Wednesday, July 29, 2026

7/29/26 Southeast Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

 Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Walleye fishing on the Michigan side of the border was bad. Anglers caught a few fish, but overall numbers remained low. Some anglers caught no walleye and only reported incidental bycatch.

Yellow perch fishing showed more promise. Anglers fished south of Bolles Harbor toward the dumping grounds using minnows on perch rigs in 18 feet of water and caught some perch this week. Although no large limits were reported, perch were reported in the area. Both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fishing was good, with anglers catching fish using lures at various depths.

  • 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

  • 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.

Lower Saginaw Bay: Walleye anglers continued to catch walleye in shallow water from Jones Road to Callahan Reef in 11 to 12 feet of water while using crawlers. At Pinconning Bar, anglers caught walleye in 15 to 17 feet of water, as well as around 18 to 20 feet of water, while using crankbaits. The Sparkplug continued to produce walleye in 22 to 26 feet of water using crawlers and crankbaits. Some anglers also caught a few yellow perch at the Sparkplug in the shipping channel while using worms for bait.

Eastern Saginaw Bay: The warm weather slowed walleye fishing down considerably. The best catches occurred at daylight in 4 to 6 feet of water on Callahan Reef while trolling nightcrawler harnesses. As temperatures warmed later in the morning, walleye appeared to scatter, making them more difficult for anglers to locate. Most parties fished throughout the day from the slot area out to buoys one and two, averaging 5 to 8 walleye per boat while trolling nightcrawler harnesses.

For Bait Shops in Southeast Michigan See List Below:

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.


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    7/29/26 Southwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan DNR Fishing Report

     

    Southwest Lower Peninsula

    Muskegon: Boat anglers found salmon 45 to 90 feet down in 70 to 140 feet of water. Green and blue spoons worked the best. The early morning bite was good. Pier anglers caught a few freshwater drum while casting spoons.

    • For a more accurate report on the Muskegon Lake & the Muskegon River I suggest reaching out to the people at Snug Harbor Outfitters. Phone: (231-719-0759)

    Grand Haven: Changing wind directions continued to affect nearshore water temperatures. Salmon moved into slightly deeper water over the last few days. Salmon were caught 40 to 90 feet down in 70 to 150 feet of water. Green and blue spoons worked well. A few salmon were also caught on yellow or green glow plugs during low-light conditions. Pier fishing for salmon and steelhead slowed as beach water temperatures increased. Anglers casting spoons caught a few freshwater drum.

    For more bait shops in the southwest lower peninsula follow the links below:
    Berrien County Bait Shops: Click Here!
    Allegan County Bait Shops: Click Here!
    Ingham County Bait Shops: Click Here!
    Branch County Bait Shops: Click Here!
    Barry County Bait Shops: Click Here!
    Montcalm County Bait Shops: Click Here!
    Kalamazoo County Bait Shops: Click Here!
    Kent County Bait Shops: Click Here!

    Your area may not be listed within this fishing report so below is a list of links to pages in Southwest Michigan to help guide you to public lakes in your county.

    Allegan County Public Lakes: Click Here!
    Barry County Public Lakes: Click Here!
    Calhoun County Public Lakes: Click Here!

    Cass County Public Lakes: Click Here! 
    Kalamazoo County Public Lakes: Click Here!
    Oceana County Public Lakes: Click Here!
    Ottawa County Public Lakes: Click Here!
    Van Buren County Public Lakes: Click Here!
    Barry County Public Lakes: Click Here!

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    Wednesday, July 22, 2026

    7/22/2026 Upper Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

     


    Upper Peninsula

    Munising: Boat anglers trolling the bay and around Grand Island picked reported catching a few Chinook salmon and coho salmon, along with a few splake. Anglers trolling and jigging for lake trout also had good success.

    Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers reported good numbers of coho salmon being caught while trolling stickbaits, spoons, and flasher-fly combinations in the upper portion of the water column. Anglers also caught chinook salmon, brown trout, and rainbow trout while trolling, although in smaller numbers. Anglers reported a slow bite while jigging for whitefish. Those targeting lake trout found success while trolling and jigging both natural and artificial presentations in 50 to 150 feet of water.

    Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers trolling near structure reported fair to good numbers of lake trout and a few coho salmon while using spoons and flasher-fly combinations. Anglers jigging for lake trout reported a fair bite while using natural and artificial baits, with most fish being caught between 120 and 160 feet of water.

    Ontonagon River: The river saw a good amount of angling effort over the past week. Recent reports from anglers showed that walleye were caught in low to fair numbers. Species such as yellow perch and rock bass were also reported in low numbers by some anglers. It appeared that the most successful parties utilized a combination of trolling and jigging to find fish. Shore and dock anglers reported catches of yellow perch, rock bass, and walleye in low numbers.


    Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Angling effort in Ontonagon was healthy over the past week. Effort at the Silver City and Union Bay access sites remained relatively low. Recent angler reports indicated that catches were primarily made up of lake trout in fair numbers, while coho salmon and steelhead were reported in lower numbers. Trolling continued to produce the best yields for boat anglers.

    Black River Harbor: Angling effort in the harbor remained somewhat low over the past week. Boat anglers reported catches of lake trout and coho salmon in low to fair numbers. Trolling continued to be the most effective method for locating these fish.

    St. Ignace: Anglers produced steady numbers of walleye and perch at the Pine River. They reported catching up to five walleye per trip, ranging from undersized throwbacks to legal-sized keepers. Shore anglers drifted jigs and leeches and cast nightcrawler harnesses. Boat anglers trolled nightcrawler harnesses and body baits.

    Grand Marais: Anglers fishing off the breakwall reported catching a few lake whitefish and round whitefish, with worms and spawn producing the best results. Boat anglers trolling and jigging for lake trout had good success, with the occasional rainbow trout also caught.

    Les Cheneaux Islands/DeTour: Perch fishing in Hessel slowed down, and anglers had a hard time catching anything worth keeping. Pike fishing in the area was good, whether bobber fishing with chubs or trolling in the bays. Smallmouth bass were still plentiful and quite active throughout the bays, as well as around the marina. Most anglers caught smallmouth while casting soft plastics. Lake trout cooperated with anglers in the middle and east entrance. Anglers trolled spoons 40 to 60 feet down and reported catching limits of nice-sized fish.

    In DeTour, anglers continued to catch mixed bags of Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon, and steelhead. Lake trout were also plentiful in DeTour, with anglers reporting that the fish were suspended and that they could not keep them off their hooks, even while trolling at speeds of 3.0 mph or faster and fishing 20 to 30 feet down.

    Manistique: Anglers reported good fishing for lake trout. They found success using spoons, as well as buoyant, winged spinning lures. Salmon anglers anticipated that fishing would improve, although some anglers did have successful trips during the week. Anglers trolled spoons and flasher-fly combinations, with steelhead being a welcome and common bycatch.

    Marquette: The coho salmon, Chinook salmon, and steelhead bite slowed down but remained productive for late June. Anglers reported finding fish in 30 to 80 feet of water while trolling from White Rocks toward Little Presque Isle.

    More lake trout anglers also began finding success while jigging and trolling in deeper water and around White Rocks toward Granite Rock, typically in 120 to 200 feet of water. Some nice-sized lean lake trout were reported during the week.

    Limited boat activity was observed out of Lower Harbor, so no angler reports were available from the Lower Harbor area toward Shot Point.

    Au Train: Fishing activity in Au Train was slow this week, with only a few anglers being observed. The anglers who were interviewed reported fishing in deeper water north to northwest of Au Train Island, ranging from 120 to 220 feet of water. Anglers caught a mixed bag of lake trout and coho salmon. A few Chinook salmon were also reported being caught higher in the water column, around 80 feet down, while trolling for lake trout.

