With the strange weather this year the fish are a bit confused. Nesting started, then was delayed, but is now on again. Bass started nesting on some lakes about 2 weeks ago, but were just recently spotted on other lakes. Of the pumpkinseed, bluegill and redear sunfish, the pumpkinseed is the first sunfish to spawn in the spring. Rubber spiders on the surface, wax worms suspended from bobbers or worms on the bottom are all good bets for any of these species.
 

Lake Erie - Boats fishing from Brest Bay and the Fermi Power Plant were catching walleyes when drifting bottom bouncers or trolling crankbaits and spoons. The action has been good with many catching at least 2 fish per person. Limits were taken in 16 to 20 feet of water. Fishing near Bolles Harbor was a bit slower.

Detroit River - Good walleye fishing continues with limit catches reported. Most are jigging or handlining. Good numbers of white bass can be found along the river, and catch rates have been excellent. Some perch were also caught.

Lake St. Clair - Good to excellent walleye fishing continues. Jigging, handlining or trolling with crankbaits worked best.

St. Clair River - Walleye fishing remains good to excellent. Some of the better fishing has been after dark, but those fishing with bottom bouncers and crawlers have also done well near the City of St. Clair and Marine City.

Lexington - Boat anglers are taking chinook, lake trout and steelhead in 60 to 80 feet of water. One lucky angler caught some nice perch south of the port, but it may have been a one-time thing.

Port Austin - Did not have a lot of fishing pressure, but those going out have caught chinook, steelhead, lake trout and even some pink salmon.

Saginaw Bay - Walleye fishing was excellent when anglers could get out. Limit catches were the rule rather than the exception at most ports from Au Gres all the way down to Sebewaing. Depths varied somewhat by port, but ranged from 25 to 30 feet off Au Gres to 5 to 7 feet off Finn Road. Crawler harnesses were the lure of choice at all ports, but some fish were also taken on Hot-n-Tots. Quanicassee reported incredible walleye fishing from boats. At Sebewaing, the best walleye action has been straight off the end of the channel or south towards Fish Point in 10 to 13 feet of water. Bay Port has excellent bass fishing around the islands. Walleye are in the Slot off the tip of Sand Point. Bass have been caught off the pier at Caseville.

Quanicassee River - Channel catfish and bass have been caught.

Tittabawassee River - Walleye fishing is slowing down as it is most likely about done. A few guys are still getting some fish up near the access site at Center Street. Smallmouth bass and white bass have been caught.

St. Joseph - Boat anglers are taking chinook and lake trout when fishing about 55 to 75 feet down in waters 200 to 250 feet deep.

Kalamazoo River - Walleye are still being caught on crawlers.

Grand Haven - Fishing has been great, but is starting to slow. Fish have been caught in 160 to 280 feet of water with downriggers set 40 to 100 feet down. Try 6 to 10 color lead core with gold and orange spoons. Perch were caught on alewife or perch flies.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Those wading have caught walleye between Fulton Street and the Sixth Street Dam when using crawlers. Flathead catfish have been taken off the bridges when using large sucker minnows. Boat anglers are taking channel catfish near the log jams when using stink baits, chicken liver, soft shell crabs and suckers. Smallmouth bass are hitting on jerkbaits, crawlers, leeches, and fathead minnows. Bluegills have been caught off the east wall.

Grand River at Lansing - The better walleye fishing has been at Moore's Park. Drastic temperature changes have the fish confused. Those looking to fish should target a specific species such as walleye, smallmouth bass, carp or channel cats.

Looking Glass River - Look for northern pike and carp in the shallow backwaters. Those fishing off Babcock's Landing should try for bluegills, bass and crappie.

Maple River - Try fishing for catfish, carp or bowfin. All three put up a good fight and will most likely hit stinkbaits, crawlers, dough balls, minnows and corn.

Muskegon - Boats are trolling downriggers 60 to 110 feet down in waters 170 to 250 feet deep for salmon and lake trout. Orange spoons have been hot right along with the blue, green and carmel dolphins. Pier anglers are taking bluegills along the channel wall when using spikes and wax worms.

Muskegon River - Some nice brown trout have been caught when fly fishing as the drake fly hatch has started.

