Michigan’s Secret Fishing Hotspots This Fall—Here’s Where to Go

Weekly Fishing Report hints at peak fall fishing opportunities before the season slows down; the report pauses after Nov. 6.

Walleye and Yellow Perch Bite Strong in Southeast Lower Peninsula

Southeast Michigan anglers are seeing a strong uptick in fishing activity on the Lower Saginaw Bay, where yellow perch and walleye are biting more consistently. The Saginaw River and Bay Harbor Marina reported perch between 7 to 9 inches in size. On Lake Erie, walleye are being caught east of Luna Pier in 18 feet of water using artificial swim baits, while yellow perch are active near Sterling State Park. Anglers on the Lake St. Clair spillway also reported perch success using live bait, though musky action remained slow.

Salmon Runs Continue in West and Northeast Michigan Rivers

In Southwest Lower Peninsula, steelhead and whitefish are being caught from piers in South Haven and St. Joseph. Anglers on the St. Joseph River are also seeing good salmon action near the Berrien Springs Dam. In the Cheboygan River, salmon remain stacked near the dam spillway, with Chinook and pink salmon making up most catches. However, many of these fish are dark and spent from spawning. Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay River in Alpena is producing a mix of Chinook, coho, and Atlantic salmon, along with early steelhead.

Fishing in Oscoda’s Au Sable River has been productive, with coho and Atlantic salmon biting near the pier. Anglers bouncing spawn off the bottom near Foote Dam have reported occasional Chinook salmon. In addition, steelhead are being caught on inline spinners and spawn throughout the river.

Lake Trout Shine in Upper Peninsula Bays

In the Upper Peninsula, Keweenaw and Huron Bays saw good numbers of lake trout, with anglers using artificial lures and natural baits. Big Traverse Bay and the South Portage Entry Canal also reported lake trout success from trolling in 40 to 120 feet of water. Anglers casting in shallower waters saw results with splake, while Manistique River anglers continued to pull in Chinook salmon, although the season’s pink salmon run has largely ended.

Marquette anglers found luck with both coho and brown trout, particularly near the mouth of the Chocolay River and along M-28 fishing piers. While steelhead and trout remain active in the Chocolay and Carp Rivers, anglers described the bite as finicky, with the best results coming on spawn and green spinners.

Weekly Fishing Report Wraps for the Year

The Weekly Fishing Report will end after November 6 until the start of the ice fishing season next year. For ongoing updates, anglers are encouraged to contact local bait shops.

Fishing Tip of the Week: Fall fishing is often underrated, but anglers can take advantage of cooling waters to land some of the biggest walleye, crappie, and smallmouth bass of the year. Whether it’s reduced fishing pressure or better techniques, autumn is an ideal time to fish Michigan’s 11,000 inland lakes and Great Lakes waters.

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