Anglers are reminded that this coming weekend, June 10th and 11th is Michigan's annual Free Fishing Weekend. It is the perfect time to introduce someone new to the sport of fishing. A statewide list of activities can be found on the DNR web site under Free Fishing Weekend. The Upper Peninsula reported good bluegill and rock bass fishing, but the walleye, bass and pike were a bit slow. Those fishing the trout streams continue to do well with the May-fly hatch in full swing. In the Lower Peninsula, fishing continues to improve as the waters continue to warm. The bluegills are still on their beds in many areas. Walleye, northern pike, freshwater drum and catfish are all active right now.
 

Lake Erie - Boat anglers continue to catch walleye when trolling near the Fermi Power Plant, the Banana Dike and the Dumping Grounds. Crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers caught the most fish. Hot colors this week are purple and chartreuse. Fair to good numbers of white bass have been caught on minnows. No yellow perch reports as the fish are now moving out into the big lake.

Detroit River - Walleye fishing has started to slow. Anglers are still fishing the lower river between Wyandotte and Celeron Island. The river is still full of white bass, and this presents a good fishery for both boat and shore anglers. Try fishing for bluegill, rock bass and yellow perch.

St. Clair River - Walleye fishing has been very good and should stay that way through the weekend. Anglers are catching walleye both up and down the river with limit catches reported. Try drifting crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers or jigs tipped with minnows. The fish are 15 to 17 inches with a few larger fish mixed in.

Ford Lake - Fishing has finally started to pick up. Good walleye fishing when trolling or drifting crawlers and bottom bouncers at night. Shore anglers have also caught fish when throwing crank baits. Bass anglers have done well using surface baits in the early morning and changing to plastic worms and tube jigs during the day. Bluegills and crappie are hitting on earthworms and wax worms.

Lexington - Lake trout and the occasional chinook salmon have been caught when trolling spoons in 40 to 80 feet of water. Yellow perch have been caught south of Lexington in 20 feet of water. The key is to drift until you find a school of fish, then anchor. Pier anglers have caught smallmouth bass and rock bass.

Port Sanilac - Lake trout and chinook salmon have been caught, but catch rates were slow. Boats are trolling spoons or plugs in waters up to 80 feet deep. Pier anglers here have also caught rock bass and smallmouth bass.

Harbor Beach - Has fair to good salmon fishing north of the harbor in 90 to 120 feet of water. Fishing spoons, Spin Doctors and flies in the top 60 feet of water worked best. Lake trout fishing is good straight out and north of the harbor using Dodgers with Spin-n-Glows and Cow Bells with cut baits. Try bouncing along the bottom in 90 to 120 feet of water. Steelhead fishing is slow, try fishing color lines with long lines and small spoons in the top 50 feet of water. Slow brown trout fishing. Try small spoons and body baits on long lines in 30 to 60 feet of water just south of the harbor. For yellow perch, try minnows by the Lighthouse or Cemetery in 45 to 60 feet of water. Good bass fishing inside the harbor when casting or trolling body baits.

Saginaw Bay - Very good walleye fishing in up and down the west side of the bay. Hot spots were the Black Hole, 19 feet of water near the Spark Plug, near the mouth of the KawKawlin River in 17 feet of water, and all the way from Jones Road east to the Callahan Reef in 5 to 10 feet of water. Those trolling are using Hot-n-Tots in the deeper waters and crawler harnesses in shallow waters. Good numbers of channel catfish have been caught near the Hot Ponds. Walleye action on the east side of the bay has not been as good as the west side. A few fish were taken off Quanicassee and Sebewaing in 10 feet of water. At Bay Port, good bass fishing was reported in waters 2 to 6 feet deep in Wildfowl Bay. A few walleye were caught between Caseville and Port Austin when fishing off the Hat Reef.

Saginaw River - Walleye have been caught in the lower river near the mouth when using jigs baited with crawlers or leeches.

Quanicassee River - Shore anglers continue to catch good numbers of channel catfish using crawlers, leeches, minnows, or cut bait.
 

St. Joseph - A few summer run steelhead are being taken off the piers, and in the mud line. Some yellow perch have also been caught on minnows. Chinook salmon and lake trout have been caught in waters 40 to 100 feet deep.

St. Joseph River - Steelhead fishing has slowed from last week as water levels are up and slightly discolored. Water temperatures are also up, causing the steelhead to seek cold water. Anglers will want to target the deeper holes and in front of the creeks. Walleye and smallmouth bass fishing were slow, but panfish were caught on crawlers up near the dam.

South Haven - Chinook salmon are here as well in 40 to 150 feet of water. Yellow perch can be found in 50 to 60 feet of water. Pier fishing has been very slow.

