Spring fishing is finally here. Many of the rivers and streams in the Lower Peninsula are experiencing high, muddy water, however fish are being caught and the action should only get better with the warmer temperatures. Panfish are also starting to bite in good numbers.

Lake Erie - Fishing has been slow. Heavy rain and high winds have caused extremely muddy conditions especially in the Michigan waters. Anglers were marking lots of fish, but they would not bite.

Huron River - Steelhead fishing should improve this week. A good number of suckers have been caught in the river. Anglers are reminded that walleye season on this water is closed and does not open back up until the Last Saturday in April.

Detroit River - Walleye are in the river and the bite is improving. While limits may not be the norm just yet, boat anglers should start catching fish. This fishery should start to peak in about a week and last until mid-May.

St. Clair River - A few brown trout were caught near the mouth of the Black River.

Lexington - Boat anglers caught coho and steelhead when using spoons or body baits in 10 to 20 feet of water. Lots of small perch and a few bigger ones were caught in the harbor.

Saginaw Bay - Perch fishing was still slow off Pine River and Palmer Roads. A few were caught in the Linwood Marina, but it sounds like the fish are just not in yet.

Saginaw River - Is running high and muddy.

Quanicassee River - Is also running high and muddy. Look for perch fishing to pick back up as the waters go down.

Sebewaing River - Reported difficult fishing due to high water levels.

Pinnebog River - Anglers were catching suckers before all the rain. Water levels should recede by the weekend.

St. Joseph - Pier anglers have caught a lot of steelhead when casting gold and orange spoons. Brown trout are hitting on spawn.

St. Joe River - The water is still a bit high and muddy but should settle by the weekend. Warmer temperatures will produce some good fishing as there has been steady movement of steelhead through the ladders at Berrien Springs and Niles.

Grand Haven - Pier anglers are catching brown trout but the steelhead action has slowed. Spawn is still the bait of choice. No word on perch.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - The peak of the steelhead run is over, but fish are still being caught even with the high water levels. Try fishing the gravel areas downriver or up near the dam. The river is full of suckers right now and crappie are active in the backwaters. Channel cats can be found in the deeper holes when using minnows, crawlers or chicken liver.

Rogue River - Steelhead are being caught at the dam.

Reeds Lake - Nice crappie have been caught on minnows in shallow waters.

Grand River at Lansing - A couple steelhead were caught over at Moore's Park. Check the deep holes for catfish and the shallows for crappie.

Muskegon - Pier anglers are taking brown trout but the steelhead fishing has slowed. There are no reports on perch fishing.

Whitehall - Pier fishing has slowed as it appears most of the steelhead have started up the river. The walleye are starting to head back down the river which means pier fishing in the waters of Lake Michigan should pick up.

White River - More steelhead should be heading up the river this week.

Rogers City - The launch ramp is in. Boats are targeting shallow waters up to 20 feet deep inside Calcite Harbor, Swan Bay and north of Calcite near the Trout River where warmer waters can be found. Try trolling planer boards with long leads and small body baits. Good colors are orange and gold, chartreuse and silver, blue and silver, fire tiger, brown or peach. Use bright colors in the stained water. Casting from the breakwall has been slow.

Rockport - The docks are not in. Boat anglers are just starting launch, but windy conditions have kept most off the lake. A small atlantic salmon was caught in about 16 feet of water just north of the launch site.

Van Etten Lake - Has open water and fair to good perch fishing.

Oscoda - Pier anglers are casting or drifting spawn, but catch rates were slow. Most are targeting walleye and steelhead and know catch rates will improve with the warmer weather. There are a few lake trout in close but the season does not open until May 1st.

Au Sable River - Was high and fast down near the mouth so the only ones catching fish were the boat anglers. Try drifting spawn or wax worms from the whirlpool down. Water levels in the no-kill, catch and release only section near Grayling should drop by the weekend. The black stone and blue olive fly hatches are just getting started.

Tawas - Boat anglers trolling planer boards with body baits were taking some brown trout and walleye off Jerry's Marina and off the mouth of the Tawas River. Pier anglers have caught some walleye, brown trout and even a few small salmon.

