Fishing Report

Many are fishing near the mouth and catching salmon on spawn, spinners or flies.

Has good numbers of salmon. Most of the action has been at the dam in Cheboygan where fish have been caught using spawn, spinners or flies.

Storms producing strong winds have slowed fishing and kept anglers on shore. Those able to get out have been fishing for perch near the mouth of the Saginaw River and off Quanicassee. Shore anglers caught light numbers of perch.

A few salmon were caught off the pier and around the gas docks when fishing at night.

Salmon have been marked outside the harbor during the day, but caught inside the harbor when fishing at night. The action is not red-hot by any means as the salmon may be a bit late coming in this year.

When they can get out, boat anglers are still taking some nice perch in waters about 48 feet deep. Pier anglers continue to target salmon in the very early morning or late at night.

Good perch fishing continues on the north side of Drummond Island. Perch are hitting on minnows just off Grape Island and in Scott Bay.

Salmon and trout have been caught by shore anglers drifting spawn or yarn below the First Dam. Bottom bouncers are producing fair walleye catches in the area of the turn basin.

Lake trout fishing remains fair for boats trolling in 140 to 170 feet of water. Those trolling near shore reported spotty fishing with only a few chinook, coho, steelhead and lake trout taken.

Anglers are jigging for lake trout in 140 to 180 feet of water using cut bait. Lake trout were caught along a bank that drops from 40 to 80 feet near the South Portage Entry. Those trolling for salmon have caught coho, lake trout and steelhead 20 to 50 feet down in waters 30 to 60 feet deep. Green, orange and gold spoons have caught fish.

Has good perch fishing near the mouth. Anglers are fishing the weed beds with perch rigs and shiner minnows in 4 to 12 feet of water around Celeron Island and Sugar Island. Smallmouth bass have been caught on live crayfish or tube baits when working the structure. Those looking for walleye are also working the areas with structure and near the channels while jigging mostly worms.

Has good perch fishing. Boats are fishing between Nine Mile and Twelve Mile Roads, near the St. Clair Light, and off the 400 Club. Most fish have been caught in 8 to 14 feet of water using perch rigs. Those fishing in Canadian waters have not caught as many fish however the fish are bigger.

Anglers are just starting to catch light numbers of steelhead when floating spawn or wax worms under a bobber up near the Flat Rock Dam.

Walleye fishing from Huron to Lorain has been good as the fish continue to migrate west. Farther east most fishing effort has been directed at yellow perch. Walleye have been taken in open water W of the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain, and around the 30 north line between Cranberry Creek and Vermilion. Fish have been caught on worm harnesses or spoons trolled with dipsy divers or jet divers, and also on deep diving crankbaits. Best spoon colors have been patterns with red or purple. Fish are suspended and anglers are fishing down 25 to 40 feet.

Yellow perch fishing is excellent in the central basin from one to three miles north of Huron to Lorain, three miles northeast of Cleveland (E. 72nd St. lighthouse) in 43 feet of water, two to three miles north of Euclid in 42 feet of water, two to three miles north-northwest of Fairport in 40 to 45 feet of water, and two to three miles north of Ashtabula 45 to 50 feet of water. Fish have ranged from seven to 12 inches. Perch rigs with shiners fished near the bottom have produced the most fish.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been good along the shoreline from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut in 15 to 25 feet of water. Fish have been caught on goby color tube jigs, goby color drop-shot rigs, jigs tipped with minnows or leeches, or by trolling crankbaits.

Steelhead fishing has been good in the Rocky River, Chagrin River, Grand River, Geneva State Park, Euclid Creek (Wildwood State Park), Arcola Creek, Conneaut Creek and along the Conneaut west break wall. Shore anglers are using small spinners and spoons, and jigs and maggots rigged with a split shot under a light bobber.

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 fair in the Western Basin. Over the past week the best areas have been “D†can of the Camp Perry range, northwest of Green Island, from Lakeside to Kelleys Island, northeast of Ballast Island, and northeast of the Marblehead lighthouse. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish. Yellow perch are averaging 8 inches long.

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.

Coho fishing is slow to fair trolling dodgers with flies and spoons 40 feet down in water 80 feet deep. Shore angers are using spawn bags. Sizes are ranging from 2 to 6 pounds. A few splake have been taken as well. Lake trout fishermen are having fair to good success in waters 150 feet deep.

Has fair to good salmon fishing between the Hattie Street Bridge and the First Dam. Some brown trout and steelhead were also taken casting spoons or drifting spawn or yarn.

Lake trout fishing remains fair for anglers trolling in 140 to 170 feet of water. Anglers trolling near the shoreline are fishing in 30 to 70 feet of water. Near shore boaters are catching coho salmon or lake trout, with an occasional chinook, brown or rainbow trout. Boats have been concentrated toward the Lower Harbor or the Chocolay River. Good salmon fishing can be found in Marquette Harbor.

Fishing pressure has been low. Anglers trolling for salmon have taken a few coho and lake trout trolling spoons in 30 to 60 feet of water fishing 25 to 55 feet down. A few coho have also been taken off the pier in L'Anse casting with Little Cleo's.

Salmon fishing is good in the river and in Pere Marquette Lake.

Fishing has been slow as the fish still seem to be scattered. Steelhead were caught in the top 15 feet of water and chinook have been down 70 to 100 feet out in deeper water. Pier anglers have caught a few salmon off both piers casting spoons. Shore anglers are starting to catch fish by the State Park.

Salmon fishing remains strong.

Fishing has been slow, although chinook salmon are being taken in Manistee Lake, and the harbor and Lake Michigan. Anglers are mainly fishing the shelf in 90 to 120 feet of water. Those trolling the harbor are catching chinook inside and just outside the pier heads. Pier anglers have had some luck catching chinook while casting spoons off both piers.

Trolling anglers are taking decent catches of chinook and coho in 80 to 140 feet of water to the north of the piers near the Barrel. Fish have been caught on meat rigs, green, glow or blue spoons, and purple or white flies. Fishing on the piers has been slow but a few bass and suckers have been caught on the south pier.

Salmon fishing remains good.