Northeast Lower Peninsula
Cheboygan: Anglers targeting salmon in Lake Huron trolled along the northeast and southeast points of Bois Blanc Island. Salmon anglers primarily used various combinations of flashers or dodgers with spoons or flies. Meat rigs had higher success rates. In the Cheboygan River, anglers caught walleye, freshwater drum, bass, and panfish. Shore anglers targeting walleye used drop-shot rigs with worms or jigged soft plastics. Worms were used to catch drum, bass, and panfish, while spinnerbaits were also successful for bass fishing. Productive areas for targeting these species included the area beside the pedestrian walkway bridge by the baseball fields, the State Street drawbridge near the Cheboygan DNR field office, and along the parking lot by the Plaunt’s Transportation ferry.
Tawas/Au Gres: In Tawas, bad weather at the beginning of the week kept people away. However, once conditions improved, fishing picked up, with limits caught in about 60 to 80 feet of water using artificial baits. Yellow perch, catfish, and freshwater drum were also caught while trolling for walleye. Walleye fishing remained relatively slow due to very hot weather and rough waves. In Au Gres, those who went fishing had some luck, averaging about four fish per boat, with some anglers getting close to their limits. In addition to walleye, anglers caught freshwater drum, catfish, a few yellow perch, a white perch, and a steelhead.
Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers targeting lake trout picked up fish in 150+ feet of water and around the second set of humps. Spin-N-Glos, flasher flies, and spoons were effective while targeting the bottom 50 feet of the water column. A handful of coho salmon and steelhead were caught in 100 to 170 feet, with most being taken on spoons trolled higher in the water column. Anglers fishing from the catwalk or pier caught smallmouth bass, freshwater drum, and the occasional channel catfish. Cut bait or crawlers on the bottom were effective for catfish, while leeches on a drop shot rig were popular for smallmouth.
Harrisville: Lake trout were being caught in 150 to 220 feet of water, with limits being taken. Green Spin-N-Glos and spoons were productive while targeting the bottom 30 feet. A few Coho and Steelhead were caught in 120 to 150 feet while trolling orange or bright spoons 20 to 60 feet down. Occasionally, walleye were caught while targeting salmon and trout.
Rogers City: There was a lot of wind last week, which frequently changed the water temperatures. Anglers paid close attention to wind directions that brought in cooler water and took advantage of those conditions while the cold water was present. The fish bite improved when that occurred. Salmon began coming in on a regular basis. The evening bite was much better than the morning bite. Anglers caught salmon to the south, near Swan Bay and Adam’s Point, and reeled in a few near Forty Mile Point. The best depths were between 65 and 120 feet of water, with lines running throughout the water column producing the best results. Spoons, flasher-flies, and meat rigs all caught fish. Productive colors included green, blue, orange, white, and black, with glow patterns working well early and late in the day. It was a late salmon bite overall.
Presque Isle: The water was warm, and the thermocline dropped deeper. Lake trout were hitting in water 120 feet and deeper, with anglers fishing near the bottom. Walleye were taken in 30 to 60 feet of water using crankbaits. Anglers ran lines throughout the water column, with the most productive depths ranging from 80 to over 150 feet. Most anglers fished between the lighthouses, Black Point, the farm, and the humps. Spoons, flashers, and flies were the primary baits used. Productive colors included green, blue, orange, white, and glow patterns early and late in the day.
West Grand Traverse Bay: Anglers targeting smallmouth bass reported the bite as tough the past week. A few bass were caught by anglers fishing near structure in 20 to 30 feet of water while casting swim baits or tube jigs. Those targeting Chinook salmon found success in the early morning while trolling in 100 to 140 feet of water. Most fish were suspended at roughly 60 to 70 feet. Lake trout and occasional steelhead were caught in front of the whitewalls while trolling in 100 to 130 feet of water. Water temperatures hovered between 74 and 78 degrees throughout the bay.
East Grand Traverse Bay: Smallmouth bass were caught by those casting tube jigs or drop shot rigs in 10 to 25 feet of water. Finding shallow breaks with larger boulders provided anglers with the best success. Those targeting lake trout in Elk Rapids had success while trolling in 90 to 120 feet of water. Anglers reported Chinook salmon being caught suspended at roughly 50 feet in the northern areas of the bay. Smallmouth bass were caught in the Elk River, but anglers reported the bite to be slowing down as water temperatures increased. Temperatures throughout the bay ranged between 73 and 76 degrees.
Port Austin: Walleye fishing was decent, although there were few limits; catches of five to eight fish per boat were common. Anglers found walleye while fishing Osceloa Reef in 30 feet of water, Flat Rock Reef in 35 feet, and east of the lighthouse in 40 feet. Both nightcrawler harnesses and body baits produced fish, with a slight edge going to the nightcrawler harnesses.
Grindstone: Walleye fishing was slow, with a few being caught straight out in 30 to 40 feet of water.
Harbor Beach: Some walleye had just started to be caught straight out in 35 feet of water while trolling with body baits. Smallmouth bass were also caught in decent numbers in the harbor by casting various artificial baits.
Port Sanilac: Anglers reported steelhead being caught, along with some incidental walleye, trolling in 90 to 140 feet of water.
Lexington: Slow fishing overall; some anglers reported walleye early in the week but but fishing became slow over the weekend.
Alpena: Tournament fishing for the festival brought in many walleye from Thunder Bay. Lake trout numbers were low, although it appeared most tournament anglers were targeting walleye. Very few steelhead came in, and only two brown trout had been caught, according to the tournament results. Many anglers trolling were still unintentionally catching freshwater drum.
Rockport: Very little tournament fishing out of Rockport with a couple walleye reported. A few shore anglers were trying to cast for a few minutes but not getting any bites.
Below are links to bait shop listings organized by county:
Your area may not be listed within this fishing report so below is a list of links to pages in Northeast Michigan to help guide you to public lakes in your county.
