Fishing Report

Cooler temperatures have slowed the bite, but steelhead were taken up by the State Street Dam when drifting spawn, wigglers or wax worms. Suckers have also been caught.

Fishing has been slow however some steelhead have been caught up near the dam in the early morning or late evening. Perch fishing was also slow.

Those fishing the East Bay have caught lake trout off the Bluffs when trolling spoons or vertical jigging. Steelhead are hitting on spawn bags near the mouth of Mitchell Creek. Whitefish action was slow, but fish have been caught. On the West Bay, steelhead were caught near the mouth of the Boardman River.

Pier anglers have caught steelhead and brown trout on spawn.

While good numbers of steelhead remain up near the dam, some have dropped back and can be found on the gravel.

Higher water levels have made it possible for some steelhead to make it up this far. A couple fish were caught on crawlers over at Moore's Park. Anglers are looking for crappie, but the bite is not there yet.

Water levels are running high and fast. Try using long leaders and large choker bags until the water levels come down. Steelhead can still be found up near the Sixth Street Dam. The sucker run is going strong and some crappies were caught near Riverside Park.

Steelhead can be found up near the Allegan Dam. Catch rates will increase when it warms back up. Suckers are also in the river.

Fishing has been slow with only a couple brown trout caught when using spawn off the south pier.

Fishing for steelhead and suckers has only been fair. The better catches have come up near the dam at Berrien Springs.

Fishing has been hit or miss as water temperatures have been 35 to 37 degrees. Boats trolling in shallow waters have caught a few coho. Steelhead and brown trout were taken off the pier when using spawn.

Those trolling with rapalas off the mouth of the river and up by Whitestone Point are taking some walleye.

Boats trolling rapalas off the mouth of the Tawas River are getting a few walleye, brown trout and steelhead. Off the pier; a few perch were taken along the inside and some steelhead on the outside.

Anglers in drift boats have caught steelhead when casting spoons and plugs.

Pier anglers are catching steelhead on spawn and wax worms. Some are casting glow-in-the-dark Cleo's. Those fishing the waters of Lake Huron have caught walleye off the piers when casting rapalas.

Steelhead have been caught at the Ninth Street Dam.

With lots of rain, the local streams and rivers are high and the waters are muddy. Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 30's. A dock is in at the marina at Rogers City. Boat anglers had limited success when fishing shallow waters 5 to 20 feet deep near Calcite and Swan Bay. Most are using planer boards with a variety of spoons and bodybaits. Colors have been blue and silver, chartreuse and silver, orange and gold or firetiger. Pier anglers caught a few brown trout when casting a variety of spoons and rapalas in the same colors. The brown colored water is the warmest water right now, and that is where anglers will want to fish. Brighter colors usually work best.

Some brown trout and rainbow trout have been seen in the harbor, but they are not biting yet.

Boat anglers have taken a few perch off Pine River and Palmer Road when fishing around the commercial nets. Most feel the perch have not started spawning yet as many of the fish caught have been small. A few perch were taken in Hoyle's Marina. Those trolling or vertical jigging off the mouth of the Kawkawlin River and the Saginaw River have caught some walleye.

Walleye fishing has been very good in the lower river even though water levels are running high and muddy. Some nice 11 to 13 pound fish were caught in the lower Trenton Channel when using a 5/8 to 3/4 ounce jig. Two-tone greens and blue have been good colors. Some are handlining rapalas or jigging with minnows. Perch can still be found east of Sugar Island in Canadian waters. Look for big northern pike in the backwaters.

Steelhead have been caught up near the dam at Flat Rock. They are using spawn, spinners and gold crankbaits.

Walleye fishing in the western basin is slowly picking up. Jigging on the Camp Perry reefs and trolling the open water east of the reefs has produced decent catches. As the water warms expect jig fishing to keep improving on most of the Camp Perry reefs and in nearshore areas all the way from Maumee Bay to Cedar Point. Larger female walleye can be caught by trolling minnow imitating stickbaits in the open water around the reefs and islands. Surface temperatures currently range from 39 to 49 degrees.

The river is very high but fishable on the east side behind the hotels. A few brown trout and steelhead are being taken on egg sacks, night crawlers, pink worms and bucktail jigs tipped with a night crawler, grub or minnow.

There are fair numbers of steelhead in the river but the water is high and fast. Steelhead are holding throughout the river but most anglers are fishing the upper reaches where the flows are least difficult to manage. Try fishing the inside seams and softer water along the edges. Bottom bouncing nymphs or egg sacks and float fishing with egg sacks or pink worms have been the most productive methods of catching steelhead. Suggested patterns include glo-bugs, sucker spawn, estaz eggs, woolly buggers and black or brown stoneflies.

Flows at the pump-house are currently running at 1,100cfs through midnight tonight. Snow-melt runoff is adding significant flow to the river and should continue to do so for at least the next week. High flows make for difficult fishing in most of the river so concentrate your efforts in the upper end around Altmar and fish the inside seams and softer water along the edges. Fishing with egg sacs and egg imitations is recommended.