Anglers getting ready to hit the rivers for the beginning of the fall salmon runs have welcomed the rain and cooler temperatures, which have helped push fish into the river systems. Some are running a bit muddy due to all the rain, but should clear back up with nice weather by the weekend.

Lake Erie - Fishing was poor for the most part for perch and terrible for walleye. We need a week or so of calm dry weather to clear up lake conditions. Not many perch were taken off Stony Point, Fermi Power Plant or the E Buoy. Those anglers that did catch fish were actually fishing in deeper waters 25 to 28 feet deep. Fish were taken out near the Sputnik and the River Raisin Channel.

Detroit River - Fishing slowed but anglers are still catching some fish. A few limits of walleye were taken in the Trenton Channel. Perch were caught in the southern end of the channel between Elizabeth Park and Horse Island when drifting perch rigs with small minnows. Smallmouth bass and catfish have also been caught.

Lake St. Clair - Boat anglers have taken a few walleye when trolling in 10 to 15 feet of water with crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers between Grass Island and Strawberry Island. A few musky were also taken. Fair to good bass fishing was reported with the fish hitting on spinners, tube baits or crawlers.

St. Clair River - Walleye fishing continues to improve with the rain and cool weather. Boat and shore anglers are still taking fish up near Port Huron when trolling crawler harnesses or rapalas between the Black River and the Blue Water Bridge. A couple salmon were taken when trolling glow spoons or J-plugs just past the bridge.

Lexington - Salmon have started to move in closer to shore. Boat anglers have managed to catch salmon and trout when trolling just inside the harbor. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and perch have also been caught.

Harbor Beach - Salmon have started to move in towards the harbor. Boats trolling straight out or just north of the harbor have caught light numbers of chinook and lake trout with dodgers and flies or J-plugs. Pier anglers are starting to catch salmon in the early morning or late evening when casting spoons or drifting spawn.

Port Austin - Salmon are just starting to show up in the harbor, so pier anglers are starting to catch a few fish. Boat anglers are trolling for chinook, lake trout and brown trout just off the pierheads in the early morning. Pier anglers have caught northern pike, smallmouth bass and rock bass.

Saginaw Bay - Anglers who got out before the latest cold front arrived did pretty well on perch out by the Spark Plug, at Buoy 22, and in 8 to 10 feet of water just north of Spoils Island. Once the weather starts to settle down, the perch fishing should improve.
 

St. Joseph - Fishing over the last week has been off and on. Boats are trolling in front of the piers with spoons and small J-plugs. Pier anglers have caught chinook along with the occasional coho and brown trout. Perch can still be found out in deeper waters.

St. Joe River - Chinook salmon and steelhead fishing is good. Boat anglers have done well up near the Berrien Springs Dam when using crankbaits or spawn. Those wading have caught fish when drifting flies and Wobble Glows. Boat anglers seemed to be catching more fish. Walleye and bass fishing have dropped off as everyone is now fishing for salmon.

South Haven - Has fair to good salmon fishing when trolling in waters 40 to 80 feet deep. Perch fishing continues in 30 to 50 feet of water. Pier anglers have caught a few salmon in the early morning. Smallmouth bass and freshwater drum were taken on crawlers and small spoons off the South Pier.

Grand Haven - Boats are trolling right in front of the pierheads just before sunrise. Fish have also been caught between the piers and in the mud lines. Fair to good perch fishing continues when using small alewife for bait.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Anglers fishing up near the Sixth Street Dam continue to catch chinook and coho salmon on spawn bags. A few walleye were taken in the deeper holes, but the action was slow.

Grand River at Lansing - There are currently a few coho salmon moving through the fish ladder at the Webber Dam. No fish to report in Lansing at this time, but they are heading this way. Bluegills are hitting on wax worms and leaf worms over at Moore's Park. Channel catfish have also been caught on crawlers, shrimp, or small bluegills.

Lake Ovid / Sleepy Hollow State Park - Boat anglers are catching some nice catfish in the early morning hours when floating dead or frozen minnows and crawlers under a bobber.

