Fishing Report

Boat anglers are trolling along the drop-off in 20 to 60 feet of water for brown trout and rainbow trout. Lake trout can be found in 100 to 110 feet of water.

Good yellow perch fishing has been reported at the mouth of the Pine River and Au Gres River. Walleye are being caught in 10 to 20 feet of water off the mouth of the Au Gres River and Point Lookout. At Au Gres, smelt fishing is good near Point Lookout.

Steelhead continue to be caught on spawn or flies.

Boat anglers have caught walleye while trolling in 10 to 20 feet of water using rapalas. Pier fishing has been slow with only a few walleye, whitefish and small perch being caught.

Good numbers of steelhead are being caught throughout the entire river system using spawn or wax worms. The area from Oscoda up to the mouth of the Foote Dam is reporting that the Hendrickson hatch is just getting started.

The floodgates are almost all the way open and the Ninth Street Dam is busy with anglers. Most are drift fishing from shore for steelhead using flies and spawn. Although more fish can be seen jumping, few were caught. There are a good number of white suckers in the river. Anglers are reminded that walleye must be released immediately as the season does not open until April 29th.

Plenty of brown trout and walleye are being caught off the pier heads while casting spoons.

Boat anglers are looking for brown trout when trolling in Thunder Bay. Try fishing in the warm water discharge behind the cement plant.

The docks are in and the bathrooms are open. Those trolling for brown trout just north of the launch have done well, weather permitting. Fishing off the shelf has been more productive than the shallow waters. Bait fish can be seen around the docks, and water temperatures are a chilly 40 to 42 degrees

Fishing has been slow because of the cold water temperatures. Temperatures have ranged from 36 to 38 degrees. Brown trout catches have been good to fair. Boat anglers are fishing south of the harbor in Swan Bay and having limited success. Try trolling planer boards and body baits, with the lines out 50 to 75 feet and the boards off to the side at least 80 feet. Some good lures to use have been rapalas in black and gold, orange or chartreuse. Boat anglers have been casting in the bay using Cleo’s or spoons in colors of silver, blue and silver, chartreuse and silver, and green and silver. Shore anglers are casting spoons in Calcite Harbor.

Near the inner bay, a few walleye were caught outside the Hot Ponds on crawler harnesses. Channel catfish are being caught inside the Hot Ponds on worms. Near Quanicassee, a few channel catfish and small perch were caught. At Sebewaing, some small perch, rock bass and bluegill were caught around the docks. Near Bayport, some perch and a few crappie have been caught around the docks at the Bayshore Marina. At Caseville, some nice perch and an occasional whitefish have been caught off the break wall and boardwalk.

Salmon fishing has been good. Boat anglers are fishing between Lexington and Port Sanilac in 10 to 15 feet of water while trolling body baits with planer boards.

Very good walleye fishing was reported near Fighting Island when jigging rubber worms or hand lining in 10 to 25 feet of water. Good to excellent walleye fishing was reported from Peche Island all the way down to Grosse Isle. Limit catches were reported and good fishing should last another month or so. Good numbers of perch are being caught near Sugar Island using minnows in 8 to 9 feet of water.

Has good walleye fishing around Algonac. Most of the fish are running 15 to 17 inches long which are good eating size. Boat anglers are catching plenty of walleye near the mouth of the Black River. Try vertical jigging a jig head tipped with a minnow in water 20 to 25 feet deep. Near Port Huron, shore anglers are catching fair numbers of smelt.

Steelhead fishing continues to be good. Drifting flies in various colors has worked best. Sucker fishing has picked up and anglers are having the best catches using jigs or twisters.

Anglers have caught some walleye, but catch rates are still slow. Boat anglers are fishing near the Dumping Grounds south of Bolles Harbor or between the Toledo Lighthouse and Turtle Island. Most are jigging with various lures such as a jig head with a live minnow or small spoons. Some are drifting or slow trolling with crawler harnesses.

Anglers are fishing in the shallow waters of Lake Superior for coho and brown trout. Boat anglers are trolling with crank baits and small spoons or using jigs in bright colors in waters 6 to 30 feet deep. There have also been rumors of some whitefish being taken near the Ore Dock. Those fishing the Lower Harbor had limited success with only a few coho and splake taken.

Excellent walleye catches are taking place along the entire lower river and a good number of boat and shore anglers are present. Boat anglers are jigging minnows while the shore anglers are casting Rapalas. The occasional brown trout and steelhead have been caught between the Hattie Street Bridge and the First Dam when drifting spawn.

A few coho were caught off Sand Point. Boats are starting to troll in Traverse Bay just out from the Traverse Marina, but the fishing was slow. Pier anglers are also starting to fish. No smelt activity to report.

Reported some success catching steelhead and brown trout when using spawn bags off the piers. Most fish have been caught within an hour of sunrise.

Fishing has been slow. A few browns were taken off the south pier on spawn, but no steelhead were caught. Boat anglers have not had much luck, only catching a few brown trout. Try to find water temperatures above 45 degrees. All the docks at the Loomis Launch site have been put in, and the dredging is done.

Slow fishing recently, with only a few brown trout and steelhead taken off the south pier. Boat anglers took a few brown trout when trolling in the harbor or heading south to warmer waters. The docks at the First Street launch site are in.

Pier fishing has been good, especially for brown trout when using spawn bags. Those trolling near the piers in the morning have also done well using body baits. Steelhead fishing was slow, but a few were caught off the piers.

On the East Bay, steelhead were caught on spawn bags near the mouth of Mitchell Creek. Near Elk Rapids, try floating wigglers and wax worms under a bobber for steelhead. Limits of whitefish were caught when jigging spoons in 230 to 240 feet of water near the “Hump†just west of Elk Rapids. On the West Bay, steelhead were caught near the mouth of the river at first light. A good number of whitefish have been caught off Bingham Road and just south of Lee’s Point in 240 feet of water. Most of the fish caught were taken when jigging spoons between sunrise and 10:00am. In Suttons Bay, some nice yellow perch have been caught in limited numbers on minnows and wigglers in 70 to 80 feet of water.

Fair to good success when fishing for steelhead and brown trout off the pier. The better catches have come within an hour of sunrise when using spawn.