Muskegon Lake - Both large and smallmouth bass have been caught in shallow waters around the lake. Good fishing was noted on the north end of the lake near the State Park when using live bait. Some perch have also been caught when using spikes, minnows and wigglers. Northern pike were hitting on large shiner minnows under a bobber on the east side of the lake.

Rogers City - Fishing this week has picked up with limit catches of lake trout taken. The better fishing has been from Calcite all the way down to Adams Point and beyond when fishing as shallow as 20 feet and as deep as 80 feet. They have been eating gobies which like to live in and around the rocks so try fishing the areas with a rocky bottom. Surface water temperatures are now in the upper 40's.

Presque Isle - Fishing has improved, and the good spots have been between the lighthouses and off North Bay. Those fishing the shallow waters have taken atlantic salmon when using planer boards with green bodybaits or spoons.

Thunder Bay River - A few walleye were taken up near the Ninth Street Dam. Anglers are trolling and fishing from shore or the bridge. Freshwater drum and rock bass have also been caught.

Harrisville - Lake trout are hitting in 50 to 70 feet of water. Anglers are trolling out about five to seven miles and using artificial baits.

Van Etten Lake - Walleye have been caught between Loud Island and Pierce Point when drifting crawler harnesses or trolling with crankbaits. Some are trolling around Loud Island for northern pike. A few perch have also been caught.

Oscoda - Boat anglers are starting to catch lake trout just outside the pierheads in 100 feet of water. Pier anglers are catching walleye when drifting crawlers.

Tawas - Walleye have been caught when vertical jigging near the Yacht Club. Pier fishing was slow, but the bass fishing has been excellent.

Au Gres - In addition to phenomenal walleye fishing from boats, shore anglers have taken fish when casting near the mouth of the river.

Houghton Lake - Walleye fishing has been good with fish taken in the early morning or late evening. Both large and smallmouth bass have been caught on crawlers. Crappie fishing was fair and bluegills were slow. Most of the fish caught have been taken in 6 to 8 feet of water.

Bear River - At Petoskey, pier and shore anglers caught some smallmouth bass when using crawlers near the mouth. The fish were 2 to 3 pounds each. Fishing should get better as the water temperatures rise.

Thumb Lake (Lake Louise) - Few anglers are targeting splake. Large and smallmouth bass have been caught when casting tubes, jigs, crankbaits or crawlers in about 12 feet of water along the west side of the lake. Bluegill fishing has been good. Try using crawlers or casting with spinners in the backwater areas around the island and the northwest corner of the lake while staying in waters up to about 6 feet deep. Yellow perch and rock bass have also been caught.

Traverse City - On the East Bay, good lake trout fishing was reported off the Bluffs and on the Humps off Dock Road. Whitefish action has been slow as the fish are still in waters 240 feet deep or more. Perch were caught off Old Mission and the carp can be found on the flats on the east shore. Fishing has been very good for lake trout on the West Bay. Whitefish are being taken at the Red Buoy #8 when jigging with Swedish Pimples. Chinook have been taken at the Gravel Pit on the east shore.

Boardman River - Suckers are abundant in the river below the Union Street Dam. Smallmouth bass have been caught casting hardware or using crawlers.

Long Lake - Walleye anglers are still taking some keepers when trolling a red and chartreuse crawler harness in 12 to 35 feet of water on the north end of the lake. They are using drift socks to slow them down. Some are dragging a crawler harness with one hook and a leech on the southern end of the lake while others are trolling with Wiggle Warts or Hot-n-Tots in natural bait colors. Perch are still being caught in 30 to 50 feet of water on both the north and the south ends of the lake.

Crystal Lake - Good size whitefish are being caught in 40 to 50 feet of water on the east side and on the south end of the lake.

Frankfort - Due to warm water, more alewife can be found around the piers. Boats trolling near the piers are catching brown trout, and pier anglers are catching brown trout and whitefish. Chinook and lake trout were caught in 50 to 120 feet of water.

Onekama - Chinook, steelhead and lake trout have been caught south of the harbor. Fishing has been hit-or-miss in waters 45 to 150 feet deep when using green, orange or yellow spoons and flies.

Portage Lake - The bass opener provided some great catches of both large and smallmouth bass when using crankbaits and spinners. The bass and panfish are starting to move up into the shallows. Good numbers of smallmouth, crappie, and rock bass were caught along the drop off while pike and walleye were caught on the south side of the lake.