Kalamazoo River - Walleye fishing slowed this week, but anglers have caught northern pike. Those fishing up near the Allegan Dam have caught bluegill and rock bass. Smallmouth bass were caught on tube baits and spinners.

Grand Haven - Boat anglers are heading out to waters 150 to 300 feet deep for trout and salmon. Try heading north up towards Muskegon, but watch for the nets. Most are trolling with downriggers and spoons at depths ranging from 40 to 150 feet. Hot colors are orange, green, yellow and watermelon. Anglers are taking alewife for bait.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Smallmouth bass fishing has started to slow. The bluegills are still on the beds, and the crappie can now be found near the drop-offs. Those fishing off the bridges have caught channel catfish on chicken liver and cut bait. Good numbers of flathead catfish have been caught on small bluegills and gizzard shad. Plenty of carp can be seen rolling in the river.

Reeds Lake - Fair yellow perch fishing in 15 to 20 feet of water. Bluegills were still on the beds as of this report.

Grand River at Lansing - Carp and channel catfish have been caught. The bluegills are on the beds. No word on walleye or crappie.

Looking Glass River - Has fair to good northern pike fishing when slow trolling or drifting. Shore anglers fishing at Babcock's Landing have caught bluegills, crappie and northern pike. Try using worms or minnows for bluegill and crappie. Carp can be seen rolling in the river.

Lake Ovid - At Sleepy Hollow State Park, many of the bluegills were still on the beds. Boat anglers will want to fish the waters 10 feet deep or deeper for the bigger bluegills. This might be a good time to try a spider on the surface for bluegills and redear sunfish.

Muskegon - Boat anglers are heading out to waters up to 300 feet deep for a mixed bag of chinook, coho, lake trout and steelhead. Some boats are heading north to the Duck Lake area and beyond while trolling spoons at depths ranging from 40 to 150 feet. Hot colors here are green, orange, yellow and watermelon.
 

Rogers City - Lake trout are everywhere. This would be a good time to take someone new out fishing as the lake trout are biting well. The better spots to fish are still straight out of the harbor, near Adams Point, or Seagull Point which is just northwest of the harbor. Try 5 feet off the bottom in waters 30 to 90 feet deep, or fishing the entire water column. Some nice healthy chinook salmon with alewife and smelt in their stomach have been caught recently. Try fishing about the top 60 feet in waters 80 to 120 feet deep. Good colors are green, purple, black and white or anything that glows in the early morning or late evening.

Presque Isle - Very good lake trout fishing, but quite a few fish have been thrown back as the minimum size limit is 22 inches. Try fishing off Stoneport, in the North Bay or just off Big Light Point. Some are fishing just off the bottom in waters 30 to 65 feet deep while others are fishing the entire water column for bigger fish. Light numbers of chinook and atlantic salmon can be found in waters 60 to 120 feet deep.

Hubbard Lake - Some nice walleye and smallmouth bass have been caught near Churchill Point when drifting crawler harnesses. Smallmouth bass are also hitting on worms along the shoreline.

Alpena - The bigger walleye seem to be out in Thunder Bay around Grass Island. While there are fewer fish, those that are patient will be rewarded with bigger fish and better overall quality. If you're looking to pick up some nice bass, Squaw Bay is the place. A few whitefish and walleye were caught recently. Try trolling crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers.

Thunder Bay River - Catfish are spawning in the lower river. Anglers can catch 2 to 5 pound cats using minnows, crawlers, leeches, and cut bait. Freshwater drum are also staring their spawning run. Use the same technique except drum take lures more readily than catfish. Most of the fish are running 2 to 6 pounds with the occasional 8 to 10 pound fish mixed in. Good numbers of smallmouth bass and rock bass can also be found in the river. There is excellent public access in Alpena on the breakwall and river fronts all through Alpena from the Ninth Street Dam downstream to the marina near the mouth.

Harrisville - Lake trout have been caught in 70 to 130 feet of water. Some fish have been caught near the bottom while others appear to be suspended in the water column. Catch rates have not been consistent.

Oscoda - Pier anglers have caught walleye in the morning. Freshwater drum, catfish and rock bass were caught off the pier near the parking area. Boat anglers have caught mainly lake trout when trolling with spoons in waters 60 to 80 feet deep. A few chinook and pink salmon were also caught.

Au Sable River - Catfish and freshwater drum are also spawning here in the lower river. Try using minnows, crawlers, leeches, and cut bait for catfish and lures for freshwater drum. Smallmouth bass and rock bass can also be found in the river.

