Fishing report

The following is this week’s fishing report for northwestern Michigan provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

Ludington: No boats have been out. Pier anglers and those surfcasting are catching some steelhead. Fresh spawn worked best.

Pere Marquette River: While the salmon run is winding down, anglers are still catching the occasional coho. Steelhead are moving in on a daily basis. Some nice brown trout were caught.

Pentwater: Pier anglers are catching coho when still-fishing with spawn. Steelhead should also be in but none were caught yet.

Manistee: Pier anglers and those surfcasting have caught salmon and steelhead. Most are using spawn.

Manistee River: Is producing steelhead all the way up to Tippy Dam. Chinook can still be found up near the dam however the fish are in bad shape. Cold rain did push some coho up into the river. Anglers are floating fresh spawn, fly fishing with egg patterns or floating a jig and wax worm.

Petoskey: Dredging in the marina is done and most likely the docks will remain out of the water until next season. Pier fishing was slow. A couple chinook or steelhead were caught on spawn bags near the mouth of the river. Most are now waiting for the steelhead run to get started.

Bear River: Still has the occasional chinook up near the dam or downstream. Fish were caught between the bridges below the dam. Try spawn or yarn. A couple coho and steelhead were caught on spawn near the dam.

Charlevoix: Smallmouth bass fishing slowed but a few largemouth bass were caught on crawlers, minnows, and scented rubber baits. Those fishing near Medusa Creek reported no fish caught.

Traverse City: Those fishing the East Bay caught cisco and the occasional whitefish when jigging in 80 to 130 feet. Smallmouth bass can be found in 10 to 30 feet and a few perch were caught on live bait in 30 feet. Very few boats were out on the West Bay. Look for perch and bass in 20 to 35 feet.

Elk River: Steelhead, coho, and a few lake trout were caught on spawn bags near the dam but catch rates were slow.

Boardman River: Anglers caught a couple steelhead on spawn, jigs or trout beads. Lake trout are hitting on spawn bags. The salmon are in bad shape.

Platte Bay: Those surfcasting with spawn have caught steelhead near the mouth.

Frankfort: Steelhead anglers were landing some very nice fish. They were using fresh spawn or gold and orange wobblers. Pier anglers caught some nice fish including a 13 pound coho.

Portage Lake: The boat launch in town is closed for dredging this week but the DNR site at the west end is still open. With the wind and rain, anglers were not having any luck for bass or panfish.

Lake Cadillac: Is producing a few walleye, bass and pike.