5/31/2018 Southeast Michigan Fishing Report

The extremely warm weather helped improve fishing conditions especially on the inland lakes. More anglers were out however catch rates were best in the early morning or evening when the heavy boat traffic slowed. Bluegills are on or just moving off the beds. The crappie action slowed as hot weather pushed the fish to deeper water. Bass were caught along the shoreline and around structure. Pike and carp could be seen in the shallows.

Lake Erie: A lot of boats were bringing in limits of walleye. Out of Bolles Harbor, walleye were caught while trolling chartreuse, copper, and fire-tiger crawler harnesses in 22 to 24 feet at 50 feet back, silver and blue Bandits 40 feet back and between Bolles and the River Raisin with a redhead reef runner 12 feet down in 20 to 22 feet. Around Buoys 1 and 2 off the River Raisin, walleye were caught in 23 feet with a red and purple crawler harness and bottom bouncers 30 feet back, around the Dumping Grounds with a purple and chartreuse harness in 22 feet and around the E-Buoy when drifting red and while Erie Dearies in 22 feet. In Brest Bay, fish were caught on a crawler harness and bottom bouncer in 20 to 25 feet and 70 feet back or with planer boards 18 to 25 feet back. Fish were also taken on fire-tiger crank baits higher in the water column. Yellow perch were caught in 25 feet near Fermi when jigging minnows. Crappie were caught around Toledo Beach in 5 to 11 feet when casting jigs. Largemouth bass were caught around the Lost Peninsula Marina in 3 to 5 feet when casting. Carp are spawning up in the shallows so those bowfishing did well around the launch at Sterling and in Maumee Bay. Largemouth were also caught while casting black and white tube baits around Bolles Harbor in waters up to 10 feet deep.

• f you're planning on fishing out of Sterling State Park or the Brest Bay area you can pick up fishing license, large and small minnows or just about any other fishing needs at Jeff's Bait & Tackle.

• If you're planning on fishing any of the canals near Lake Erie Metro Park or Point Mouillee State Game Area or if you're going to be fishing the southern half of the Detroit River you can get all of your bait & tackle needs met at  Bottom Line Bait & Tackle.

Detroit River: Had a few anglers jigging for walleye at the mouth as most of the fish have dropped down into the lake. Some white bass were still being caught.

• For a list of more public lakes in Wayne county please click here!
  

Nearby Bait Shops Include: 

Andy's Tacle Box (313) 388-3474

Big Moes Bait Shop  (313) 259-1176

Dip Net Live Bait & Tackle (313) 388-5811

Moe's Bait Shop  (313) 824-5222

Motor City Bait & Tackle (313) 551-0201

Lake St. Clair: Had decent smallmouth bass fishing but anglers had to search for them as the fish seemed to be schooled together in dense areas. Muscamoot Bay and off the Mile Roads were the better spots. Walleye anglers had luck in 6 to 8 feet in the early morning when trolling a crawler harness or casting crank baits in Anchor Bay and off Metro Beach. Those fishing in the afternoon did best near the St. Clair Light. Anglers caught good numbers of white bass and rock bass and there are plenty of pike especially around the weed beds and marsh areas off Fairhaven.

• For a more accurate report on Lake St. Clair I suggest reaching out to the people at Sportsmen's Direct  as their weekly LSC fishing report is usually far more in depth.  Phone: (586-741-6052)

Harbor Beach: Some nice lake trout were still being caught straight out and north of the harbor. Fish were caught in the bottom 50 of 80 to 100 feet with dodgers and spin-glo's or

10 colors of lead line and offshore boards with spoons. Best colors were silver with colored dots or a yellow, green and white combo with a red head. A couple salmon and steelhead were caught north of the harbor in 50 to 90 feet with spoons off downriggers. Use bright colored spoons such as silver, blue and green. A few walleye were taken on small spoons closer to shore. Bass were caught when casting or trolling close to shore with spoons and body baits.

Saginaw Bay: Walleye were still being caught including limit catches straight out from Eagle Bay Marina in 8 to 15 feet, off the Pinconning and Saganning Bars. Lots of limit catches from the B Buoy, Spark Plug, off Kawkawlin in 7 to 9 feet, Quanicassee and the Dumping Grounds. Try crawlers and crank baits. Purple, pink, and chartreuse were hot colors. Bass are hitting on spinners and topwater plugs.

• For a more accurate report on Saginaw Bay I suggest taking a look at the weekly Saginaw Bay Fishing Report given to you by Saginawbay.com

Nearby Bait Shops Include: 

Franks Great Outdoors (989) 697-5341

GW's Fishing Lures (989) 684-6431

The Party Dock (989) 684-2150

West Marine (898) 667-2100

Michigan Sportsman Bait & Tackle (989) 893-6550

Live Bait (989) 992-7770

Tittabawassee River: Had good smallmouth action but the rain caused the water to rise and turn muddy.

With warm weather beginning to be come normal across the state there are ample opportunities to get out and fish.  With that in mind I suggest reaching out to the local bait shops in southeast Michigan to verify what your best options are.  Below are links to bait shop listings orgnized by county:

• Wayne County Click Here!
• Washtenaw County Click Here!
• Bay County Click Here!
• Monroe County Click Here!
• Livingston County Click Here!
• Ingham County Click Here!
• Genesee County Click Here!