Tawas - Pier anglers have taken a mix of walleye, northern pike, rock bass and small perch. Those trolling have caught walleye near Buoy #4 after dark, out near Buoy #2 and down near the stone dock off Alabaster. The best walleye fishing in Tawas Bay is after dark.

Tawas River - Bass and channel catfish have been caught.

Au Gres - Walleye fishing has been terrific with limit catches reported about 3 miles straight off the mouth of the Au Gres River using crawler harnesses in 25 to 32 feet of water. The fish are not huge, but there are a lot of them.

Au Gres River - Shore anglers are catching a lot of channel catfish.

Higgins Lake - Good numbers of lake trout have been caught just off the bottom in 100 feet of water using Cowbells and minnows. Fish in the 18 to 20 pound range have been caught. Yellow perch have been caught in 20 to 50 feet of water around Treasure Island, but sorting out the small ones will be necessary.

Houghton Lake - Walleye have been caught when slow trolling or drifting along the bottom in waters 8 to 10 feet deep. Good numbers of northern pike have been caught, but many are running on the small side. The bluegills and crappie have not spawned yet. The bluegills are on the bottom in 8 feet of water. Try leaf worms or wax worms. Crappie can be found about 5 feet down in waters 8 feet deep near the Middle Grounds and along the weed beds.
 

Petoskey - Shore and pier anglers have caught everything from carp and bullheads to smallmouth bass and rock bass. Lake trout were caught by those trolling with spoons and attractors off Bay Harbor.

Charlevoix - Good numbers of lake trout are being caught 30 to 85 feet down using spoons and cowbells. Fish ranging from 6 to 8 ½ pounds have been caught off both North Point and South Point.

Lake Charlevoix - Walleye ranging from 12 to 24 inches have been caught from the access site at Dutchmans Bay to the park in East Jordan when trolling crawler harnesses and Rapalas in 15 to 20 feet of water. Walleye were also taken by Young State Park in 10 to 20 feet of water. Smallmouth bass were caught near Young State Park, Horton Bay and Oyster Bay using crawler harnesses with Rapalas, tube baits, and leeches. Northern pike and catfish can be found near Boyne City and Dutchmans Bay when trolling crawler harnesses in 5 to 18 feet of water.

Leland - Lake trout fishing has been very good. Try running cowbells and Spin-n-Glows on the bottom off the first bank. Chinook salmon have also been caught. Hootchie Mama's and flies have also worked well. The smallmouth bass are on their beds in the harbor. Carp were taken by shore anglers.

Glen Arbor - Fishing has been very good. Chinook salmon have been caught off Pyramid Point, Sleeping Bear Point, and near the Manitou Islands. Try using Spin Doctors and flies or cut bait rigs and spoons.

Glen Lake - Has good large and smallmouth bass fishing. Yellow perch fishing has been slow as they have just finished spawning and are scattered all over the lake. Fish the narrows in the morning with crayfish or leeches.

Traverse City - On the East Bay, anglers continue to catch good numbers of lake trout along the South Bank and by Deepwater Point while trolling cowbells, spoons, or green Spin-n-Glows in 100 to 130 feet of water. A few salmon were caught along the southern portion of the bay while fishing for lake trout. Whitefish action was hit-or-miss along Deepwater Point as fish were located in 60 to 120 feet of water. Most whitefish were taken on wigglers, although a few were caught while jigging Swedish Pimples. On West Bay, fair numbers of lake trout were caught while trolling the gravel pit area and up to Bowers Harbor. A few lake trout and salmon were caught in 100 to 130 feet of water north of Greilickville near the White Walls. Whitefish were caught in 60 feet of water when jigging Swedish Pimples or still-fishing wigglers on the bottom.

Elk River - Has good numbers of smallmouth bass and nice size perch below the dam. Wigglers and minnows produced the most fish.

Crystal Lake - Boat anglers have caught whitefish and lake trout just off Cold Creek and Railroad Point.

Frankfort - Trout and salmon fishing has been decent, with a mixed bag of lake trout and chinook salmon caught. Fish have been caught when trolling in the evening from the Herring Hole all the way to Point Betsie. Pier fishing has been slow, but a few chinook salmon were caught using alewife, which can be found around the piers.

Upper and Lower Herring Lake - Good numbers of panfish have been caught in both lakes. Try fishing the north end of Lower Herring Lake for the bigger walleye. On Upper Herring, the fish are usually scattered throughout the lake, so anglers will drift with crawler harnesses and minnows.

Bear Lake -Reported good walleye fishing. Try drifting crawler harnesses or trolling with Hot-n-Tot's in 20 feet of water along the East Middle Grounds.

