The Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Now that Labor Day is past, the vast majority of fishing effort will turn to salmon and trout. Those wishing to fish inland lakes or inland trout streams will be greeted with solitude and often some very good fishing! Salmon are starting to move in closer to shore as well as into some of the river systems. Bluegill, crappie and bass fishing can be good this time of year.
SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Muskegon River: Has good smallmouth bass fishing and some walleye were caught upstream of Hardy Dam.Whitehall:  Anglers fishing in 60 to 80 feet of water caught a few fish in the top 50 feet when trolling plugs. A couple salmon were caught off the piers.

White Lake:  Has salmon in it. Fish were caught on green and white or ladder back J-plugs or dark spoons in green, blue and red.


NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Manistee: Has good salmon fishing. Try blue plugs, green spinnies and flies 80 feet down in 90 to 150 feet of water. Pier anglers caught a few fish with glow spoons.Manistee River:  Low, clear, and warm water has made river fishing tough. Some chinook are in the river though getting them to bite has not been easy. The Little Manistee River below the weir closed to fishing on September 1 and will re-open on November 15.

Manistee Lake:  The southern end near the mouth of the Little Manistee River will close to fishing on September 6 and will re-open on October 15 or when the DNR egg quota is reached. This closed area is marked by DNR buoys.

Ludington:  Has good catches of Chinook salmon with a few coho mixed in. The thermocline was 50 feet down in 90 to 150 feet of water. Try green or blue plugs. Pier fishing is slow but fish have been caught in Pere Marquette Lake.  

Pere Marquette River:  Salmon are in the river however the better fishing may still be in the lower stretches until we get more rain and the water temperatures cool.

Pentwater:  The salmon have moved in a little as anglers caught fish in 115 to 130 feet of water. Only a few salmon have been caught from the piers.