FROM WIRE REPORTS
The bass opener was good with some fine fish caught, and anglers still will find them in the shallows, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday in its weekly fishing report.
Bluegills should be on their beds soon in the southern sections of Lower Michigan, according to the DNR, and panfish are becoming more active as the weather warms.
Petoskey: Lake trout could be found in 80 to 90 feet of water, however many were sub-legal. Reconstruction on the breakwall has begun so anglers may want to fish elsewhere until the construction is completed.
Lake Charlevoix: The lake has good smallmouth bass action in the shallows. Try six to 12 feet of water with crank baits or minnow type plugs. Northern pike were also caught.
Bear River: Anglers fishing the mouth have caught smallmouth bass.
Traverse City: Windy conditions have kept anglers off both the East Bay and the West Bay.
Long Lake: Walleye were caught at night when trolling a crawler harness or rapala.
South Lake Leelanau: The lake is producing some nice walleye in the south lake. Try fishing shallow waters after dark. Look for smallmouth bass along the south end of the lake in the weed beds.
Glen Arbor: The chinook salmon are in and anglers are taking some good catches when trolling the slopes in 60 to 80 feet of water with spoons. Fish up to 18 pounds were caught.
Leland: The chinook are here as well and the season is looking to be a good one. Construction continues at the marina so traffic has been slow.
Frankfort: Pier fishing was slow but those trolling down by the Herring Hole or out on the Shelf caught good numbers of chinook along with a few lake trout on spoons. Hot colors were green, blue, orange and red. The fish were 55 to 75 feet down in waters 100 to 220 feet deep. Brown trout were caught in the harbor and just outside the piers on small spoons or body baits. Orange, gold or white were good colors.
Onekama: Onekama had very good salmon fishing both north and south of the port. Most are trolling 45 to 70 feet down in 160 to 300 feet of water with blue and green spoons.
Portage Lake: Bass and pike anglers are doing very well casting spinner baits and rapalas along the weed beds and drop-offs. Good catches were reported by the Inn and behind the Marina. Those targeting pike have done well when trolling along the drop-offs. Slow panfish activity. A few rock bass and some bluegills were found in 32 feet of water.
Manistee: The better fishing continues to be near the Ledge when using blue or green spoons 50 to 100 feet down.
Manistee River: Water levels are normal so trout fishing should be decent.
Ludington: Boat anglers are catching fish in 80 to 160 feet of water between the Bath House and Big Sable Point.
Pentwater: Salmon fishing has been good for those trolling in waters up to 130 feet deep. Some of the chinook salmon were over 15 pounds. Brown trout can still be found when trolling in 12 feet of water along the shoreline. Good crappie action in the Apache Hills area and in front of Charlie's Marina in 20 feet of water.
Mullett Lake: Catch rates were good for smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike and yellow perch.
