Wednesday, August 19, 2026

8/19/26 Northeast Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

 


Northeast Lower Peninsula

Alpena: Boat anglers reported limited success while trolling nightcrawlers and crankbaits in 25 to 30 feet of water. Fish were scattered from North Point to as far south as Scarecrow Island. Anglers targeting trout or salmon reported little success. A few northern pike were caught close to the pier in the weedbeds while casting large spinnerbaits and jerkbaits.

Thunder Bay River: Walleye fishing was reported as very slow. Smallmouth bass were caught while casting spinners and smaller spinnerbaits. Northern pike were also caught throughout the river on spinners, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. Catfish were found in good numbers throughout the river while using cut bait and nightcrawlers fished on the bottom.

Rockport: Anglers found walleye from Stoneport to South Nine-Mile Point. Both crankbaits and nightcrawlers found success while trolling in 20 to 50 feet of water. Lake trout were plentiful in 80 to 140 feet of water straight out of the harbor. Dodgers and Spin-


N-Glos, as well as spoons, worked well when fished close to the bottom. Anglers also reported a few Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead in the same waters. Spoons in green, watermelon, orange, and chartreuse saw on-and-off success when fished in the middle of the water column.

Cheboygan: When trolling spoons in 100 to 200 feet of water, lake trout were caught at Raynolds Reef, Spectacle Reef, and the northeast points of Bois Blanc Island. Chinook salmon were caught with spoons, meat rigs, and flasher-fly combinations in those same areas. Salmon were reported staging at the mouth of the Cheboygan River.

From the State Street drawbridge to the Cheboygan Dam spillway, smallmouth bass and rock bass were caught while drifting nightcrawlers. Other effective baits included spinnerbaits and swimbaits.

Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers targeting lake trout reported decent fishing on the humps in 115 to 150 feet of water while trolling spoons and Spin-N-Glos in the bottom 30 feet of the water column. Walleye were scattered from 60 to 150 feet of water, with anglers targeting the top 30 to 40 feet of the water column. Anglers caught walleye on smaller spoons while trolling at slower speeds. A few steelhead were taken by anglers trolling spoons.

Anglers fishing off the pier and catwalk did well on channel catfish while using nightcrawlers and pyramid weights. A few nice smallmouth bass were caught by anglers casting tubes.

Harrisville: Lake trout fishing was good for anglers heading out to the reef. Spoons and Spin-N-Glos took fish. A few steelhead were taken on 3- to 7-color leadcore while trolling spoons, with orange working well. Good numbers of walleye were scattered from 60 to 150 feet of water. Anglers caught walleye 20 to 40 feet down while using smaller spoons and trolling at slower speeds. Northern pike were caught in the harbor by anglers casting spinners and spoons.

Rogers City: Salmon fishing improved, though water temperatures remained very warm. Adult Chinook salmon were caught, though the bite was not aggressive and was limited to short windows early in the morning and late in the evening. Meat rigs performed best in the warmer water, with productive depths ranging from 40 to 90 feet down throughout the water column. Anglers used an assortment of bait, including spoons, J-Plugs, meat rigs, and attractors paired with flies or squids. Effective colors included greens, blues, whites, UV, and glow patterns during low-light hours. Where cooler water or a thermocline was present, lake trout, steelhead, and juvenile salmon were also caught. Walleye were caught incidentally when trolling for salmon and trout; anglers targeting walleye found success in the top 30 feet of the water column using deep-diving crankbaits or nightcrawler harnesses.

Presque Isle: Fishing for silver fish remained slow, but lake trout were caught out deep near the hump. The most productive depths were 120+ feet down and near the bottom using spoons or attractors paired with Spin-N-Glos or Spin-N-Glo flies. Walleye anglers did well in the evening and after dark while trolling body baits or nightcrawler harnesses, with the best action found in 30 to 65 feet of water when fishing the top 35 feet of the water column.

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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