8/17/23 Southwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan DNR Fishing Report

 

Southwest Lower Peninsula

South Haven: Boat anglers had another successful week of fishing. Salmon and trout were caught in 80 to 100 feet of water. Rotators and flies along with meat rigs were performing very well. Perch anglers had some decent catches. The most productive depth was around 30 feet of water. Pier fishing was a little slow for all species. 

St. Joseph: Perch were caught in 35 feet of water. Most of the fishing pressure was south of the piers. Salmon anglers had rough conditions. There were some trout caught and a few salmon inside of 80 feet of water. Pier fishing was also compromised by the rough waves. Fishing for all species was slow. 

Note: At any time you can view the Berrien Springs fish ladder cam by go to this link or following their youtube channel. Subscribing to their channel helps fund the fish ladder cam. 

Nearby Bait Shops Include: 

Fishin Hole (269) 982-3474

Tackle Haven (269) 925-0341

Great Lakes Tackle  (269) 208-6178

Fishing Hole 2 (269) 468-7522 

Muskegon: Boat anglers were catching a good mix of Chinook and coho salmon 30 to 80 down in 50 to 120 feet of water. Glow plugs and glow spoons have performed well.

• 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: Boat anglers were finding the salmon to be scattered but good catches were reported. The best action was 40 to 90 down in 70 to 150 feet of water. Pier anglers who were casting spoons found the freshwater drum and salmon bite to be slow. Glow spoons and plugs worked well. The best bites occurred in the early morning and late evenings.

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!

2/9/22 Southeast Lower Peninsula, Michigan DNR Fishing Report

 

Southeast Lower Peninsula

To access the original Michigan DNR fishing Report: Click Here!

Panfish anglers were finding success in inland lakes for panfish and pike while jigging off drop offs and flats in 10 to 20 feet of water with live bait (spikes, mousies and waxworms) as well as plastics. For pike, use tip-ups adjacent to weed edges with live bait.

Lake Erie: There were varying reports of success out of Metropark for yellow perch. Spoons tipped with spikes and waxworms were producing the most success. Panfish were also targeted. Jigs tipped with waxworms and spikes seemed to be most effective.  

• 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

Lake St. Clair: There were reports of a tough bite for large yellow perch. A lot of sorting through small
perch to find the larger ones. Anglers were having success out of Selfridge in 7 to 9 feet of water. Anglers also found a good mix of panfish and perch in canals and shallower water.

Saginaw Bay: On the west side of the bay, walleye were caught at the blackhole in Pinconning in 25 feet of water. Walleye were also caught at the cigar in front of Linwood in 18-23 feet of water and at the old dumping grounds in 20 feet of water. Some yellow perch were also caught at these locations. Anglers were also catching yellow perch at the spark plug in 25 feet of water. On the east side of the bay, fishing for yellow perch from Sebwaing to Bay Port had been hit or miss with lots of small perch to sort through. Those doing best were waiting for schools of perch to move to them. Anglers reported northern pike in the same areas while perch fishing.  

• 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: Anglers reported slow fishing through most of Bay City and Essexville, with a lot of sub legal walleye caught and released in this area. Upstream in the south end of Bay City at Cass Avenue and in the vicinity, anglers did well catching good numbers of walleye with some limits taken. Anglers did well in this area fishing the edge of the channel in 20 to 25 feet of water jigging a blue and silver or orange jigging Rapala. Anglers should plan to do lots of sorting. Most walleye were running in the 13 to 16-inch size range. Elsewhere walleye fishing was pretty slow at all points upstream around the Zillwaukee Bridge and through Saginaw.

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!

2/9/20 Northeast Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

 

Northeast Lower Peninsula

To access the original Michigan DNR fishing Report: Click Here!

Tawas: Perch fishing continued to be slow with some smaller fish caught in 12 to 20 feet of water off minnows and waxworms. A few walleye were caught in 15 to 22 feet of water off jigs and spoons tipped with minnows.

Au Gres: Some small perch and walleye were caught in the Au Gres river off jigs and spoons tipped with minnows. There were some reports of walleye caught out past Pt. Au Gres (Access off Booth Rd.) in 20 to 25 feet of water off jigs and spoons tipped with minnows.

• For Bait Shops In Arenac County Click Here!

Pine River: Perch fishing was slow with lots of sorting to keep a few. Anglers were catching perch in 5 to 10 feet of water off jigs tipped with minnows or jack hooks / spoons. Walleye anglers were venturing out as far as 1 to 5 miles, catching a few fish in 12 to 20 feet of water, off jigs and spoons tipped with minnows. The evening bite was performing the best.

Below are links to bait shop listings organized by county:

• Montmorency County Click Here!
• Alpena County Click Here!
• Arenac County Click Here!
• Clare County Click Here!
• Alcona 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.

