Michigan Department of Natural Resources

The fishery for adult chinook salmon on Lake Michigan is starting to wind down, however steelhead and younger salmon can still be found in deep water. Trout and salmon fishing in the river systems is difficult due to the low water levels. The inland lakes are producing bass, pike, crappie, perch and bluegills.

SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Grand Haven:  Boat anglers are salmon fishing 30 to 60 feet down in 100 to 150 feet of water. Try white paddles and blue flies down deep and orange spoons up higher.  Those trolling around the piers are using white, pearl and yellow J-plugs. Pier anglers caught salmon in the early morning or late evening.

Muskegon:  Anglers fishing in 100 to 150 feet of water have caught salmon and steelhead. Some are trolling in the channel and around the piers with J-plugs or jigs like the Atomic in white, pearl or wonder-bread. Pier anglers caught salmon when jigging or casting orange spoons.

Muskegon Lake:  Anglers jigging for salmon have done well near the sand docks.

Muskegon River:  No big numbers of salmon as of yet. It seems like the fish are just trickling in. Bass anglers will want to fish the backwaters.

Whitehall:  Pier anglers are starting to catch salmon as the fish move closer to shore and get ready to spawn. Most are casting small spoons such as Little Cleo’s because spawn is not yet working. Boat anglers were staying in 45 to 60 feet of water and using J-plugs.

White Lake:  Those trolling spoons and J-plugs caught salmon. Green and white, blue or red were good colors.


NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Manistee:  The salmon fishery for adult chinook is starting to wind down, although younger chinook and steelhead are always available out in deeper water. Anglers trolling the harbor found decent numbers of chinook and coho. Glow plugs worked well during low light and chrome plugs worked later in the morning. Boats heading out and fishing 60 feet down in 80 to 160 feet of water found salmon. Pier anglers caught salmon on spoons and live bait.

Manistee Lake:  Is producing adult chinook salmon.

Manistee River:  Water levels are extremely low. So far the runs have been sporadic. Fish can be found in the deeper holes in the lower stretches.

Ludington:  Cooler water temperatures have moved chinook and coho in closer to the piers. Boats have done very well with glow plugs in the early morning. Those Boats trolling between the Bath House and the Point have done well in 60 to 180 feet of water with glow plugs and orange spoons in the top 60 feet. Pier anglers are doing very well when casting spoons or live bait. Those surfcasting at the State Park have also caught a few salmon.

Pere Marquette Lake:  Is currently producing chinook salmon.

Pere Marquette River:  Salmon are in the river however movement has been slow due to the low water levels.

Pentwater:  Pier anglers are starting to catch fish as the salmon are moving in. Most are using spoons as spawn is not working yet. Pier anglers caught a few brown trout on chartreuse or red spoons. Boats were trolling J-plugs and blue flies in 60 to 150 feet of water off Silver Lake.