Low angler turnout is expected between now and the first safe ice. With daytime temperatures in the mid 40's this week, those heading out to go hunting may want to take along some of the their fishing gear as fall fishing is still underway.
 

Lake Erie - Rumor has it that the large walleye are hitting in both the Michigan and Ohio waters. Most are using reef runner crankbaits trolled behind planer boards. Fish ranging from 7 to 9 pounds have been caught. Remember the fish tend to hold tight to the bottom when it is windy.

Huron River - Still has a fair number of baitfish in it. Steelhead fishing has been on the slow side with only a few fish taken up near the dam at Flat Rock.

Detroit River - Has good perch and walleye fishing in the lower Trenton Channel. The walleye are hitting on jigs with minnows and the action has been pretty good for this time of year. The perch fishing has also been good with many fish taken on perch minnows. Those fishing in the cuts and canals have caught bluegill, perch and some crappie. Water flows have been moderate to high.

Kent Lake - Located in Kensington Metropark is producing panfish, but the walleye fishing has been slow since the park staff began to draw down the water levels for winter. Try wax worms for panfish. Small bluegills may get you a northern pike.

Lake St. Clair - Fair to good perch fishing was reported between Nine Mile Road and the 400 Club. A good place to find walleye this time of year is along the weedbeds just south of New Baltimore. Grass Island, which is located near the mouth of the North Channel, is also a good fall walleye fishery.

St. Clair River - Is a bit muddy from recent rains but anglers are still trolling for walleye. Try stickbaits, crankbaits or rapalas in the North Channel, Middle Channel, or up near the Blue Water Bridge.

Saginaw River - Walleye anglers should start to see more fish moving into the river. Try drifting a jig tipped with a minnow or casting stickbaits and rapalas.
 

St. Joseph - A few boats are still going out and looking for perch. Those pier fishing have taken some steelhead along with the occasional whitefish. Shore anglers are surfcasting with spawn or flies.

St. Joseph River - Good steelhead fishing continues up near the Berrien Springs Dam. The best action has been below the first dam as it seems not many fish are going through the ladders.

Kalamazoo River - Continues to produce good catches of steelhead with the better action below the Allegan Dam.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Steelhead and a few brown trout are still being caught up near the Sixth Street Dam. Spawn is still working, but more fish are starting to hit on a jig with a wax worm. Some are floating large choker bags or drifting crawlers. Those fishing off the Fulton Street Bridge have caught fish on blue or purple Hot-n-Tots. Walleye are hitting on bucktail jigs, rapalas or thundersticks. Crappie were caught near Riverside Park. Closer to Grand Haven, those fishing in Lloyd's Bayou have caught bluegills on ice fishing jigs with wax worms.

Thornapple River - Walleye are being caught when drifting stinger hooks with minnows or crawlers.

Cranberry Lake - Has some nice bluegills but the crappie are running small.

Reeds Lake - Those fishing in the channel near Rosie's have caught crappie using jigs with fathead minnows about 3 feet down.

Grand River at Lansing - There has been no word on steelhead activity in this area. Anglers may want to try the usual spots between Lansing and Grand Rapids, as there must be some fish that have moved up.

Looking Glass River - Anglers are using pike minnows to catch northern pike. A good place to try would be Babcock's Landing.

Muskegon - Boats are trolling between the shoreline and 30 feet of water for steelhead. The fish are 10 to 20 feet down and are hitting on spoons and crankbaits. Pier anglers have caught steelhead when floating spawn bags early to mid-morning.

Muskegon Lake - Whitefish have been caught in the channel when jigging spoons near the bottom. This is a night fishery, and some limit catches were reported. Walleye were caught along the edge of the weedbeds on bright colored crankbaits.

Muskegon River - It seems the steelhead have moved upstream towards Newaygo. Boat anglers have done well using spawn or crankbaits.
 

Alpena - The reefs in Thunder Bay are thick with whitefish, but few anglers are fishing them as most have put their boats away for the winter. The better fishing still occurs at dawn and dusk. Recent fall rains have brought in a few fresh steelhead.

Thunder Bay River - A good number of anglers are targeting whitefish below the Ninth Street Dam. A few yellow perch were also caught.

Oscoda - The whitefish are close to shore and anglers are out in good numbers. Those fishing off the piers have caught whitefish on a single egg, wax worms or wigglers.

Au Sable River - Those fishing the lower section of the river are targeting whitefish. Walleye can be found between the mouth and the Foote Dam Pond. Recent rains have pushed some nice bright steelhead up into the mouth of the river.

Tawas - Lots of pier anglers are targeting whitefish as the fish are now close to shore. Try using a small jig or a plain single hook with an egg, wax worm or small minnow. Steelhead and walleye were caught in the early morning or late evening.

Higgins Lake - Those surfcasting along the drop offs have caught a few brown trout and rainbow trout. Spawn has worked the best. Fish have also been caught up near the Conference Center.

Houghton Lake - Not many anglers have been out, but those venturing out have caught walleye at night. Try using rapalas, crankbaits or stickbaits. A few northern pike have been caught on minnows.
 

Burt Lake - Good perch fishing was reported in the deep hole off Colonial Point.

Traverse City - Whitefish are hitting in the East Bay. Try jigging wigglers or pimples in 60 to 90 feet of water off Deepwater Point and up near Elk Rapids. In the West Bay, a few perch have been caught in 60 to 80 feet of water in Bowers Harbor.

Boardman River - Steelhead have been caught from the mouth up to the dam. Floating spawn under a bobber has worked best.

Frankfort - Pier and surf fishing for steelhead has been good. Whitefish have also been caught off the pier.

Betsie River - Still has a decent number of steelhead in it.

Manistee - Steelhead fishing continues. Pier anglers are floating spawn under a bobber or casting rapalas. The North Pier continues to yield good numbers of whitefish.

Big Manistee River - Decent numbers of steelhead can still be found from the mouth all the way up to Tippy Dam.

Ludington - Pier anglers are taking steelhead off the North Pier. Floating spawn under a bobber in the early morning has worked best. Those surfcasting up near the State Park are also taking some steelhead.
 

Golden Lake - In Iron County is a good lake for splake fishing. Try fishing the southeast side of the lake in 20 to 30 feet of water.

Ellen Lake - In Iron County is also a good lake to catch splake in.

Paint Pond - Is a good place to go musky fishing.

Menominee River - Those jigging off the Hattie Street Bridge have caught walleye. Steelhead can still be found between the US-41 Bridge and the First Dam. Try floating spawn under a bobber or drifting flies.

Marquette - Lake trout and whitefish are still being taken by boat and pier anglers. Try a single egg or a wax worm on a plain hook for whitefish. Boat anglers are trolling with spoons or crankbaits for lake trout.

Little Bay De Noc - Walleye fishing has been a bit slow for this time of year as it seems most of the fish are still south of the Bay. The better fishing continues to be at night between 7pm and 9pm. Those fishing up near the head of the Bay are trolling crankbaits in 18 to 25 feet of water. More to the south, anglers are trolling and marking good numbers of fish in 20 to 25 feet of water. Catch rates were fair to good with several large fish reported. Water temperatures vary between 38 and 44 degrees.