Tawas River - Steelhead and suckers were caught in the lower river.

Au Gres - Walleye were caught off the mouth in 8 to 10 feet of water.

Au Gres River - Some steelhead were caught in the lower end of Whitney Drain before the rain. Catch rates should pick up after the water goes back down.

Higgins Lake - Still has ice, but no safe ice. Boat anglers may have to wait another week or so for the lake to open up.

Elk River - Steelhead have been caught but the waters are still too cold.

Traverse City - Those fishing along the south shore of the East Bay have caught a couple steelhead off the mouth of Mitchell Creek. In the West Bay, whitefish and lake trout have been caught in 230 feet of water. In Suttons Bay, perch were caught in 55 to 65 feet of water.

Boardman River - Steelhead are being caught.

Platte River - Steelhead are being caught.

Frankfort - Pier fishing has been good with lots of steelhead being caught, and more brown trout are starting to show up. Both piers have been good when using spawn. Boat anglers trolling in the harbor are also catching fish on body baits and small spoons. Orange, yellow and red have been hot colors.

Betsie River - Steelhead are being caught consistently between Grace Road and the Homestead Dam. Yarn, flies and spawn are all working. The river was still a little high, but fishable.

Onekama - Pier anglers are catching steelhead.

Portage Lake - The ice is finally gone. Boat anglers looking for panfish have done well with some nice catches of perch, sunfish and bluegills out near the mouth of the channel and around the marina.

Manistee - Those fishing off the south pier have caught steelhead, brown trout, menominee, walleye and pike. Anglers are reminded that walleye and pike season is open all year in the waters of Lake Michigan.

Manistee River - Still has a good number of steelhead. Anglers are using spawn, yarn, flies and even wax worms. Suckers are also in the river.

Ludington - Good fishing continues off the north pier.

Pere Marquette River - Has good fishing for steelhead, brown trout and suckers.

Pentwater - While fishing slowed with the cold front, look for steelhead movement this week. High water levels will make fishing a little more challenging.

Keweenaw Bay - Rainbow trout were being caught through the ice however the ice conditions have deteriorated and it looks like ice fishing here is done.

Fall's River - Fish were being caught when the water was running high which means this fishery will pick up again.

Marquette - Snow storms, ice flows and strong winds put a damper on fishing conditions, but warmer weather this week should bring back the better fishing. Those fishing at the bubblers managed to catch a couple coho and brown trout. There was little action at the coal docks or Mattson Park. Catch rates off the lower harbor breakwall were low with only a few coho and whitefish taken. Boats are now launching from both the upper and lower harbor ramps as they are now clear of ice.

Carp River - Some steelhead were reported in the river.

Little Bay De Noc - Ice fishing may well be done as shoreline ice has turned to slush and water. Those that managed to get out while the ice was safe did manage to catch some jumbo perch off Kipling in 32 to 40 feet of water. Now we wait for the bay to transition from winter fishing to spring fishing.

Munising - Anglers were still ice fishing however slush and water on top of the ice may signal the end of ice fishing. Good numbers of smelt were taken at Sand Point when using a small jig and wax worm in 10 to 35 feet of water. Coho and splake were also taken but the whitefish action was slow. Coho and splake were caught near the mouth of the Anna River when casting spoons or fishing with spawn. The ice in Trout Bay is gone.

St. Mary's River - Ice conditions in the upper river are not safe. In Sault Ste. Marie, a few shore anglers are targeting rainbow trout near the Edison Power Plant on Portage Street, but the fishing has been slow. Perch have been caught but the bigger fish are not here yet.

DeTour - Anglers are casting silver and black shallow runners or spawn at the mouth of Albany Creek for steelhead.

Cedarville and Hessel - Ice conditions are deteriorating fast. The Middle Entrance is opening more everyday. Musky Bay is producing fair numbers of yellow perch for those willing to put in the time. Try shallow waters 6 to 7 feet deep while using minnows, wax worms or wigglers.

Carp River - Is just starting to open up.