• Alcona County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Alpena County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Clare County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Crawford County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Gladwin County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Iosco County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Montmorency Public Lakes: Click Here! 
• Ogemaw County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Oscoda County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Presque Isle County Public Lakes: Click Here!

2/9/22 Southwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan DNR Fishing Report

 

Southwest Lower Peninsula

Gun Lake: Anglers were catching bluegill, yellow perch and black crappie off the state park beach and launch areas. Wax worms and small jigs were working best.

For more places to fish in Allegan County: Click Here!

For a list of Allegan County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Gull Lake: Anglers were catching smelt, yellow perch and northern pike. Smelt action was best at night in 60 to 70 feet of water.

• 
  For a list of a list of Kalamazoo Public Lakes: Click Here! 
  
  
• For a list of Kalamazoo County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Murray Lake: Anglers were catching bluegill, northern pike and crappie. Anglers were catching crappie in the evening with small live emerald shiners on a small gold hook.

• For a list of Kent County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Wabasis Lake: Anglers were catching perch, bluegill, northern pike and walleye. There is good access to the lake on the west end at the county park boat launch.

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!
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! 

1/25/2019 Northwest Lower Peninsula Michigan Fishing Report

Northwest Lower Peninsula

To access the original Michigan DNR fishing Report: Click Here!

Walloon Lake:Continues to produce a few perch for those using minnows. A good spot in the winter is near the narrows at the base of the West Arm.   

• For more places to fish in Charlevoix County: Click Here!

• For a more accurate report on Lake Charlevoix I suggest reaching out to the people at Tom's Bait & Tackle. Phone: (231-536-3521)

Lake St. Claire: Anglers have been catching crappies, perch and bluegills. 

Lake Skegemog: Had decent perch fishing. 

• For more public lakes to fish in Grand Traverse County: Click Here! 
• Grand Traverse County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Lake Missaukee: Ice anglers are taking some bluegill and crappie. For pike, try along the east side.   

Thumb Lake: Ice anglers are catching splake on minnows. 

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell: Ice fishing is going strong, and anglers were still doing decent especially for walleye and pike. Bluegill numbers were up and down. Walleye anglers were jigging or using tip-ups in 10 to 15 feet. Pike are hitting mainly on tip-ups. Kentwood Park on Lake Cadillac was producing some nice crappie. On Lake Mitchell, bluegill and crappie were found out from Small Cove.

Hamlin Lake: Anglers were using Wilson Hill Park to access the lake, though anglers are still being advised to use caution as there may be thin spots. Catch rates slowed, with most getting 10 fish or less. Though the numbers were down, the size of the fish has been decent, with a few big crappie mixed in with the bluegills. The perch were small at 3-5 inches. Those targeting pike had limited success, and many of those caught were undersize. A few walleye were caught. Near the South Bayou, anglers were struggling to find keeper-size bluegill. 

Mecosta County: Inland lakes in the area were producing bluegills, crappie and some perch. Pike anglers are taking fish on tip-ups or with spears. 

Traverse City: Crappies and bluegills have been caught on Arbutus and Spider lakes, where there was about 5 inches of ice. Caution is advised any time you venture out on the ice. As of last week fresh run of steelhead had run up the Boardman River and anglers were catching a few fish.  

• For more public lakes to fish in Grand Traverse County: Click Here! 
• Grand Traverse County Bait Shops: Click Here!

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!
• Leelanau County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Antrim County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Otsego County Public Lakes: Click Here!

1/25/2019 Southwest Lower Peninsula Michigan DNR Fishing Report

Southwest Lower Peninsula

To access the original Michigan DNR fishing Report: Click Here!      

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Some nice steelhead were caught down below the 6th Street Dam.  Try spawn, spinners and wax worms as they were all getting bit.    . 

Kalamazoo River:  Stealhead were biting good prior to the cold front this weekend so a slow down is expected.  However try spawn, spinners, and a wax worm fished under a float, for a chance at taking a few lingering fish.

Muskegon Lake: Anglers need to stay away from the middle of the lake and the area of the shipping channel due to freighter traffic coming in from Lake Michigan. Yellow perch were caught off the Sand Docks. Pike were caught in 12 to 24 feet off Hartshorn Marina.  Those fishing off the State Park caught bluegills in 3 to 5 feet. 

• 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)

Muskegon River: Steelhead numbers are fair. Fish were in the deeper and slower water during the cold spell. The bite may improve with warmer temperatures. 

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!
Kalamazoo 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!

Clinton County Public Lakes: Click Here! 

Jackson County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Kalamazoo Public Lakes: Click Here! 

St. Joseph County Public Lakes: Click Here!