Manistee - Anglers have caught a few brown trout and steelhead off the South Pier. They are using alewife for bait. Boat anglers are catching brown trout down by Gurney Creek and along the lakeshore. Those trolling flies and spoons in waters 50 to 140 feet deep have caught chinook and lake trout.

Ludington - Pier anglers have had no luck. The baitfish are just starting to show up in the harbor, so the fish should start moving in soon. Boat anglers are catching chinook and lake trout. Most are going up to the Point, but a few are trolling south of the harbor down to the Project. Brown trout are still being caught on spoons and flies along the beach.

Torch Lake - In Houghton County has good smallmouth bass fishing. Working the flats with stickbaits and crankbaits has been productive as well as minnows along the drop off. Walleye have been caught when trolling crawler harnesses in the cuts. Northern pike action has dropped off a bit.

West Portage Lake - Walleye were caught in 10 to 15 feet of water in Pike Bay when fishing the shoreline across from the marina. Those drifting crawler harnesses or a jig with half a crawler have also caught walleye on the Humps between the mouth of the Sturgeon River and boat launch. Some are drifting crawler harnesses across the reef near Grosse Point. Anglers are picking up both legal and sub-legal pike fishing the drop off on both sides of the Sturgeon River Mouth. Some nice perch were taken in 10 to 25 feet of water. Black crappie can be found around the docks in the marina. Smallmouth bass were caught on crankbaits along the US-41 shoreline.

Marquette - Coho fishing is slow, lake trout fishing was fair, and chinook fishing has been slow to fair. The chinook are hitting on spoons and stickbaits in 40 to 60 feet of water. The lake trout have been caught in 120 to 160 feet of water.

Little Bay De Noc - Has fair to good walleye fishing in the early morning and late evening. The head of the bay is still best with most trolling or drifting crawlers in 16 to 28 feet of water. Some are jigging out by the Escanaba lighthouse while others are drifting crawlers near Breezy Point and south. Bass anglers are doing well with the best reports off Hunters Point, north of the Terrace Inn, and near the mouth of the Ford River. Most were casting spinners, crawlers or tube baits in 4 to 8 feet of water.

Escanaba River - Good walleye fishing was reported in them mouth when drifting crawlers in 10 to 20 feet of water.

Big Bay De Noc - Walleye fishing slowed, however; several nice catches were reported at the head of the bay when trolling crawlers in 8 to 10 feet of water. The bass opener was a good one with catches reported in South River Bay. Fish were also taken in the head of the bay and near Ogantz when working the weed beds when jigging or casting crankbaits, spinners or plastics.

Au Train River - Has seen few anglers and only a couple brown trout were caught.

Au Train Lake - Walleye fishing was spotty. Quite a few pike have been caught when trolling or casting with worms, but the fish are running small. Pike anglers have also caught several large smallmouth bass.

Munising - Anglers are targeting chinook salmon in the bay, but catch rates have been slow. Most boats have been able to catch a couple fish in the real early morning. A few coho and splake have also been caught. Those fishing deep have caught lake trout when trolling spoons.

Munuscong - Walleye fishing has been great. Anglers are fishing out from Dan's Resort using pink and purple crawler harnesses.

De Tour - Boat anglers are trolling from the #3 Green Can to the lighthouse for chinook and atlantic salmon. A few lake trout were also caught. Spoons in a variety of colors are taking fish.

Drummond Island - Walleye fishing is good with limits taken in Scotts Bay and Maxton Bay when using crawler harnesses in 6 feet of water. Mid-morning and one hour before dark have been best. Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent. A few perch have been caught on minnows.

Cedarville and Hessel - Northern pike are being caught in excellent numbers. Anglers are casting with minnows or trolling the shallow waters. Just about any lure or bait seems to be working. Smallmouth bass are hitting in fair numbers while casting spinner baits in Musky Bay and Hessel Bay. The catch rate should pick up as spawning comes to a close; within the next week or two. Yellow perch are scattered in Hessel Bay and off the pier. Only a few anglers are targeting salmon which have been caught around Goose Island.

St. Ignace - A few boats have started to venture out and are catching chinook and lake trout in front of the Coast Guard and the city launch. Green has been the hot color. No action to report at the mouth of the Pine River or the Carp River.