Strong winds have kept boats off the Great Lakes. As the salmon runs start to wind down on most of the rivers, the steelhead are moving in. Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good not only on the rivers, but inland lakes as well.
 

Lake Erie - Bad weather over the last week has made the lake choppy and muddy. Most of the action has been people pulling their boats out for the season. Those that did go out managed to catch some perch out by the E Buoy, or where the E Buoy used to be as this time of year the sailing buoys E, C, N, W and S are removed. If anglers do not have the coordinates marked on their GPS, they will not be able to find these locations.

Huron River - Most of the steelhead have been caught downstream towards Rockwood. Spinners or jigs with wax worms have caught fish. The waters below the dam at Flat Rock are loaded with shad.

Detroit River - Perch fishing slowed with only a few reports of fish caught south of Celeron Island in 9 feet of water, and in 6 to 8 feet of water around Sugar Island and Mud Island. Swedish Pimples and minnows worked best. Walleye have been caught when hand-lining near the Detroit Edison Stacks.

Lake St. Clair - Perch have been caught off the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. Jumbo perch have been caught just west of the Lake St. Clair Light in Canadian waters.

St. Clair River - Walleye have been caught in the North, Middle and South Channels when jigging. Those fishing off the wall near Port Huron have caught walleye in the early morning or late evening.

Lexington - Anglers are still getting a few salmon inside the harbor. They are catching 2 or 3 fish one day, then nothing the next.

Port Sanilac - Boat anglers going outside the harbor are marking a lot of fish in 18 to 20 feet of water, but they will not bite. These could be whitefish which will be spawning on the rocky shoals in a couple of weeks.

Saginaw Bay - Perch fishing has slowed, but those fishing off Pinconning have managed to catch fish in 15 to 20 feet of water out near the Black Hole. Perch were caught near the mouth of the Saginaw River and along the Shipping Channel. A couple walleye were taken on crawler harnesses.

Saginaw River - Walleye fishing has started to pick up. Anglers are using minnows and wax worms.
 

St. Joseph River - Has experienced very low fishing pressure. Between the Berrien Springs Dam and the Jasper Launch there are still quite a few fish spawning on the gravel. Drifting spawn or casting spoons has worked best. Steelhead fishing has been a bit slow, but boat anglers have taken some decent catches on spawn. The steelhead fishery should improve everyday as more fish come in.

Dowagiac River - A few salmon were caught when drifting spawn or flies up near the dam. Steelhead fishing was slow.

Paw Paw Lake - Continues to produce good crappie fishing. A few walleye were taken when drifting crawler harnesses or jigging with minnows.

Kalamazoo River - Salmon have been caught on up near the Allegan Dam. Steelhead can also be found and more fish should be moving up into the river. Some nice walleye were also caught.

Thornapple River - Has good walleye fishing up near the Ada Dam. Fair to good numbers of bluegill and crappie have also been caught.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Most of the salmon have now moved into the smaller creeks and the steelhead have moved in. Anglers are saying this is the best run in years as good numbers of 8 to 20 pound fish have been caught up near the Sixth Street Dam. Try spawn bags, spinners and Hot-n-Tots. Chartreuse and pink flies have also caught fish. On the really cold mornings, try floating a jig tipped with a minnow under a bobber. Those fishing from the dam on down have caught some nice 5 to 8 pound walleye. Crappie and bluegill continue to bite near Riverside Park. Try minnows for the crappie and wax worms or crickets for the bluegills.

Grand River at Lansing - While the salmon have started to turn dark, a few fresh fish have still been caught. Anglers are now waiting to see if the steelhead might make it up this far. Crappies are hitting on minnows and bluegills on crickets.

Muskegon Lake - Bluegills have been caught on wax worms along the weed beds. Perch have also been caught. While most of the fish average 3 to 6 inches, some jumb''s have been taken. A few walleye were caught by boat anglers when jigging in the channel.

Muskegon River - Is still producing salmon, especially up near the Croton Dam. The run is starting to wind down and this will make way for the steelhead.
 

Rockport - One of the docks has already been pulled out and the other one will be taken out in the next week or so. Anglers casting from the pier have hooked on to a few salmon. Try standing on the mid section and casting towards the parking lot with spoons, body baits or whatever works.

Thunder Bay River - Anglers are fishing along the shore near the Ninth Street Dam for chinook, but this may be the last decent weekend for salmon. Most are drifting spawn bags or a single egg on a hook. Anglers are reminded that snagging is illegal. A couple steelhead were hooked when drifting flies or spawn. The area above the bridge has been a good spot to fish when casting up into or just above the rapids. The Ninth Street Bridge has been torn apart and is getting ready for new concrete. The parking lot near the dam is not accessible from Ninth Street.

Harrisville - Fishing was slow with only a few anglers catching salmon when floating spawn under a bobber.

Van Etten Lake - Has good perch fishing along the shoreline in 2 to 3 feet of water. Fish ranging from 6 to 10 inches have been caught on minnows.

Oscoda - The fishing here has started to pick up. Those fishing in the early morning or late at night have started to pick up a few walleye off the pier when casting rapalas or drifting crawlers under a bobber. Anglers casting spoons off the end of the piers have caught some steelhead and quite a few lake trout, but the lake trout must be thrown back as the season is closed.

Au Sable River - The salmon fishing is about done. Steelhead should start showing up in the next week or two.

Higgins Lake - Anglers are still taking perch along the drop off. Lake trout were caught about 90 feet of water. Most of the fish were taken close to the bottom. Try going down 80 to 85 feet. No word on brown trout yet.

Houghton Lake - The bait fish are in the shallows. This means shore anglers are now catching walleye. Some nice fish have been caught on floating rapalas after dark. Some are using a suspended or jigging action. Northern pike are also coming after the baitfish. Bluegills are hitting leaf worms and wax worms along the weed beds. Bass have been caught on top water baits or crawlers. Fish the weed beds, but move in close to shore after dark.
 

