The salmon runs are still going strong; however anglers may have to deal with high water levels on many of the river systems. The salmon runs are close to their peak as a good number of chinook are now or will soon be on the gravel. Steelhead are also starting show up.

Anglers are reminded that all Type 1 and Type 2 rivers and streams along with Type A and Type D inland trout lakes closed to fishing on September 30th.
 

Lake Erie - Perch anglers have done well when fishing in waters 13 to 15 feet deep near the Detroit Light House. Anglers have also done well straight out from Metro Park Marina when fishing out near the buoys.

Huron River - Anglers are just starting to catch light numbers of steelhead when floating spawn or wax worms under a bobber up near the Flat Rock Dam.

Ford Lake - Bluegill continue to hit almost anything including red worms, wax worms and minnows. The fish are only running 5 to 6 inches. Walleye fishing was slow while crappie fishing was just fair. Bass are hitting on minnows, jigging spoons and tube jigs. Some nice large channel cats were caught by walleye and bass anglers.

Detroit River - Has good perch fishing near the mouth. Anglers are fishing the weed beds with perch rigs and shiner minnows in 4 to 12 feet of water around Celeron Island and Sugar Island. Smallmouth bass have been caught on live crayfish or tube baits when working the structure. Those looking for walleye are also working the areas with structure and near the channels while jigging mostly worms.

Lake St. Clair - Has good perch fishing. Boats are fishing between Nine Mile and Twelve Mile Roads, near the St. Clair Light, and off the 400 Club. Most fish have been caught in 8 to 14 feet of water using perch rigs. Those fishing in Canadian waters have not caught as many fish however the fish are bigger.

Port Sanilac - When they can get out, boat anglers are still taking some nice perch in waters about 48 feet deep. Pier anglers continue to target salmon in the very early morning or late at night.

Harbor Beach - Salmon have been marked outside the harbor during the day, but caught inside the harbor when fishing at night. The action is not red-hot by any means as the salmon may be a bit late coming in this year.

Port Austin - A few salmon were caught off the pier and around the gas docks when fishing at night.

Saginaw Bay - Storms producing strong winds have slowed fishing and kept anglers on shore. Those able to get out have been fishing for perch near the mouth of the Saginaw River and off Quanicassee. Shore anglers caught light numbers of perch.
 

St. Joseph - Conditions have not been good for boat anglers. Those able to get out reported few fish taken. Pier anglers have managed to catch a couple coho and steelhead when fishing in the early morning or late evening.

St. Joseph River - Though fishing has been a little slower, anglers are starting to catch more steelhead as the salmon run is beginning to wind down. Fish are still hitting on spawn but the boat anglers are catching more than the shore anglers.

Dowagiac River - Water levels are very high and extremely dirty. Anglers need to use caution as trying to wade the river right now would be a challenge. Good numbers of salmon have been hooked up near the dam when drifting spawn or flies.

Kalamazoo River - Chinook salmon have been caught from the mouth up to the Allegan Dam when trolling or drifting spawn or small spoons. Some are floating a single egg or a wax worm under a bobber.

South Haven - Rain along with windy conditions have kept many off the big lake. Boat anglers have caught very few steelhead or coho salmon. Those fishing off the pier have managed to catch light numbers in the early morning or late evening.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Those fishing up at the Sixth Street Dam reported that 90% of the salmon caught have been males. The females can be found down river on the gravel beds. A few brown trout were caught up near the dam, so look for some of the best brown trout fishing to take place in the next few weeks. Steelhead were also caught when fishing the deeper holes up near the dam and off the bridges. Try one or two drifts with egg flies, spoons, spinners or Hot-n-Tots. Those fishing off the Fulton Street and Pearl Street Bridges caught fish on chrome Hot-n-Tots or thundersticks.

Rogue River- Has good numbers of salmon in it. Those fishing up near the Childsdale Dam have caught all males as the females are downriver on the beds.

Grand River at Lansing - Anglers are catching coho along with the occasional chinook and steelhead. Fewer fish are being caught at the point where the Grand meets the Red Cedar, as the fish are moving on up to Sycamore Creek. Anglers should also try fishing above and below the North Lansing Dam or below the Moore's Park Dam for salmon.

Lake Ovid - Boat anglers searching for bluegills should try fishing the deeper waters with leaf worms, wax worms or corn.

Muskegon - Warm water temperatures near 62 degrees have made fishing difficult. Boats are trolling 80 to 125 feet down in waters 100 to 200 feet deep. Most of the steelhead have been caught high in the water column. No word on pier fishing.

