Heading out to go fishing this weekend? Dive in to find out the current fishing conditions across Northern Michigan to help plan your weekend fishing trip.
If you’re headed out fishing, please do your part to keep yourself and others safe by following COVID-19 public health and safety guidelines. Go fishing only if you’re feeling well. Practice proper social distancing (at least 6 feet away from people who don’t live in your household) and keep a face-covering handy for when social distancing cannot be maintained. Frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water, or use hand sanitizer.
All anglers 17 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Charlevoix: The docks are in at the public launch near Ferry Beach however there were no docks at the Township launch by the salmon weir. The fish cleaning station at the Ferry Beach launch is open. Strong winds have kept boat anglers off the big lake. Water temperature in the channel was 39 degrees. Some are starting to head out for walleye after dark when the wind dies down. Pier anglers reported slow catch rates. One lake trout weas caught off the end of the pier in the early morning.
Lake Charlevoix: Anglers were getting some Cisco.
Petoskey: No boats have been out. Angler pressure was very light at the mouth of the river and on the piers. A couple northern pike were caught near the beach when casting jigs or spinners.
Bear River: Still had some steelhead below the dam, but not as many as a couple weeks ago. There are still suckers and planter brown trout in the river as well. Most anglers are using spawn bags, beads and flies.
Harbor Springs: A couple boats have been going out consistently and targeting lake trout. Fish were found off Harbor Point and further north in 100 to 130 feet when trolling spoons and spin-glo’s. The fish are near the bottom and eating mainly gobies.
Grand Traverse County: The trout and walleye opener were off to a slow start. Only a few trout were observed being caught on some small streams.
Lake Leelanau: Walleye were caught on the north end of the North Lake before sunrise and after sunset.
Missaukee County: Brook trout were caught on the Clam River and a couple brown trout were caught on Hopkins Creek.
Manistee: Lake trout were caught both north and south of the harbor. Fish were close to shore and out to 80 feet. A few Chinook were also caught. Pier anglers had no luck.
Manistee River: Anglers are getting the occasional trout and some walleye.
Ludington: Those trolling caught good numbers of lake trout both north and south of the harbor in 30 to 60 feet. Pier fishing was slow although a coho was landed on spawn and a couple smallmouth bass were caught off the stub pier.
Pentwater: When the weather permits, pier anglers caught walleye and coho. Lake trout and brown trout were caught in 10 to 15 feet off Little Point Sable.
Upper Peninsula
Ontonagon: Steelhead being caught in the lake means spring is here. Warmer weather did help the bite as angles caught coho, lake trout, steelhead, brown trout and the occasional Chinook.
Little Bay De Noc: Anglers were getting some perch near the First Reef off Kipling and to the north. A few smallmouth bass were caught near the mouth of the Ford River.
Manistique River: Was producing a fair number of steelhead.
Munising: Windy and cooler weather has meant fewer boats heading out. Water temperatures remain in the 30’s. Those targeting coho had poor catch rates although a few nice splake were caught. Limits of lake trout were reported with the average fish being 4-5 pounds. Shore and pier anglers caught a couple steelhead or splake.
Grand Marais: Anglers continue to do well for whitefish with limit catches reported. Though most fish were 13 inches or so, a few bigger ones were also caught.
Luce County: Trout lakes were producing some very nice brook trout.
St. Marys River: Perch fishing slowed. Lake trout were caught off Detour.