Traverse City - On the East Bay, whitefish action was slow with only a few fish caught in 60 to 70 feet of water. A jig or single egg worked best.

Elk River - Chinook and coho salmon continue to enter the river. Shore anglers have caught good numbers of fish with spawn bags producing the best. Steelhead have started to enter the river.

Boardman River - Has good chinook and coho fishing. Those casting spawn bags or spoons have done best. Light numbers of steelhead are beginning to enter the river as well.

Leland - Fishing has been good off the mouth of Shalda Creek with mostly chinook salmon taken. Anglers need to remember that Shalda Creek is closed to fishing, but you can fish out in Lake Michigan.

Crystal River - Chinook salmon can be found at all access points along the river. Most fish were taken on spawn or spoons.

Crystal Lake - Anglers looking for perch are having the best luck off of the south shore when using minnows in 40 to 50 feet of water.

Glen Lake - Perch have been caught on the east side of the lake from Inspiration Point to the Old Settlers Park. After locating a school of fish, try crawlers, crayfish and minnows fished on the bottom in 35 to 50 feet of water. You could catch enough for a meal, but some sorting will be necessary.

Platte River - Chinook salmon and steelhead are present from the lower weir to the mouth. Good numbers of spawning fish have been caught by anglers. Spawn and casting spoons will turn on aggressive males.

Frankfort - Some nice catches of steelhead, coho, and chinook salmon have been taken straight out in front of the piers in 40 to 80 feet of water. Pier and shore anglers are starting to catch more steelhead. Light pound test with a spawn bag under a sinker will work the best for the steelhead. A few menominee have been caught just past the elbow on the pier.

Betsie River - Those fishing between the Homestead Dam and M-22 are still catching some chinook.

Onekama - A few chinook salmon can still be found when trolling in 60 to 80 feet of water. Pier anglers have caught the occasional steelhead on spawn bags. Bluegills and rock bass have been caught off the South Pier.

Portage Lake - Chinook salmon were still being taken over the hole in front of the Inn. Perch anglers have done well right in front of the channel and along the drop off near the State Boat Launch. Bluegills and rock bass have been caught on the east end of the lake.

Manistee - Has been good for pier anglers. More steelhead were caught from the North Pier than the South, but both have produced fish. Steelhead have been caught off the north beach near Fifth Avenue. A few whitefish were taken on a single egg.

Manistee Lake - The buoys at the mouth of the river have been removed.

Big Manistee River - The salmon run is pretty much done as many of the fish are starting to deteriorate. More steelhead have started to move up into the river. Try casting small spoons or drifting spawn under a bobber.

Ludington - Has been good for pier anglers. Both the North and the South piers have produced good numbers of steelhead before the elbows. Fish have been taken from both inside and outside the harbor when using spawn. Those surf-casting have also taken fish on spawn.
 

Keweenaw Bay - Some nice lake trout and steelhead have been caught when casting spoons off the pier in Traverse Bay. Try green and orange Little Cleo's. Boat anglers have caught lake trout and steelhead on spoons when trolling just off the pier or in 30 to 50 feet of water out from the Gay Stacks.

Marquette - A few anglers have started to fish off the Lower Harbor breakwall. Some are casting spoons for lake trout while others are concentrating on whitefish or menominee, but it may be early as not many fish have been caught. Shore anglers near the mouth of the Carp River have landed a few coho and steelhead.

Dead River - Chinook, coho and brown trout have been caught.

Little Bay De Noc - Water temperatures have been cold in the shallows in the early morning and right around 40 to 49 degrees from the Narrows north to the head of the Bay. Walleye fishing has picked up. Most anglers have stayed north of the narrows and to the eastern side of the bay when trolling crankbaits and crawlers along the break in 25 to 35 feet of water during the day. In the evening, try casting, trolling or drifting in 10 to 22 feet of water from the Second Reef up to Garth Point. Perch anglers had some good days off Kipling when jigging minnows in 11 to 28 feet of water. Smallmouth bass anglers are working the waters off Hunter Point and Garth Point. A few splake were caught in the Escanaba Yacht Harbor when casting crankbaits or spoons. Shore anglers now have a great place for walleye fishing on the Escanaba River. Three new piers located at the North Shore Boat Launch will provide excellent fishing opportunities and access to everyone.

Big Bay De Noc - Had slow fishing. A small run of perch were reported in Garden Bay where anglers were jigging minnows in 8 to 12 feet of water. A handful of bass anglers were drifting or jigging with tube baits and minnows in 15 to 35 feet of water out near Snake Island.

Munising - Those fishing the big lake are not catching as many coho as the fish are moving upstream. A few coho, splake and steelhead were caught when trolling dodgers, flies and crankbaits. Those surf-casting are using spawn or spoons.

St. Mary's River - Good numbers of smallmouth bass are being caught on the south end of Sugar Island when jigging dark green tube baits tipped with a crawler in about 18 feet of water. Perch fishing is excellent off Lake George in Frenchman's Bay. Whitefish have been caught on the back side of the Edison Power Plant when drifting spawn in the current.

De Tour - Those fishing out around Drummond Island have caught perch off Grape Island and Rutland Island. Try jigs with minnows or minnow spreaders in 14 feet of water. Lots of smallmouth bass and northern pike have also been caught on stick baits and spinner baits.

Cedarville and Hessel - The northern pike and smallmouth bass fishing continues to be very good though most anglers are targeting perch. The better fishing has been in the northwest end of Government Bay, Musky Bay and Hessel Bay.

Albany Creek - Is producing salmon with most fish taken near the mouth.