7/26/2018 Southeast Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

Wind and rain have made fishing difficult especially on the Great Lakes.  Walleye were found in deeper water in Saginaw Bay and Lake Erie.  The pike and muskie bite has picked up.  The inland lakes continue to produce panfish, bass, pike, catfish, bowfin and some walleye.

Southeast Lower Peninsula Lake Erie:  Walleye were caught off Luna Pier in 16 to 18 feet.  Anglers were getting two to four fish on spoons and bandits.  In Brest Bay, a few fish were taken off Buoys 1 & 2 when trolling a crawler harness.  Anglers across the lake were marking perch but catch rates were zero to five fish.  Largemouth bass were caught in the canals at Luna Pier with surface baits.  In the channels out of Sterling and Detroit Beach, anglers caught bluegills, channel cats and a few perch when casting spoons, spinners or crawlers.   If you're planning on fishing any of the canals near Lake Erie Metro Park or Point Mouillee State Game Area you can get all of your bait & tackle needs met at  Bottom Line Bait & Tackle.  If you're planning on fishing out of Sterling State Park or the Brest Bay area you can pick up tackle from the nice people at Jeff's Bait & Tackle. Detroit River:  Anglers were still taking some yellow perch around the islands including Sugar and Belle Isle. If you are searching for crappie on Belle Isle this time of year, make sure you're targeting wood piles and fallen trees with small dark colored hair jigs that resemble insect larvae.  For more public lakes to fish in Wayne County: Click Here!  Wayne County Bait Shops: Click Here Ford Lake: Walleye have moved into deeper water and are being caught by trolling minnow crankbaits in 12 to 16 feet of water.  Trolling crawler harness is producing alot of bycatch by way of white perch.  Smallmouth bass are being caught on spinnerbaits along rocky shorelines and in weeds. White bass are suspended 12 feet of water just below pods of bait fish.  For more public lakes to fish in Washtenaw County: Click Here!  Washtenaw County Bait Shops: Click Here! Lake St. Clair:  Smallmouth bass were hitting on everything from tube baits to hard plastic in Anchor Bay.  Water clarity was down slightly but fish were still biting.  If you’re heading out for muskie try either Anchor Bay or directly out from the Clinton River Spill Way.  A couple walleye were caught in Michigan waters out near the St. Clair Light when trolling a crawler harness and bottom bouncer.     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) Macomb County Bait Shops: Click Here! St. Clair River:  Is producing walleye in the Middle and South Channels.  Most anglers are jigging or trolling a crawler harness.  The average catch was one to two fish.   Lexington to Port Sanilac:  Fishing effort was almost non-existent at Lexington.  Perch anglers at Port Sanilac caught fish south of the harbor in 19 feet.   Harbor Beach:  The fish are a little scattered right now because of the recent winds and storms.  Best place to start for lake trout would be in 80 feet straight out and north of the harbor. Try some dodgers with spin-glo’s near the bottom or clean spoons from top to bottom and work your way out to deeper water until you find fish.  For steelhead, use bright colored spoons and offshore boards with 3, 5, 7 and 10 colored lines.  For walleye, try closer to shore when trolling small spoons, a crawler harness or Hot-n-Tots throughout the water column.  Bass were caught close to shore when casting small spoons and body baits. Huron County Bait Shops: Click Here! Saginaw Bay:  Walleye and some perch were found near the Spark Plug (Buoys 11 & 12) in 25 feet or so.  A few perch were caught off Linwood around Sailboat Buoy F.   Most of the walleye trollers from the east side from Quanicassee to Bay Port were crossing the Bar and fishing in 25 to 30 feet out in mid-bay north of the Spark Plug toward buoys 1 & 2.  From Caseville, anglers were either working the north end of the Slot off the tip of Sand Point, out north of Big Charity Island, off Oak Point or the reefs between Caseville and Port Austin.  Evenings were best.  Many used a crawler harness, but some were using spoons and body baits to avoid catching freshwater drum which are hitting on crawlers.  Most of the effort from Port Austin is for walleye right now and those boats are going west and south and fishing off Hat Point and the Flat Rock Reefs in 35 to 45 feet.  Success was hit-or-miss with an average of six walleye per boat for a half-day trip.  One boat went way out and came back with one steelhead and one walleye taken about halfway down in 125 feet.    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 Saginaw River:  Shore anglers in the lower river caught bass, catfish and freshwater drum on crawlers.  With summer in full swing 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 organized 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! Your area may not be listed within this fishing report so below is a list of links to pages in Southeast Michigan to help guide you to public lakes in your county. Clinton County Public Lakes: Click Here! Genessee County Public Lakes: Click Here! Hillsdale County Public Lakes: Click Here! Jackson County Public Lakes: Click Here! Lapeer County Public Lakes: Click Here! Lenawee County Public Lakes: Click Here! Livingston County Public Lakes: Click Here! Oakland County Public Lakes Page 1: Click Here!  Oakland County Public Lakes Page 2: Click Here! Washtenaw County Public Lakes: Click Here! Wayne County Public Lakes: Click Here!