UPPER PENINSULA
Fishing Report
Brook trout were caught on many inland trout lakes. Smelt were reported in both Lake Superior and Lake Huron rivers however the action is very sporadic. Those lucky enough to find some were in the right place at the right time.
Copper Harbor: Fishing is still slow. Suckers have come into the harbor and they should start running into Fanny Hooe Creek soon. There is word of smelt starting to run in some rivers.
Keweenaw Bay: Cold temperatures slowed the bite for those trolling for salmon. When the weather was overcast and blowing, a few anglers did very well when fishing off the rock-dock which is the lake ward edge of the north side of the L’Anse marina channel. They caught splake and coho on spawn bags. A couple smelt were taken in Linden Creek and the Falls River but overall catches were poor. Anglers caught a couple steelhead in the Falls River. Those trolling out from the South Portage Entry did catch some lake trout ranging between 2 and 5 pounds. The fish were hitting on a variety of spoons in 120 to 150 feet. Traverse Bay had no anglers.
Menominee: Anglers reported on some large walleye being caught south of the river when using planer boards.
Menominee River: Panfish anglers caught perch and crappie from the Government Pier. Slip bobbers and minnows are the bait of choice. The spawning run is pretty much done so anglers are fishing Lake Michigan for post spawn fish.
Little Bay De Noc: All the boat launches are up and running. Perch fishing has picked up. Most were fishing the northern end but the Center Reef was the best when using minnows and crawlers in and around 30 feet. Several nice catches of jumbo perch were reported in the same area. Steelhead anglers reported good fishing in the Day’s River from the Masonville Bridge to the Golf Course and on the Ford River. Smallmouth bass were caught and released around the mouth of the Ford River.
Big Bay De Noc: Perch fishing in Garden Bay is on. Anglers reported good to excellent catches over by Hermes Fishery when using minnows in six to eight feet. This is a bit unusual because the area is very small but packed with fish. The average size was eight to nine inches although some nice jumbo fish were also reported right along with some limit catches.
Marquette: Water temperatures are still very cold at 36 degrees. Most boat anglers fished out of the Lower Harbor to the Carp River but catch rates were between zero and two Chinook or coho. Shore anglers at the mouth of the Carp River had little luck with only the occasional steelhead or coho caught in the early morning by those using spinners, spawn or crawlers. No fish were caught off the Lower Harbor breakwall. Water levels on the rivers were still a bit high but dropping.
Munising: Cooler weather with wind and shifting ice still has limited some effort and catch rates remained low. Depending on wind direction, ice is still being pushed around in areas. A few coho were caught by those jigging or still-fishing from small boats near the Anna River. Try spawn or worms. Those trolling have caught a few coho. No word on splake, whitefish or steelhead. Smelt have shown up in some of the rivers but catch rates were poor. The snow on Bay Furnace Road is gone.
Grand Marais: The ice is shifting daily. It can make fishing impossible in the morning but blow out so anglers can fish in the afternoon. It has been very unpredictable so boat anglers heading out need to be especially careful. Ice mounds covering the pier are not safe to cross. Anglers are fishing open water off the wall near the parking lots. No whitefish to report yet. Large mounds of ice about eight feet high remain near the mouth of the Sucker River. Anglers are fishing the river and Carpenter Creek.
Two Hearted River: The road to the mouth has been plowed. The water was high and dirty however a couple steelhead were caught.
Detour: From Detour Village, the ice is gone from the smaller DNR launch off M-143 across from the DNR Field Office. Anglers can now launch boats however the dock was not in as of this report. Anglers are gearing up Atlantic salmon fishing which was the best ever in 2014.
Drummond Island: The ice is currently gone from Maxton Bay at the mouth of the Potagannissing River. The boat launch is open at the DNR Access Site off Maxton Road however the dock was not in yet. The ice has finally moved away from the steel breakwall at the off Tourist Road. Anglers will soon be yellow perch fishing off the Monahan Dock which is just southwest of the Sportsman’s Club Point.
Cedarville and Hessel: A few boats were heading out of Cedarville and looking for perch. Anglers are also fishing from the Hessel pier. Splake season opens May 1.
Carp River: We have reports of smelt but for how long no one knows.