Muskegon River - Salmon along with the occasional steelhead have been caught. Greater numbers of steelhead should start moving into the river system in the next week or two.

White River - Good salmon fishing continues all the way up to the Hesperia Dam. Spoons, thundersticks bombers and spawn have caught fish. Those fishing the North Branch of the river have caught salmon up near Arthur Road which is the upstream limit.
 

Cheboygan River - Has good numbers of salmon. Most of the action has been at the dam in Cheboygan where fish have been caught using spawn, spinners or flies.

Ocqueoc River - Many are fishing near the mouth and catching salmon on spawn, spinners or flies.

Rogers City - Overall fishing effort has slowed. Most of the boat anglers concentrated in Swan Bay reported taking just a few salmon each. Pier anglers have also landed a few fish.

Rockport - Pier anglers are casting body baits for salmon. Action has been hit-or-miss with the better catches coming in the very early morning.

Alpena - One angler trolling for walleye around North Point was surprised to catch some monster bass. No walleye were caught. Boat anglers are launching on the river and fishing the mouth for salmon.

Thunder Bay River - There has been a significant increase in fishing effort. Anglers are working the entire river from the Ninth Street Dam down to the mouth. The most popular spot for shore fishing has been at the dam when drift fishing right off the current from the turbines. Try a single egg on a treble hook with a full ounce of weight. Those fly fishing seem to be doing a little better than those using eggs. Boat anglers trolling seem to be catching more fish than the shore anglers. The run appears to be on the slow side with peak times in the early morning, late evening or around noon.

Harrisville - Had slow fishing. The successful anglers have been fishing in the harbor using spoons or floating spawn under a bobber.

Lake Margrethe - Has good perch fishing north of Big Bear Point in 20 feet of water. Try minnows or wax worms just off the bottom or drifting with perch rigs. Bluegills can be found out in deeper waters along the weed beds.

Van Etten Lake - Also has good perch fishing. Try small minnows in 10 to 20 feet of water near the YMCA Camp. Channel catfish have been caught when fishing the shallow waters at night.

Oscoda - Anglers have seen the best action early in the morning. Pier anglers had better luck on the north pier using body baits or glow spoons. Boat anglers had fair success when trolling chrome or green J-plugs in front of the pierheads.

Tawas River - A few chinook salmon were caught when fishing with spawn at night.

Houghton Lake - The cooler weather always brings in more walleye reports. Conditions have changed from a few years ago, so anglers will need to change their method of fishing as well. The fish are now holding in and along the weed beds.
 

Petoskey - The better fishing seems to be when the skies are overcast and it is raining. Anglers casting lures in the early morning and late evening near the Cement Plant have caught fish. Try using slip bobbers with spawn throughout the day.

Traverse City - In the East Bay, shore anglers have caught salmon near the mouth of Mitchell Creek. On the West Bay, anglers have caught perch in 45 to 50 feet of water near the Gravel Pit. Boat anglers trolling or anchoring near the mouth of the Boardman River have also caught chinook and coho. Bowers Harbor is producing a few perch in 60 feet of water when fishing wigglers near the bottom.

Elk River - Those fishing below the dam have caught salmon on spawn bags fished on the bottom or drifting under a bobber during the day. At night, glow-in-the-dark spoons seem to produce more fish.

Boardman River - Shore anglers continue to catch fish when drifting spawn bags below the Weir.

Glen Arbor - Fishing has been great off the mouth of the Crystal River. Anglers reported taking limits of chinook salmon.

Crystal River - Has been the place to fish for chinook salmon. Anglers can be found from Fisher Dam downstream to the mouth.

Glen Lake - Has really good perch fishing with limit catches reported. Fish up to 14 inches have been caught on crawlers and crayfish in 35 feet of water along the east shore and off Inspiration Point.

Crystal Lake - Perch continue to bite in good numbers along the west end of the lake. Some are trolling with crawler harnesses or perch rigs while others are floating small minnows or wax worms under a bobber. Those casting off the J-Dock have caught a few coho on spoons.

Frankfort - A few boats trolling inside or just outside the piers have caught light numbers of chinook. Those trolling to the north of the port have taken chinook, coho and steelhead in 130 to 160 feet of water. Pier and shore fishing for steelhead has started to pick up, but is still on the slow side.

Betsie River - Those drifting spawn below near the M-22 Bridge or just below the Homestead Dam are taking a mixed bag of silver and dark fish.

