Slow fishing was reported on Lake Erie. Most of the boats are duck hunters, so angler pressure has been light. Some yellow perch were caught off Stony Point and Sterling State Park. Smallmouth bass can be found in shallow waters.

Those fishing the River Raisin caught northern pike up near Dundee. Steelhead can be found in the Huron River between Ford Street and Huroc Park in Flat Rock. Most fish were taken on spawn, plugs or spoons.

Melting snow and recent rains are helping to raise water levels in the Detroit River. Yellow perch fishing did slow, so anglers are moving around to locate schools of fish. A few walleye were caught at night near the Detroit Edison Plant. Fair to good walleye fishing was reported in the Trenton Channel.

On Lake St. Clair, the skid piers have been removed from all the access sites. Shore anglers have caught light numbers of walleye on jigs with minnows. Fair to good yellow perch fishing was reported. Bluegill, crappie and yellow perch have been caught on the north end of the lake around Anchor Bay. Those fishing near the mouth of the Clinton River have caught a few walleye and northern pike. The St. Clair River continues to provide good walleye action.

Around Saginaw Bay, yellow perch have been caught from Linwood to Caseville, when fishing in the cuts and canals with minnows or wax worms. Walleye have been caught when jigging minnows in the Saginaw River from the Zilwaukee Bridge to Wicks Park. Those fishing the Tittabawassee River have caught walleye when jigging minnows in the deeper holes.

Southwestern Lower Peninsula

Near St. Joe, pier anglers as well as those surfcasting have caught steelhead and whitefish. Those casting spoons have caught steelhead. Whitefish are hitting on a small hook or a jig with a single salmon egg.

Water levels are still low on the St. Joe River, even with melting snow and recent rains. Boat anglers may want to take a pair of waders with them. The fish ladders at Berrien Springs and Niles are now closed. Steelhead fishing is still decent below the Berrien Springs Dam. No limit catches, but plenty of nice fish have been caught. Boat anglers are still back trolling with flat fish. A few walleye were caught on a jig with a minnow in the deeper holes downstream. In the Dowagiac River, steelhead were hitting on spawn. Those fly fishing have caught brown trout when using egg patterns.

From South Haven, fishing slowed on the piers and in the river for steelhead and walleye. Near Holland, pier and shore anglers had limited success for steelhead. On Lake Macatawa, bluegills were caught in shallow waters near Kollen Park.

Those fishing the Grand River near Grand Rapids should see more steelhead. Rain along with melting snow did help raise the water levels and make conditions just right for a fresh run of fish. Those wading should use caution because of the higher water levels and stronger currents. Most anglers are drifting spawn or casting small spoons and spinners. Near Lansing, anglers seeking steelhead should try fishing below the Lyons Dam or further upstream at the Webber Dam. Fishing for resident fish may not last too much longer, as the river could ice over with the next cold spell.

At Muskegon, pier and shore anglers continue to catch steelhead when using spawn, small spoons, spinners or plugs. Whitefish have been caught at the mouth and in the Muskegon Channel. Try fishing a single egg just off the bottom. The Muskegon River continues to get a good run of steelhead. Try jigging for walleye in the deeper holes.

Northeastern Lower Peninsula

Fair walleye and yellow perch fishing was reported on Mullet Lake. Anglers are using Hot-n-Tots for walleye and minnows for perch. Steelhead and walleye can be found in the Cheboygan River. Those fishing the Ocqueoc River have caught fair numbers of steelhead on spawn, spoons and spinners.

From Alpena, whitefish have been caught on wax worms in the Thunder Bay River near the Ninth Street Dam. Brown trout and steelhead have also been caught. Most fish were taken on spawn and flies.

Near Oscoda, whitefish have been caught off the North Pier and while surfcasting. Anglers are using a single hook with an egg or wax worm and small spoons or plugs. Only a few walleye have been caught off the pier. Good numbers of whitefish have been caught near the mouth of the Au Sable River when fishing near the bottom with wax worms. Steelhead and walleye have been caught in the Au Sable River. Rock bass were caught in Foote Dam Pond when using minnows and leeches. Northern pike are hitting on minnows and crayfish.

From Tawas, those seeking whitefish reported excellent fishing off the State Dock. Most of the fish have been caught about 9 feet down when using a tear drop with a wax worm and slip bobber. Very few boats have been out in the bay, but those able to get out have managed to catch an occasional steelhead.

Inland, brown trout and rainbow trout have been caught in Higgins Lake. Those surfcasting have caught fish along the west shore and off the North State Park. Spawn bags and minnows worked best. A few boats are still seeking trout. Anglers are trolling about halfway down in waters 20 to 40 feet deep with flat fish or Rapalas. Houghton Lake had skim ice until the big thaw at the beginning of the week. Most anglers are now waiting for the start of the ice fishing season.

Northwestern Lower Peninsula