Muskegon - Boats are fishing north up towards Duck Lake for chinook and coho. Most fish were taken 50 to 70 feet down in waters 90 to 120 feet deep. A couple brown trout were also caught. Those fishing off the pierheads in the early morning have caught salmon, and most of the fish taken so far have been males.

Muskegon Lake - Boat anglers are trolling in 25 feet of water on the north end of the lake near the North Branch and the South Branch of the river. Just before dawn and last light are the best times to fish when trolling, jigging or casting spoons that glow. Those surfcasting can be found in 4 to 5 feet of water when casting rapalas and glow spoons.

Muskegon River - More fish have moved up into the river system, but no word yet on whether the fish have made it to the dam.

Whitehall - Is currently reporting good pier fishing right now as there are a lot of salmon at the pier heads, in White Lake, and heading up the White River. Fishing in Lake Michigan has slowed down quite a bit as most of the fish are in close to shore and staging, or the non-spawning fish are still out quite deep as waters temperatures are still in the mid 60's.

White River - Anglers are doing very well and catching salmon at the old Railroad Bridge which is located at the mouth of the river.
 

Rogers City - Shallow water fishing has been the name of the game. Best spots have been from Calcite all the way down to Adams Point. Fish waters up to 60 feet deep and run lines at least 100 feet behind the planer boards. Good lures have been J-plugs in green with black, blue, silver and pearl. Use anything that glows when fishing early or late. Spoons have been used in deeper waters, fish them about 50 feet down. The salmon are hitting in the early morning before sunrise and well after the sun goes down.

Presque Isle - Fishing shallow waters 30 to 60 feet deep has been the most productive right now. Good places to try are straight out and south towards Stoneport, off North Bay and between the two lighthouses. Fish planer boards, leadcore dipseys and downriggers with a variety of spoons and J-plugs. Good colors have been green, white, black, purple or anything that glows.

Thunder Bay River - Most of the boat anglers in Alpena are sticking to the river and hoping to catch a couple early run salmon when trolling cut bait, J-plugs, dodgers and spoons. While some are starting at the mouth of the river and heading up to Fletchers, others are going out early in the morning to the First Buoy in the Bay. The Ninth Street Dam is still under major repair with a great deal of construction activity in the area. It appears that Fletcher Street and Second Street will also be closed for a while which means the launch site will most likely be closed as well.

Hubbard Lake - Walleye fishing was good when using crawlers or crankbaits in 45 to 50 feet of water. Bass action is fair using live bait such as worms in 8 to 12 feet of water. Perch fishing was still spotty with fish taken on both the north and the south ends of the lake in 12 to 14 feet of water. Minnows worked better than crawlers.

Harrisville - Anglers are starting to catch some chinook salmon at the mouth of the harbor when using pearl or chrome J-plugs. Those casting spoons in the harbor are using silver and blue or silver and green Cleo's.

Oscoda - Chinook salmon have been caught by boat anglers fishing just in front of the piers and out to waters about 40 feet deep while trolling with J-plugs in a variety of colors. Pier anglers did best early or late when using glow spoons.

Tawas - Most of the fishing activity was on the pier, with anglers catching perch, smallmouth bass, and the occasional walleye. Boat anglers have caught a lot of small perch near the pier and in the weed beds off Jerry's Marina. There was very little effort targeted on walleyes, but a few were caught down near Alabaster.

Tawas River - Salmon were spotted and caught in light numbers near the mouth.

Au Gres - Perch fishing has been very good when boats can get out. The better fishing has been in 25 to 45 feet of water off the mouth of the river, near the Hotel and the Shipping Channel. The perch are running 7 to 12 inches or bigger

Au Gres River - Salmon have been observed and caught at the mouth and up near the Singing Bridge. Try casting spoons or drifting spawn bags on the bottom.

