The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has released its Northeast Michigan fishing report, describing slow overall fishing around Alpena but continued catches of walleye, lake trout, Chinook salmon, smallmouth bass and northern pike.
In Lake Huron near Alpena, anglers caught a few walleye in 20 to 30 feet of water while trolling nightcrawlers and deep-diving crankbaits near North Point and Sulphur Island. Farther out in Thunder Bay, anglers reported lake trout and a few Chinook salmon in 70 to 120 feet of water.
Thunder Bay and Thunder Bay River conditions
Flashers paired with Spin-N-Glos and spoons were productive near the bottom in Thunder Bay. The report said white, chartreuse and blue patterns worked best. Some Chinook salmon were also caught in the middle of the water column using spoons and plugs in green, black and green, and orange.
In the Thunder Bay River, anglers caught a few Chinook salmon near the Ninth Street Bridge with glow spoons during low-light conditions. Fishing was described as slow overall, although a few smallmouth bass and northern pike were caught using leeches and small spinners.
Reports from Rockport and Harrisville
Near Rockport, anglers caught walleye in 20 to 40 feet of water around Middle Island, with fair results while trolling nightcrawlers and crankbaits. Lake trout fishing was very good for anglers targeting 80 to 120 feet of water. Flashers with Spin-N-Glos and white, chartreuse or watermelon spoons produced the best results.
A few Chinook salmon were caught near False Presque Isle in 60 to 90 feet of water. Plugs, spoons and cut bait produced mixed results early and late in the day.
At Harrisville, anglers targeting lake trout in 115 to 140 feet of water had good success with spoons and Spin-N-Glos. A few steelhead were caught on spoons fished higher in the water column, while anglers casting spinners in the harbor caught a few northern pike.
Salmon activity near Rogers City and Presque Isle
Salmon were staging off Swan Bay near Rogers City, but the bite remained inconsistent and overall numbers were low. The best action occurred before sunrise, after sunset or on overcast days. Productive depths ranged from 30 to 90 feet, with fish moving shallower in the early morning and after dark.
Trolling throughout the water column produced the best results near Rogers City. Anglers used standard and magnum spoons, J-plugs, meat rigs, flasher-fly combinations and squids. Green, blue, chartreuse, orange, white, black and UV patterns were productive, while glow lures worked best early and late in the day. Walleye were reported as incidental catches, and anglers outside Swan Bay caught lake trout along with incidental steelhead and coho salmon.
Fishing also improved near Presque Isle, although angling effort remained low. Anglers fishing between the lighthouses or south toward Stoneport caught mixed bags of lake trout, with an occasional salmon or walleye. Productive depths ranged from 45 to 90 feet, and standard and magnum spoons, flasher-fly combinations and squid rigs produced fish. Reported productive colors included green, blue, orange, chartreuse, black, purple, white and UV patterns, with glow patterns effective early and late.