live bait on the bottom, but catch rates were slow.

Crappie are starting to school up and are hitting on minnows in 4 to 6 feet of water. Fair walleye fishing was reported near the rivers and canals. Try fishing waters 6 to 8 feet deep in the early morning or late evening. Good northern pike fishing, but the fish are running small.

Lake trout have been caught when trolling live bait and cowbells in 100 to 120 feet of water on the northeast side of Treasure Island. A couple of nice 20 pound fish have been caught. When not on the water, anglers are still seeking and taking good numbers of mushrooms.

Boat anglers have caught a few walleye when trolling around Buoys 4 and 6. Chinook and brown trout were caught around Buoys 1 and 2. Pier anglers have taken a few walleye, brown trout and small perch.

Pier fishing has been slow. Those targeting walleye are drifting a worm under a bobber. A few suckers were caught, and steelhead fishing has tapered off. Boat anglers have caught a few lake trout just outside the piers.

Anglers are catching lake trout on spoons in 40 to 70 feet of water. Some are targeting walleye near shore, but not many fish have been caught.

A few more boats are starting to catch lake trout. Catch rates are still a bit slow, but some nice fish averaging 4 to 8 pounds have been caught when trolling off North Point. Slow walleye fishing.

Boat anglers are starting to target lake trout near Middle Island. Those fishing the bay are targeting brown trout. Those willing to put in the effort have caught fish. Most are trolling in somewhat shallow waters with silver spoons.

Boat anglers reported fair catches of whitefish in the 6 to 7 pound range when trolling in waters less than 20 feet deep from the harbor up to North Bay. Most are using planer boards and body baits in the colors chartreuse and silver, blue and silver, fire tiger, black and gold or rainbow. Run the boards at least 50 feet out to the side of the boat, and put the lines 65 to 70 feet back. Downriggers with cowbells or attractors just hitting the bottom have caught lake trout.

Surface water temperatures are still in the low to mid 40s, and the shallow waters are in the upper 40s. Lake trout and splake season is now open and the minimum size limit is 22 inches. Boat anglers have caught lake trout, atlantic salmon and steelhead when trolling south along the shoreline towards Calcite Harbor, Swan Bay and Adams Point. The key is to use planer boards with Rapalas, bombers and body baits. Run the lines off the boards about 65 to 70 feet back. Hot colors have been chartreuse and silver, blue and silver, perch, black and gold, fire tiger, and rainbow. Those using downriggers, are also using silver attractors or cowbells. A few lake trout have been caught in the shallow waters around Seagull Point.