Michigan DNR Fishing Report for Oct. 4, 2018

Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph River: A few coho, the occasional Chinook and a couple fresh steelhead were moving through the ladder at Berrien Springs.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Is producing Chinook, coho and even a couple steelhead. Most are fishing up near the Sixth Street Dam with spawn bags, skein, thunder sticks and small spoons.

Grand River at Lansing: Had a good push of coho around the Webber Dam Monday morning. Fish were also being caught near the Portland Dam. Most are using spinners or spawn. Water levels are high which is not good for those looking to wade.

Muskegon River: Is producing salmon but the run has been on the slow side. A couple brown trout were caught and those targeting smallmouth continue to do well.

White River: Those fishing the lower stretches reported slightly higher numbers of new fish entering the system. Try casting body baits in the early morning or drifting skein and spawn bags through the deeper holes.

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan River: Fishing pressure picked up. A couple Chinook were caught on crank baits or skein. Most of the fish are dark however fresh fish are still trickling in. A good number of pink salmon were caught on skein, spoons and crank baits up at the dam. Those casting spoons and crank baits or drifting worms caught steelhead, large and smallmouth bass, walleye, pike and one muskie.

Ocqueoc River: Had very little fishing activity. Salmon were spotted upstream of the boat launch, but none were caught.

Thunder Bay River: Chinook salmon are jumping but were difficult to catch. The Atlantic salmon fishery was still on the slow side. Anglers are casting spoons and body baits or drifting spawn under a bobber.

Black River: Anglers were targeting salmon while casting spoons and crank baits or when still-fishing with spawn near the mouth of the river.

Au Sable River: A couple Atlantic salmon were caught between Foote Dam and the Whirlpool by those floating spawn, drifting and swinging egg and streamer flies through the holes or fishing behind the gravel. Smallmouth bass have been caught.

Au Gres River: Had some reports of Chinook salmon jumping off the mouth of Whitney Drain at the Singing Bridge, but none were caught.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Bear River: Had a lot of fish including Chinook, coho and a couple small steelhead that were caught at the dam by those using spawn, artificial eggs and flies. Some of the fish are dark. Water levels were high after all the rain.

Traverse City: Fishing improved some in the Elk River as anglers caught a few Chinook and small coho when using spawn at the dam. In the West Bay, salmon fishing was slow but coho were caught in the south end. Catch rates on the Boardman River picked up with some nice Chinook caught below the pedestrian bridge near J & S Hamburg’s and at the Union Street Dam when drifting spawn and skein.

Platte River: The coho just keep coming! Good numbers of fish were below the Lower Weir which has offered some good fishing in the lower river. Anglers have also caught fish down near the mouth when casting.

Betsie River: Anglers from the Homestead Dam are reporting lower numbers of Chinook and the fish are darker.

Manistee River: Had a decent run of coho at Tippy Dam. Anglers have also found a few brown trout, some walleye and the occasional pike.

Big Sable River: Had a good run of coho salmon.

Pere Marquette River: Still has decent salmon fishing. Many of the bigger Chinook have spawned and are turning dark. A few coho have made their way into the river. Anglers are also catching steelhead.

Pentwater River: Anglers casting body baits or drifting skein caught Chinook salmon. Early morning was best.

Upper Peninsula

Marquette: Fishing started to pick up around the mouth of the Chocolay River and outside the breakwall in the Lower Harbor. Most were targeting salmon, steelhead and brown trout when trolling in front of the Chocolay and Carp Rivers in 30 to 50 feet. Shore anglers on the Carp, Dead and Chocolay Rivers had low catch rates. More coho were starting to get caught at the mouth of the Carp and Chocolay Rivers. Those on the Dead River spotted a good number of Chinook.

Grand Marais: Boat anglers had reports of a few coho taken but the action was slow. Surf and river anglers at the Sucker River caught a few coho. Strong wind and large waves at the mouth made surf-casting more difficult.

Two Hearted River: Anglers had some good opportunities for coho on the river and out from the mouth. Those trolling in front of the river mouth did well on the calm days. Those fishing in the river had luck all the way up to the Reed and Green Bridge.

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