Northeast Lower Peninsula
Alpena: Walleye fishing had picked up, with fair catches reported near Sulphur Island and North Point. Pink, purple, and natural-colored body baits were productive in 16 to 20 feet of water. Lake trout, Atlantic salmon, and a few chinook salmon were caught near Thunder Bay Island in 50 to 80 feet of water. Orange, green, and white spoons produced decent catches when fished 15 to 40 feet down. Pier anglers reported catching smallmouth bass and catfish throughout the day on minnows and nightcrawlers.
Thunder Bay River: Fair numbers of catfish were caught during the day while fishing nightcrawlers on the bottom. Fair numbers of walleye were caught throughout the river using crawlers, leeches, and natural-colored body baits. Smallmouth bass continued to be caught on plastic swimbaits and spinnerbaits.
Rockport: Lake trout fishing was very good in depths of 20 to 60 feet. With colder water moving back in, anglers reported fish from top to bottom in the water column. Chartreuse, orange-gold, green, and white spoons worked well. A few anglers reported Chinook and Atlantic salmon near Stoneport and False Presque Isle. Early and late in the day were most productive, with orange, green, and watermelon patterns producing the best results. Those targeting smallmouth bass reported decent catches near Bell Bay on the rock piles. Plastic swimbaits in goby patterns produced the best results.
Cheboygan: There was a lot of action at Poe Reef, with anglers catching lake trout limits in 40 to 70 feet of water using spoons before the weather took a turn for the worse.
The Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complexremains closed to the public. Downstream of the Cheboygan Dam, walleye, smallmouth bass, and rock bass were reported. Walleye anglers produced steady catches between the pedestrian walkway bridge and the State Street drawbridge. Early morning boat anglers drifted simple hook-and-worm rigs, while night anglers trolled nightcrawler harnesses. Shore anglers drifted nightcrawlers under slip bobbers.
Bass anglers caught both keeper and undersized fish in Duncan Bay and the Cheboygan River. They were successful using a wide variety of baits, including crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft plastic swimbaits, and soft plastic stickbaits.
Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers fishing from the pier and catwalk did well catching catfish and freshwater drum while using crawlers and cut bait on the bottom. A few walleye were also caught from the pier while casting deep-diving body baits and in the lower river while drifting crawlers. Although the walleye bite slowed, anglers continued to catch a few fish.
Lake trout fishing was productive in 50 to 90 feet of water while trolling spoons, Spin-N-Glos, and flasher-fly combinations 5 to 10 feet off the bottom. A few steelhead, coho salmon, and the occasional Atlantic salmon were also caught on high lines fished 10 to 35 feet down in 80 to 120 feet of water.
Harrisville: Lake trout fishing was excellent in 60 to 90 feet of water, with many anglers reaching their limits. Spoons, Spin-N-Glos, cowbells, and flasher-fly combinations all produced fish. A few anglers also found pods of coho salmon and the occasional steelhead or Atlantic salmon while fishing high lines in more than 80 to 100 feet of water.
Rogers City: Lake trout fishing was excellent during the past week, with many boats reaching their limit. The best fishing occurred in 50 to 80 feet of water. Anglers reported success using downriggers, lead core, Dipsy Divers, and copper lines while spreading baits throughout the water column. Cowbells with Spin-N-Glos, as well as flashers and attractors paired with Spin-N-Glos, were effective when fished in the bottom 10 feet of the water column. Anglers also caught lake trout on spoons, with both magnum and slim spoons producing good results. Productive colors included green, blue, yellow, UV patterns, black, and orange. Anglers reported the best success when targeting areas with structure, where lake trout were commonly found.
Presque Isle: Lake trout fishing was very good during the past week, with many boats reaching their limit. The best fishing occurred in 60 to 100 feet of water. Anglers reported success using downriggers, lead core, Dipsy Divers, and copper lines while spreading lures throughout the water column. Cowbells and Spin-N-Glos, as well as flashers and attractors paired with Spin-N-Glos, produced good results when fished near the bottom. Anglers also caught fish on regular, magnum, and slim spoons. Productive colors included green, orange, yellow, blue, black, and UV patterns.
Gold and orange spoons fished higher in the water column produced Atlantic salmon, with bright colors and smaller spoons proving especially effective. Anglers also reported catching a few coho salmon, steelhead, and the occasional Chinook salmon. Fishing was productive from the harbor south toward Stoneport and False Presque Isle, as well as north of the harbor off North Bay and between the two lighthouses. Structured areas continued to produce fish, and baitfish were frequently observed near these locations.