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    7/22/26 Northwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

     


    Northwest Lower Peninsula

    Manistee: Anglers trolling for Chinook salmon caught a few fish during the early mornings, but overall activity was slow. Fish were found in 90 to 145 feet of water while trolling spoons 50 to 80 feet down. Lake trout were caught in decent numbers straight out from town and to the north, with anglers finding success near the bottom in 100 to 150 feet of water. Those targeting steelhead from the piers were unsuccessful.

    • For more public lakes to fish in Manistee County: Click Here!

    Ludington: Anglers targeting Chinook salmon caught a few fish at Big Sable Point in 110 to 300 feet of water while fishing 50 to 80 feet down. A few fish were also caught to the south in 60 to 115 feet of water, primarily fishing around 80 feet down. Fishing was inconsistent, with most Chinook salmon being smaller-sized fish. Spoons and flasher-fly combinations produced results. Pier fishing remained slow due to warm water temperatures.

    Charlevoix: Boat anglers reported slow fishing for lake trout and the occasional small silver fish. Those who found success trolled spoons anywhere from 25 to 100 feet down in 100 to 150 feet of water. Anglers fishing the Pine River Channel reported limited to no success targeting cisco and smallmouth bass.

    Little Traverse Bay: Anglers targeting smallmouth bass reported slow but steady catches, primarily while fishing along the north shore of the bay. Casting tubes, body baits, and occasionally using natural bait produced results. Anglers targeting lake trout found success fishing in 70 to 120 feet of water west of Harbor Springs near the refuge.

    West Grand Traverse Bay: Lake trout were caught by anglers jigging around the Red 6 buoy in 50 to 80 feet of water. Gold- and white-colored jigging spoons produced well. Anglers trolling along the west bank just north of Greilickville in 30 to 80 feet of water also caught a few lake trout. Smallmouth bass were being caught throughout the bay in 5 to 10 feet of water, with swimbaits and drop-shot rigs producing the best results.

    East Grand Traverse Bay: Smallmouth bass were being caught in good numbers by anglers fishing the South Flats and in front of the state park. Water temperatures ranged between 60 and 63 degrees.


    Smallmouth bass continued to be caught in the Elk River.

    Leland: No fishing activity to report.


    Frankfort/Lake Michigan: Alewife moved out into deeper waters, causing the bite to slow this week. Anglers trolled in deeper waters ranging from 140 to 220 feet and used spoons and flies 80 to 100 feet down. The Chinook salmon that were landed were primarily smaller fish. Lake trout anglers reported very good numbers and sizes in Platte Bay, the Six Mile Hole, and off the shelf.

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

    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.
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    7/22/26 Northeast Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

     




    Northeast Lower Peninsula

    Alpena: Anglers targeting walleye reported fishing as hit or miss due to cooler water temperatures. Crankbaits trolled in 17 to 25 feet of water had limited success, as did trolling shallow water during low-light conditions. Anglers targeting trout and salmon had fair results near North Point and Thunder Bay Island. Spoons and spin glows trolled near the bottom in 60 to 80 feet of water were productive for lake trout. Orange, green, and chartreuse spoons trolled in the top 25 feet of the water column produced Atlantic salmon, steelhead, and a few coho salmon.

    Thunder Bay River: Good catches of catfish were reported throughout the river while using nightcrawlers and cut bait fished on the bottom, along with the occasional freshwater drum. Walleye anglers also found success using crawlers and leeches intermittently throughout the day.

    Rockport: Lake trout fishing remained solid, with fish scattered throughout the water column. Anglers reported success using a wide variety of spoon colors, and Spin-N-Glos were also productive. Atlantic salmon, steelhead, and coho salmon were found high in the water column from Middle Island to Stone Port. Standard-sized spoons in bright colors worked best. Anglers targeting walleye reported no success. A few northern pike and smallmouth bass were caught in Bell Bay while using spinnerbaits and natural-colored tube jigs.