Houghton Lake - Walleye fishing picked up with the cooler weather. Fish were caught when drifting crawler harnesses in 6 to 8 feet of water along the weed beds. Bluegills are in the weed beds and hitting on leaf worms and wax worms.
 

Petoskey - Salmon fishermen are finding fish in 20 to 60 feet of water. The better fishing is in the early morning with J-plugs, spoons, and dodgers with flies or squid. Super glow colors are indeed paying off. Use dipsey divers and planer boards, but pay close attention and do not cut behind other boats as long lines are being used by many. Pier and shore anglers have seen some action, but no big numbers of fish.

Lake Charlevoix - Salmon are still being caught between Whiting Point and the old Power Plant, in the Ironton Channel, near the mouth of the Boyne River and near the Coast Guard Station at Charlevoix. Trolling spoons and J-plugs 22 to 80 feet down in waters 25 to 100 feet deep has produced fish in the 10 to 15 pound range. Walleye fishing was slow with only a couple boats trolling crawler harnesses in 30 to 40 feet of water in the Ironton Channel and Horton Bay. Perch anglers continue to do well in Oyster Bay, Two Mile Bay, and near the Yacht Club using minnows and crawlers in 10 to 25 feet of water.

Traverse City - Salmon fishing on both Bays has been fair to good with 2 to 3 fish per boat. On the East Bay, try the Walls, the South Bank, off Yuba and Elk Rapids. Hootchie Mama's or Spin Doctors with green flies produced the better catches when trolling 30 to 60 feet down in 90 to 130 feet of water. On the West Bay, anglers are trolling in the Hole and around Red Buoy 8 at first light and just before dark.

Boardman River - The Weir was put into place on September 5th as salmon were beginning to enter the river. Anglers reported good success when surfcasting at the mouth in the early morning or late evening. Try casting glow spoons or still-fishing with spawn bags.

Leland - Has very good salmon fishing off the First Bank and on the north side of North Manitou Island. Lake trout catches were down because anglers are focused on chinook. J-plugs, flies and spoons are working best. Look for colder water down deep, at least 80 feet.

Glen Arbor - Fishing was excellent this past week as Sleeping Bear Bay was very cold from the surface to 100 feet. Limit catches of chinook salmon were reported off Pyramid Point and the mouth of the Crystal River where salmon have started staging.

Glen Lake - Perch fishing has started to pick up off the Narrows in 55 feet of water. Try crayfish and leeches fished on the bottom. Smallmouth bass are hitting spinner baits and body baits.

Glen Haven - Anglers have been catching smallmouth bass up to 5 pounds off the old fish piers.

Frankfort - Reported good catches of chinook, coho, and steelhead out in front of the piers. Some can be found in deep waters 100 to 250 feet deep while others have been close to the piers in 35 feet of water. A good bait to use this week whether you are on the pier or in a boat has been anything that glows.

Betsie River - A fish kill occurred in the river below the Homestead Dam during a U.S. Fish & Wildlife lampricide treatment last Friday. Not all the chinook salmon were killed during the treatment as the Betsie River hosts a large annual run of chinook salmon because of the excellent habitat for natural reproduction. A fresh run of chinook salmon were reported entering the river and moving upstream, and these fish are safe to eat. Fishing at the M-22 Bridge has been really good this week as most anglers are catching fish. Further upstream, the Homestead Dan has fish below it, but the better fishing has been along the middle stretch of the river.

Onekama - Those trolling are still taking decent catches of chinook along with a few coho. Try fishing out deep in 80 to 160 feet of water or in the Barrel which is just north of the port. Best lures have been green or white squid, any glow spoon, and white, gold, or purple flies. Pier anglers have caught a few chinook when colder waters can be found close to shore.

Portage Lake - Anglers caught bluegill and perch but the fish are running small. Those targeting walleye have picked up a few fish on the southwest end of the lake. Smallmouth bass and rock bass have been caught off the piers.

Manistee - Reported slow fishing as the fish are scattered. Salmon were caught in the harbor and out on the Shelf. Most of the fish caught have been chinook and coho. Pier anglers had some luck casting spoons off the North and South Piers.

