Fishing Report

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Walleye fishing has been hot around from Cedar Point to Vermilion, especially at Huron. Water depths have ranged from 20’ to 30’, with some fish coming in shallower water. Crankbaits have been the ticket for both numbers and size, and large fish are being taken on Reef Runners and Ripsticks (Blueberry Muffin, Barbie, and Mooneye Minnow are good colors to try). Night trolling is getting popular. Night pier fishing is still sporadic, but reports are improving.

Yellow perch fishing had been spotty. The best reports have been from Cleveland to Huron, where scattered schools of fish have yielded a slow but steady bite. Be prepared to search for fish; start at 40’ and move in or out until you find active schools. Fish have ranged from 8 to 12 inches. Perch rigs with shiners fished near the bottom have produced the most fish.

Steelhead fishing has been fair to good in the Vermilion River, Rocky River, Chagrin River, Grand River, Arcola Creek, Cowles Creek, Geneva State Park, Conneaut Creek, and along the Conneaut west breakwall. Shore anglers are using small spinners and spoons, and jigs and maggots rigged with a split shot under a light bobber. For recent updates on the steelhead fishery visit the Division of Wildlife steelhead web page at:

Anglers are enjoying the peak of the fall steelhead run, with fair to good numbers of fish in the river.

Steelhead have been caught on spawn off the North Pier. Those surfcasting have caught fish on small spoons or crankbaits.

Steelhead fishing has been fair with most anglers up near Tippy Dam.

Steelhead fishing is going strong. Surf and pier fishing has been very good on the right day. Pier anglers have caught good numbers of menominee whitefish off the North Pier when using a wax worm or egg on a single hook.

Steelhead action continues with most fish taken on spawn. Drifting along the bottom or floating bags under a bobber is still the best method though a few fish were taken when drifting crawlers.

On East Bay, whitefish have been caught on perch rigs with minnows or jigs. Try fishing off Elk Rapids in waters less than 100 feet deep as the fish have moved in closer to shore for spawning. There has been plenty of action on the West Bay for perch though anglers will need to do some sorting and throw back the small ones. Look for schools of fish in 60 to 80 feet of water and set anchor.

Fair to good numbers of steelhead can still be found from US-31 on down. Try fishing up near the Croton Dam, or in some of the deeper holes.

When boats can get out, anglers reported catching chinook, coho and steelhead. Most fish were taken on spoons or plugs in 60 to 90 feet of water. Pier anglers continue to catch steelhead when drifting or floating spawn. Those fishing wax worms just off the bottom have caught some whitefish. A couple walleye were also caught.

Salmon fishing is done for the most part, but a few nice coho have still been taken. There have been reports of a couple steelhead caught up near the North Lansing Dam. For resident fish such as bluegills, crappie and bass, try using minnows, wax worms or leaf worms.

Bluegills are hitting on leaf worms. Northern pike and crappie are hitting on minnows.

Has excellent steelhead fishing, especially up near the Sixth Street Dam. Fish have been caught on a variety of things including jigs with wax worms or wigglers. Some are floating spawn bags with 4 to 5 eggs per bag on a #8 or #10 hook. A few chrome colored chinook salmon have also been caught up near the dam. Those fishing off the banks and bridges are casting Hot-n-Tots. Walleye have been caught when drifting crawlers under a bobber up near the dam and off the wall.