Onekama - Chinook and lake trout have been caught on meat rigs or green and white spoons when trolling along the Shelf or near the Barrel. Those fishing off the piers have caught a few smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass.

Portage Lake - Has good fishing as the bluegills have moved into shallow waters. Yellow perch have been caught, and walleye anglers have done best in the evening when trolling along the weed lines.

Manistee - Fishing remains slow as the fish are scattered in deep waters. A few boats able to travel 15 to 19 miles out towards a slick have caught some really nice steelhead on the surface. A few chinook have been caught in the harbor and up to the north. No fish have been taken off the pier.

Lake Cadillac - Fishing for crappie at the east end by the Junior High School is still taking place using minnows in 6 to 8 feet of water. Other panfish have been caught around the lake using worms in 4 to 6 feet of water.

Lake Mitchell - Bass fishing is still good with fish on the beds. Northern pike fishing slowed recently.

Ludington - Fishing has been slow. Boat anglers trolling for chinook, lake trout and steelhead have caught some fish up near Big Sable Point. No fish have been taken off the pier.

Pentwater - Fishing has been slow. Salmon are being taken in waters 80 to 230 feet.

Ontonagon - Good walleye fishing near the mouth of the river. A mix of coho salmon and lake trout were caught in 150 feet of water.

Ontonagon River - Good numbers of 12 to 19 inch walleye have been caught.

Black River - Those fishing in the harbor reported good catches of trout and salmon when trolling spoons and stick baits in waters up to 20 feet deep.

Lake Gogebic - The walleye have been very active so anglers have done well when jigging minnows in 8 to 18 feet of water.

Keweenaw Bay - Salmon fishing is good. Chinook and coho were caught 30 to 60 feet down in waters 40 to 80 feet deep. The better catches have come in the early mornings between 5:00am and 9:00. Fair lake trout fishing was reported when jigging in waters 220 to 260 feet deep. In Traverse Bay, lake trout have been caught when jigging in waters up to 240 feet deep, or trolling in waters 130 to 160 feet deep.

Lake Michigamme - Anglers caught walleye on crawlers, minnows and leeches when fishing near the islands in the early morning. Smallmouth bass and rock bass were caught in shallow waters of the bays when jigging or casting. Northern pike were caught near the dam on the south end of the lake and near the mouth of the Peshekee River.

Menominee River - Good walleye fishing from the Turn Basin upstream to Stephenson Island when jigging worms or casting Rapalas. Musky, smallmouth bass and catfish have also been caught.

Little Bay De Noc - Has good walleye fishing at night. More anglers are going out about and hour or two before dark and returning before midnight with excellent catches. Some are fishing 5 to 8 feet down in waters less than 20 feet deep off Gladstone Beach and the Second Reef. Shore anglers wading off Sand Point at night reported excellent walleye catches when casting crank baits. Good fishing near the mouth of the Whitefish River and south of Garth Point when trolling or drifting crawlers in 8 to 19 feet of water. Smallmouth bass have been caught along the shoreline off Gladstone, Strawberry Island and south of the Ford River mouth.

Escanaba River - A few walleye were caught when drifting crawlers right along the bottom.

Big Bay De Noc - Has good walleye fishing just south of Porcupine Point when drifting crawlers 5 to 10 feet down in waters 18 feet deep. Fish were marked in the north corner of Kate's Bay but few catches were reported. Smallmouth bass fishing was very good in Puffy Bay, Martins Bay, and off Porcupine Point when casting spinners, crank baits and tube baits up in the shallows. Near Fairport, anglers trolling for salmon are using downriggers with spoons in 45 to 80 feet of water. Smallmouth bass can be found around the islands.

Marquette - A fair number of boat anglers on Lake Superior have been fishing for lake trout. Most are trolling near the Upper Harbor in 140 to 200 feet of water. There were reports of a few chinook salmon that got away, but overall the salmon fishing has been slow.

Munising - Slow catch rates for coho in this area of the state. A few chinook were taken, but catch rates were spotty overall. Lake trout fishing was fair in the deeper waters, but splake fishing was slow. A couple steelhead were also caught.

Upper St. Mary's River - Walleye fishing has started to improve as water temperatures all over the bay are now 58 to 60 degrees. Those trolling around Munuscong Bay are using crawler harnesses in shallow waters 3 to 6 feet deep. A few limits of white fish were caught behind the Sault Ste. Marie Power Plant when using very small smelt or small kernels of white corn in 12 to 14 feet of water.

De Tour - Is still the hot spot for catching chinook, lake trout and atlantic salmon. Most of the action is coming from the Shipping Channel to the #3 Green Can and around the Lighthouse on gold and green or blue and green lures.