Big Manistee River - Salmon are making their way up to Tippy Dam. Anglers have managed to catch a few fish when drifting spawn or flies.

Lake Cadillac - The fishing continues to pick up. Those fishing in 10 to 15 feet of water off the city launch and just southeast of the launch along the shoreline are catching good numbers of black crappie on minnows. Bluegills were caught along the south shoreline in 8 to 12 feet of water on wax worms and crawler pieces.

Lake Mitchell - Has excellent bass fishing. Anglers are using chartreuse and white spinner baits or tube baits and fishing the top water over the deep hole in the southeast corner of the lake. Lots of panfish have been caught in 10 to 15 feet of water off the Clam Lake Canal.

Ludington - Reported slower fishing as the fish are really scattered. Salmon were caught in waters anywhere from 30 to 200 feet deep. Pier anglers have caught a few chinook salmon on spoons off the North Pier. Shore anglers did well when casting by the State Park.

Pere Marquette River - A few chinook and coho have been caught in the river, but the action was slow. Steelhead are just starting to show up.

Pentwater River - Has good salmon fishing at Longbridge Road and the adjoining state land.
 

Ontonagon - Fishing is good when boats can get out. They are still picking up a mixed bag of chinook, coho, brown trout and lake trout when fishing in waters about 50 feet deep with downriggers and spoons.

Lake Gogebic - For those fishing this week they saw improvement in the catch rates for walleye when using slip bobbers with leeches or crawlers in 15 to 20 feet of water along the edge of the weed beds.

Lake Michigamme - With night temperatures dropping, walleye were caught when trolling leeches, jigging with crawlers, and drifting with live bait. Fish were caught in the West Arm near Presbytery Point and in the East Arm near the Peshekee River. Smallmouth bass were found in all areas of the lake and are hitting on worms and artificial baits. Northern pike can be found south of the islands and in the bays. They are hitting on spoons, rapalas, worms, and minnows.

Marquette - Lake trout fishing remains fair for some while others have found them hard to come by as most fish were taken in waters 200 feet deep. Salmon anglers are trolling in 40 to 70 feet of water near the harbors.

Dead River - Shore fishing has been slow however chinook and pink salmon have been seen.

Green Bay - Northwest winds with small craft warnings have slowed boat activity in the Bay. Fair walleye fishing was reported as the fish are moving in closer to shore. Boats are fishing between the Green Buoy near the Cedar River and south towards Hayward Bay. Salmon and trout fishing were also slow.

Menominee River - Now has salmon in the river. Good catches were reported when casting from the Lighthouse Pier. Sturgeon season is underway and angler pressure seems to be down from past years. Walleye catch rates were listed as fair by boat anglers jigging or still-fishing with worms near the Train Bridge.

Cedar River - Dredging operations at the mouth of the river have been completed. Angler pressure has been light with only a few smallmouth bass caught.

Little Bay De Noc - Anglers reported few fish caught inside the Bay as most have been taken down by the Shoals. Walleye were caught south of the Ford River over the Humps when trolling or drifting crawlers. Those fishing in the Escanaba Yacht Harbor have taken several nice northern pike when casting from shore or trolling in the shallows. Yellow perch have been caught when jigging worms in 10 to 12 feet of water in the early morning.

Big Bay De Noc - Though the weather has been bad, the fishing has been good. Boats have been staying in the Garden Bay area because of the winds. Good catches of smallmouth bass were reported when casting crankbaits in 12 to 22 feet of water. Those making it out to Snake Island have done better when working the break while using minnows and fishing 25 to 30 feet down. Salmon have still been caught off Fairport about 80 to 90 feet down in 100 to 120 feet of water.

Munising - Coho are moving into the Bay in slightly larger numbers. Boat and shore anglers had fair catches of coho and splake. Flies and spoons seem to work best. Lake trout fishing has ranged from fair to good on area reefs and banks. Cool nights and brisk afternoon north winds are cooling the waters down.