Michigan fish report

[Lee Borgersen]

            Southeast Michigan fishing report


The storms and cooler temperatures have changed fishing dynamics during the past week or two. Shifting winds and colder water temps along shorelines have moved trout and salmon closer inshore, within range of smaller boats and people fishing off of pierheads.

Southeastern Michigan fishing report

Lake Erie: Still producing walleye off Fermi and in Brest Bay in 16 to 18 feet of water (FOW). Perch are being taken at various depths and locations, with most in shallow waters around Stony Point, Brest Bay and Raisin River Buoys 1 & 2. Anglers launching from Bolles Harbor found good numbers of perch in 18 FOW around the E Buoy and 16 FOW off Toledo Beach.

Huron River: Water levels are low from Huroc Park to the mouth. Most anglers are shore fishing for smallmouth bass and catfish, with carp and gar crusing shallow backwaters.

Detroit River: A few walleye are being caught below Sugar Island. Anglers are jigging or bottom bouncing with crawler harnesses. Perch were reported around Rat Island. Good smallmouth bass action near Sugar Island and the Cross Dike.

Lake St. Clair: Significant walleye activity in the south end near the Dumping Grounds. Most are drifting crawler harnesses.

Lexington: Perch are hitting five to six miles south in 18 FOW. Pier anglers have caught northern pike and white bass.

Port Sanilac: Perch fishing is spotty but it can be very good if you happen to be in the right spot. Chinook, coho and steelhead were caught in 60 to 90 FOW.

Harbor Beach: Salmon fishing is good in 60 to 100 FOW with spoons, dipeys, downrigger and 5 or 10 colors of leadcore with offshore boards. Green, orange with glow ladder back or watermelon were good colors. Fair lake trout fishing in 80 to 120 FOW with spin-glows, squid or flies near the bottom. Green, orange and black or yellow were good colors. Steelhead were caught on color lines in 50 to 100 FOW with the same colors. For downriggers, set spoons 25 to 60 feet down. Brown trout were north and south of the harbor. For walleye, fish north of the harbor at first light in 50 to 70 FOW with crawler harnesses, small spoons or body baits. For perch, try inside the harbor or south of the port. Pike and bass were taking spoons or body baits inside the harbor walls.

Grindstone City: Lake trout and a couple steelhead were caught just off the bottom in 80 to 100 FOW. Trolling crank baits in 35 FOW produced decent numbers of smallmouth bass.

Saginaw Bay: Walleye fishing is pretty much confined to the area north and west of Buoys 1 & 2. Perch are starting to bite around the Spark Plug and the Black Hole. Quanicassee, Sebewaing and Bay Port had few anglers. At Caseville, smallmouth bass were caught off the end of the pier on worms or minnows under a slip bobber.

Flint River: Is producing bluegill and catfish below the Holloway Reservoir Dam.

Mott Lake: Anglers have caught a few small bluegills and the occasional bass.

Lake Fenton: Some large crappie were caught by those fishing in deeper water when boat traffic was light. Some nice catfish were also caught.