Manistee - A few boats fishing from the Shelf out to 150 feet of water have caught some chinook salmon and steelhead about 70 to 95 feet down. Pier anglers had some luck when casting spawn off both piers.

Big Manistee River - Has been producing good numbers of chinook salmon even though it appears we are now experiencing the peak of the run. Steelhead have also started to show up, especially in the lower sections of the river. Pier and surf anglers should start catching steelhead any day now.

Ludington - Continues to be slow. While some are trolling and catching light numbers of chinook and steelhead in 90 to 150 feet of water, others are surf-casting up near the State Park with spoons or spawn.

Pere Marquette River - Shore anglers have caught mostly chinook salmon when drifting spawn along the river bank. Most of the fish are now on the gravel or will be very soon.
 

Black River - Fishing has been steady with a mixed bag of pink, coho and chinook salmon. Spinners and spoons have worked when fishing off the breakwall, but spawn bags were the most effective in the faster water below the falls.

Falls River - Anglers were picking up pink salmon when casting spinner baits from the mouth up to the Sucker Hole.

Little Carp River - Had quite a run of pink salmon.

Big Iron River - Good numbers of pink salmon along with a few chinook and coho have been caught. Flatfish and spinners were the most productive.

Keweenaw Bay - Anglers are jigging for lake trout with in 140 to 180 feet of water using cut bait. Lake trout were caught along a bank that drops from 40 to 80 feet near the South Portage Entry. Those trolling for salmon have caught coho, lake trout and steelhead 20 to 50 feet down in waters 30 to 60 feet deep. Green, orange and gold spoons have caught fish.

Lake Michigamme - Rain and wind have limited fishing over the last week. Smallmouth bass fishing was good when trolling with artificial baits on the north shore just west of the campground. Those fishing near the islands in the East Arm have caught smallmouth when casting artificial baits or still-fishing with crawlers or leeches. Walleye fishing was slow.

Marquette - Lake trout fishing remains fair for boats trolling in 140 to 170 feet of water. Those trolling near shore reported spotty fishing with only a few chinook, coho, steelhead and lake trout taken.

Dear River - Quite a few anglers were reported to be fishing near the 550 Bridge. Fresh chinook salmon have been running daily, but there have been no big runs to report lately.

Green Bay - Good walleye fishing continues off the Cedar River when trolling from the Green Can south to Hayward Bay in 15 to 35 feet of water. Anglers are reminded to watch for the shallow trap nets which will be placed in the next few days. These nets stretch from about 30 to 50 feet of water up and down the shoreline near the Cedar River, so use caution. Near Menominee, boat anglers caught walleye when trolling bottom bouncers in 20 to 30 feet of water from Henes Park to Stoney Point.

Menominee River - Salmon and trout have been caught by shore anglers drifting spawn or yarn below the First Dam. Bottom bouncers are producing fair walleye catches in the area of the turn basin.

Cedar River - Salmon and trout have just started to move upstream in small numbers. Anglers should see good action in a week or two.

Munising - Those braving the wind and rain reported fair catches of coho in the 3 to 6 pound range using dodgers and flies with downriggers and dipsy divers. Shore anglers took coho when casting spinners and spoons or using spawn. Splake and steelhead fishing were slow.

Big Manistique Lake - Perch fishing has been hot when fishing in 8 to 10 feet of water over the weed beds.

St. Mary's River - The fall colors are in full swing and the yellow perch fishing is good. Those fishing the Upper River caught fish on small worms or minnows in 28 to 38 feet of water just off Sherman Park. Anglers can launch their boats at Ashman Park and run up river to Sherman Park. Good fishing was reported in 6 to 8 feet of water near the Sugar Island Ferry. Perch fishing should only get better during the month of October. Salmon fishing slowed with only a few chinook taken when trolling glow spoons or J-plugs in front of the Power Plant.

De Tour - Good perch fishing continues on the north side of Drummond Island. Perch are hitting on minnows just off Grape Island and in Scott Bay.

Cedarville and Hessel - Pier anglers fishing in the Hessel Marina have caught salmon on small Cleo's. Perch have been caught on minnows in Musky Bay and Hessel Bay. Smallmouth bass and northern pike have been caught from the points in Cedarville Bay, Musky Bay and Moscoe Channel. Most are undersized, so plan on catch and release.

Carp River - Anglers continue to catch chinook and pink salmon at the mouth. A few chinook have also been caught up near the McDonald Rapids and at Towerline Road on J-plugs and small Cleo's.