Northeast Lower Peninsula
Alpena: Anglers targeting walleye reported fishing as hit or miss due to cooler water temperatures. Crankbaits trolled in 17 to 25 feet of water had limited success, as did trolling shallow water during low-light conditions. Anglers targeting trout and salmon had fair results near North Point and Thunder Bay Island. Spoons and spin glows trolled near the bottom in 60 to 80 feet of water were productive for lake trout. Orange, green, and chartreuse spoons trolled in the top 25 feet of the water column produced Atlantic salmon, steelhead, and a few coho salmon.
Thunder Bay River: Good catches of catfish were reported throughout the river while using nightcrawlers and cut bait fished on the bottom, along with the occasional freshwater drum. Walleye anglers also found success using crawlers and leeches intermittently throughout the day.
Rockport: Lake trout fishing remained solid, with fish scattered throughout the water column. Anglers reported success using a wide variety of spoon colors, and Spin-N-Glos were also productive. Atlantic salmon, steelhead, and coho salmon were found high in the water column from Middle Island to Stone Port. Standard-sized spoons in bright colors worked best. Anglers targeting walleye reported no success. A few northern pike and smallmouth bass were caught in Bell Bay while using spinnerbaits and natural-colored tube jigs.
Cheboygan: Anglers trolling spoons in 40 to 70 feet of water have been successful at Poe Reef and Raynold’s Reef for lake trout. Good colors have been oranges and greens.
The Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex remains closed to the public. Downstream of the Cheboygan Dam, walleye, bass, pike, rock bass and the occasional freshwater drum were reported. The bite slowed down due to a mayfly hatch. Walleye anglers drifted hook-and-worm rigs in the morning and trolled night crawler harnesses at night. Shore anglers cast body baits and drifted night crawlers under slip bobbers.
At the river mouth, anglers cast swim baits, spinner baits, and tube baits and reported catches of smallmouth bass and pike.
Rogers City: Anglers continued to target lake trout with good success. The best depths were 50 to 80 feet of water. Anglers used cowbells or flashers with Spin-N-Glos close to the bottom for lake trout, while also running other lines throughout the water column. Spoons also produced well for lake trout higher in the water column.
The occasional silver fish was also caught, but recent northwest winds scattered them throughout the area. More stable winds were expected to help increase activity. The silver fish that were caught were primarily taken higher in the water column, mostly within the top 50 feet.
Productive areas included south toward Adam’s Point, straight out from shore, and north toward the state park and 40 Mile Point. Spoons continued to be a good choice when deployed from downriggers, leadcore, and copper lines run off planer boards and dipsy divers. Effective colors included greens, blues, yellows, oranges, and spoons with glow patterns.
Presque Isle: Lake trout fishing was excellent, with anglers consistently pulling limits. The best depths were 50 to 100 feet of water. Anglers deployed lines throughout the water column using downriggers, leadcore, copper lines, and dipsy divers. Spoons were the most effective choice, with productive colors including greens, blues, orange, gold, yellow, and UV patterns.
Cowbells or flashers with Spin-N-Glos were also effective for targeting lake trout. Silver fish were caught in the top 50 feet of the water column. The occasional Atlantic salmon, steelhead, coho salmon, and Chinook salmon were also reported.
