From DNR reports
DNR fishing guide, July 24
Muskegon area
Muskegon: Anglers here were fishing the same depths as Grand Haven. Salmon were 40 to 85 feet down and steelhead were hitting in the top 30 feet of waters 80 to 130 feet deep. Use orange spoons for steelhead or blue and green with white paddles or spinnies and flies for salmon. Meat rigs also caught fish. Hot colors were yellow, a blue green or purple.
Muskegon Lake: Anglers have caught smaller walleye and bass. Catch rates for panfish were fair to good.
Muskegon River: Has active fly hatches. Smallmouth bass fishing is very good.
Whitehall: Anglers found 39 degree water in 30 to 40 feet. Some traveled north a mile or two and fished 15 to 40 feet down in 140 to 160 feet and caught steelhead which were feeding on flies. A couple chinook were also caught. Pier anglers caught a fair number of perch with cooler water close to shore. Minnows worked best. A couple salmon and brown trout were caught on body baits.
Grand Haven: Boat anglers are catching salmon 40 to 85 feet down in 80 to 130 feet. Steelhead were caught on orange spoons in the top 30 feet. Salmon were caught on blue and green spoons and flies or white paddles, spinnies and flies. Yellow, blue green or purple meat rigs also caught fish. Pier fishing slowed as water temperatures were back up to 65 degrees or more.
North and Southwest
Frankfort: No big numbers but some very nice catches were reported by those fishing the Herring Hole and north to the point in 100 to 180 feet. Chinook and steelhead were caught and those going deeper caught lake and brown trout. Most are using spoons and meat rigs with white and blue the hot colors. Alewife were seen around the piers and chinook were caught off the wall by the car ferry landing.
Onekama: Those trolling the top 60 to 90 feet in waters 160 to 180 feet deep caught chinook and steelhead. The early morning bite was best.
Portage Lake: The water is beginning to warm a bit so anglers are moving out a little deeper and fishing in 12 to 21 feet for bluegills and perch in the morning. Those working the breakwall caught some nice smallmouth bass.
Manistee: Catch rates were hit-or-miss. Boat anglers found salmon and trout 20 to 80 feet down in 80 to 300 feet on glow spoons and plugs as well as yellow or purple meat rigs. No salmon were caught off the piers.
Manistee River: Has been good for those fly fishing and those casting spinners. Caddis flies were reported below Tippy Dam. Bass fishing has been very good for those casting.
Ludington: Anglers found trout and salmon in 70 to 160 feet. Out deeper, try the top 80 feet with green or blue spoons and purple or blue meat rigs. Pier anglers said the perch action was slow.
Pere Marquette River: Is also good for those fly fishing. Anglers are catching summer steelhead and brown trout.
Pentwater: Those trolling 58 feet down caught lake trout. Chinook were taken right off the bottom in 80 to 120 feet near the sand dunes at Silver Lake. Some fishing in waters 200 feet deep took steelhead right off the surface.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: The occasional steelhead can still be found up near the dam. Orange or gold were good colors. Those targeting catfish have done well on live or cut bait. Smallmouth bass action was good.
Grand River at Lansing: Is producing smallmouth bass and catfish. Some pike were caught in Jackson County.
Gull Lake: Is producing bluegill and some perch. Pike anglers found fish when trolling out near the Hog’s Back in 18 to 30 feet.
Kalamazoo River: Is producing smallmouth and catfish below the Allegan Dam.
New Buffalo: Boats trolling in waters between 160 and 200 feet caught some nice chinook, coho and steelhead. Most are using lead core and sliders with spoons in bright colors. Perch anglers are fishing in 20 to 40 feet north of the port.
