8/27/2025 Northwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan DNR Fishing Report

 

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Frankfort/Lake Michigan: Prior to the weekend, Chinook salmon were reported out front in 90 to 120 feet of water. Then the winds pushed in warmer temperatures, pushing the Chinook salmon and coho salmon into deeper water 150 to 220 feet with spoons getting most of the action and meat rigs noted for landing bigger fish. Pier fishing picked up on days when cooler temperatures persisted. Alewives were reported around the piers but only for short periods. Anglers trolling the Platte Bay area reported catching a few coho salmon on regular spoons. Anglers jigging reported good numbers in the bay and harbor.

For a list of bait and tackle shops in the Frankfort area: Click Here!

Leland: Anglers who made it out reported great catches while fishing the first bank, heading straight north in 100 to 150 feet of water, with baits set 50 to 70 feet down for Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead. Anglers found that dipsies with spoons (blue, green, and orange), and downriggers with spoons, large flasher flies, and J-plugs (orange, green, red) worked well. Pier fishing remained slow, as the salmon had not yet entered the marina.

• Leelanau County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Suttons Bay: There were minimal fishing efforts. A few anglers targeting lake trout around Stoney Point reported catching fish near Stoney Point and throughout Suttons Bay. Anglers fishing for smallmouth bass in Northport found success by bottom bouncing small plastics in 45 feet of water. There were no reports of salmon in the harbor.

Onekama/Lake Michigan: Anglers trolling the Barrel reported Chinook salmon and lake trout in 120 to 140 feet of water and working the top 60 to 80 feet with spoons. The morning bite was the most productive.

Below are links to bait shop listings organized by county:

• Benzie County Click Here!
• Charlevoix County Click Here!
• Grand Traverse County Click Here!

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.

• Charlevoix County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Cheboygan County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Grand Traverse County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Kalkaska County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Lake County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Leelanau County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Manistee County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Mason County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Antrim County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Otsego County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Osceola County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Oceana County Public Lakes: Click Here!