Note: Aside from Free Fishing Weekend, all anglers 17 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license. 

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. Frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water, or use hand sanitizer.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs: Lake trout and cisco were caught up around Harbor Point. Five Mile and Seven Mile Point have been popular fishing spots all summer. Lake trout were caught 80 to 130 feet down. A couple salmon were caught around Seven Mile Point.  Smallmouth bass were caught along the drop-off near Harbor Point.

Petoskey: Boats were heading toward Nine Mile Point or north of Harbor Springs as they did not have much luck near Petoskey. Salmon should begin moving closer to the area near the breakwall as they prepare to move into the river. Water levels in the Bear River were near normal, and angler effort picked up. The Bobber Hole at the mouth of the river continues to be slow, with only a couple rock bass or freshwater drum caught when casting crankbaits or worms with or without a bobber. 

Charlevoix: Boat effort picked up as catch rates seem to improve a bit. Most were fishing off North Point and Nine Mile Point or from the cement plant to Fisherman’s Island. Lake trout were hitting spoons, spin-glo’s and meat rigs 100 to 120 feet down. A few small Chinook were caught 60 to 90 feet down in 180 to 200 feet. Smallmouth bass are being targeted in the channel as the bite was improving, and more keeper-size fish were caught. Freshwater drum and rock bass were also caught by those using live or artificial crawlers and leeches on the bottom. 

Frankfort: A small number of Chinook salmon are starting to show up in Betsie Bay. Those jigging Jonah jigs reported some good-size fish near the old car ferry landing. Those trolling in 150 to 180 feet caught a few Chinook and lake trout in the top 80 feet. 

Arcadia: Was producing some nice Chinook, including fish up to 30 pounds or more. 

Onekama: Anglers trolling in front of the golf course and along the “barrel” reported a few Chinook, but mostly lake trout were caught on spoons 40 to 70 feet down.

Portage Lake: Had no good reports, as warm water temperatures and the abundance of wigglers and mayflies made fishing difficult. 

Manistee: Fishing was slow, and the fish were scattered. A few Chinook salmon were caught 45 to 80 feet down in 100 to 250 feet along the “Shelf” with spoons and meat rigs. In deeper waters, a few salmon, lake trout, steelhead and a nice brown trout were found 60 to 70 feet down.   

Manistee River: Anglers caught the occasional steelhead, brown trout, bass and even a few pike. 

Ludington: Salmon and steelhead were caught to the south in 250 to 400 feet, out from the projects in 150 feet and out from the pier heads in 50 to 85 feet. Slightly north and up to Big Sable Point, salmon were 40 to 60 feet down in 80 to 210 feet and hitting on spoons and a few meat rigs. 

Pere Marquette Lake: Catch rates were hit or miss, but a few salmon continue to be caught by those trolling.