    Cheboygan: Anglers trolling spoons in 40 to 70 feet of water have been successful at Poe Reef and Raynold’s Reef for lake trout. Good colors have been oranges and greens.

    The Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex remains closed to the public. Downstream of the Cheboygan Dam, walleye, bass, pike, rock bass and the occasional freshwater drum were reported. The bite slowed down due to a mayfly hatch. Walleye anglers drifted hook-and-worm rigs in the morning and trolled night crawler harnesses at night. Shore anglers cast body baits and drifted night crawlers under slip bobbers.

    At the river mouth, anglers cast swim baits, spinner baits, and tube baits and reported catches of smallmouth bass and pike.

     Rogers City: Anglers continued to target lake trout with good success. The best depths were 50 to 80 feet of water. Anglers used cowbells or flashers with Spin-N-Glos close to the bottom for lake trout, while also running other lines throughout the water column. Spoons also produced well for lake trout higher in the water column.

    The occasional silver fish was also caught, but recent northwest winds scattered them throughout the area. More stable winds were expected to help increase activity. The silver fish that were caught were primarily taken higher in the water column, mostly within the top 50 feet.

    Productive areas included south toward Adam’s Point, straight out from shore, and north toward the state park and 40 Mile Point. Spoons continued to be a good choice when deployed from downriggers, leadcore, and copper lines run off planer boards and dipsy divers. Effective colors included greens, blues, yellows, oranges, and spoons with glow patterns.

    Presque Isle: Lake trout fishing was excellent, with anglers consistently pulling limits. The best depths were 50 to 100 feet of water. Anglers deployed lines throughout the water column using downriggers, leadcore, copper lines, and dipsy divers. Spoons were the most effective choice, with productive colors including greens, blues, orange, gold, yellow, and UV patterns.

    Cowbells or flashers with Spin-N-Glos were also effective for targeting lake trout. Silver fish were caught in the top 50 feet of the water column. The occasional Atlantic salmon, steelhead, coho salmon, and Chinook salmon were also reported.


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    7/22/26 Southeast Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

     


    Southeast Lower Peninsula

    Lake Erie: Walleye fishing was slow. However, some anglers found walleye in Brest Bay in 18 feet of water when targeting shallower areas. Anglers used crawler harnesses, with pink being the most productive color. Yellow perch fishing remained slow but showed signs of improvement. One angler targeting perch reported catching five keepers using minnows near the River Raisin. Smallmouth bass fishing was decent when using artificial lures in 10 to 20 feet of water. Many catfish were caught as bycatch by anglers targeting walleye. Shore fishing at the Sterling State Park lagoons remained good for a variety of species using a wide range of baits and lures, including largemouth bass.

    • 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

    • 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.
    Detroit River: Shore anglers have been reporting catches of smallmouth bass, channel catfish and freshwater drum throughout the river.  On the northern end of the river shore anglers have been catching walleye at night casting plastic paddle tail swimbaits. Some anglers have stated that the walleye have been willing to come up for the swimbaits so they've been catching them as shallow as 5 feet of water. 

    Belleville Lake & Ford Lake: Anglers have been catching crappie and bluegill shooting docks with gulp minnows.  Crappie are also being caught with live minnows below bobbers under the same docks and suspended around sunken trees. 

    Lower Saginaw Bay: Shore anglers caught and released channel catfish, freshwater drum, and smallmouth bass at Smiths Park while still fishing with worms.

    Sebewaing, Quanicassee, Fish Point: The warm weather and high winds pushed walleye into deeper, cleaner water. Limits were uncommon, but anglers caught 7 to 8 walleye per boat while trolling nightcrawler harnesses in 23 to 26 feet of water near the Spark Plug.

    Caseville: Walleye fishing was pretty good, with some limits of eater-sized fish in the 15 to 20-inch range caught while trolling off Oak Point in 35 feet of water. Anglers found success using both nightcrawler harnesses and body baits.


    For Bait Shops in Southeast Michigan See List Below:

    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.


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