Fishing Report

Coho fishing ranges from slow to fair when casting spoons or using spawn from shore. The best of the salmon run is now done. A few splake were taken on spawn bags. Steelhead fishing has picked up but was still slow overall.

Trout and salmon fishing slowed some over the last week. Those drifting spawn between the Hattie Street Bridge and the First Dam reported fair success. The good news is the walleye have moved in! Some 16 to 22 inch fish have been caught from the landing at the Hattie Street Bridge.

Coho have been caught on spawn bags and crawlers when fishing off the rock dock at the L'Anse Marina. Angler participation was down this past week, but fishing has been good in Traverse Bay. Pier anglers have caught steelhead and lake trout when casting Cleo's. Boat anglers trolling out from the Gay Stacks to an area called the Buffalo Reef have caught some nice lake trout. A couple steelhead were taken in 30 to 50 feet of water.

Coho have been caught on spawn bags and crawlers when fishing off the rock dock at the L'Anse Marina. Angler participation was down this past week, but fishing has been good in Traverse Bay. Pier anglers have caught steelhead and lake trout when casting Cleo's. Boat anglers trolling out from the Gay Stacks to an area called the Buffalo Reef have caught some nice lake trout. A couple steelhead were taken in 30 to 50 feet of water.

When boats can get out, some nice yellow perch have been caught off Nine Mile and Ten Mile Roads. Some are fishing off Metro Beach and the 400 Club. Bass are hitting on tube baits, spinner baits, crawlers or crayfish.

Boat anglers are seeking walleye in the North, Middle and South Channels. They are jigging, drifting or hand-lining. Those fishing off the wall up near Port Huron are drifting spawn for steelhead.

Walleye and yellow perch have been caught between Metro Park and Celeron Island. Anglers are starting to catch more walleye in the Trenton Channel. Try fishing the warm water discharge near the Detroit Edison Plant. Perch can now be found in the canals near Gibraltar and in the Metro Park Marina. Try perch rigs and shiner minnows.

Steelhead have been caught between the Flat Rock Dam and Rockwood. The fishing is starting to get better as the number of shad starts to decline. Fish have been caught on a variety of baits including spawn, spoons, spinners and crankbaits. Some are floating a wax worm under a bobber. A few crappie were also caught.

Fishing effort directed towards walleye has greatly decreased as western basin anglers have switched to perch fishing. Some success has been reported on Kelleys Island Shoal. Drifters are using mayfly rigs or weight forward spinners, while most trollers are using worm harnesses or spoons with jet or dipsy divers, and crankbaits.

Yellow perch fishing has been slow in the Western Basin. From two weeks ago the best areas were “D†can of the Camp Perry range, Green Island, Rattlesnake Island, Lucy’s Point of Middle Bass Island, N of North Bass Island, and the Marblehead lighthouse. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Smallmouth bass should start moving shallower as water temperatures drop heading into fall. Fish rocky drop-offs and reefs around the Bass Islands and Kelleys Island along with nearshore areas from Catawba Island to Sandusky Bay to find active fish. Tube jigs and drop shot rigs with goby imitations are the most popular set-ups for smallmouth.

Fishing effort directed towards walleye has greatly decreased as western basin anglers have switched to perch fishing. Some success has been reported on Kelleys Island Shoal. Drifters are using mayfly rigs or weight forward spinners, while most trollers are using worm harnesses or spoons with jet or dipsy divers, and crankbaits.

Yellow perch fishing has been slow in the Western Basin. From two weeks ago the best areas were “D†can of the Camp Perry range, Green Island, Rattlesnake Island, Lucy’s Point of Middle Bass Island, N of North Bass Island, and the Marblehead lighthouse. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Smallmouth bass should start moving shallower as water temperatures drop heading into fall. Fish rocky drop-offs and reefs around the Bass Islands and Kelleys Island along with nearshore areas from Catawba Island to Sandusky Bay to find active fish. Tube jigs and drop shot rigs with goby imitations are the most popular set-ups for smallmouth.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.