Great Lakes Fishing Report & Forecast, July & August 2021

Published: Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Thanks to local feet on the ground and valued partnerships with state Departments of Natural Resources, Great Lakes Scuttlebutt is proud to bring you a look into upcoming Great Lakes fishing opportunities!

Lake Superior

Lake trout are the bread-and-butter fishery during the summer months on Lake Superior. Anglers concentrating on the bottom over deep water (100 feet and deeper) have relatively consistent success when jigging or trolling with downriggers. For anglers willing and able to make a long journey to remote locations, offshore reefs such as Stannard Rock and Big Reef provide unique opportunities to jig for lake trout in relatively shallow water. For steelhead and the occasional brown trout or salmon, anglers should fish high in the water column near scum lines of terrestrial insects blown offshore.

Lake Michigan

Following a cold spring, it may take some time for summer fishing patterns to develop in Lake Michigan. Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and lake trout will move out to deeper water. The salmon will be found near baitfish and within the thermocline about 30 to 50 ft down in 100 or more feet of water. Steelhead will often be found on the surface in deeper water towards the middle of the lake. Lake trout are often the easiest to find this time of year near the bottom. Nearshore fishing opportunities will include yellow perch, walleye, freshwater drum, and smallmouth bass. The best nearshore fishing is around islands in northern Lake Michigan, in bays, around piers, and at outlet channels connected to large lakes or rivers like Manistique, Charlevoix, Manistee, Pentwater, White Lake, Muskegon, Holland, and St. Joseph.

Lake Huron

July and August are good times to target Atlantic salmon in the St. Marys River as they migrate from Lake Huron to Sault Ste. Marie. Starting in late June, cisco fishing can be good in bays of the Les Cheneaux Islands and off Drummond Island and in the St. Marys River. Salmon will begin to stage in late July, with Chinook dominated in the northern half of the lake and Coho in the south, before running in streams in late August/early September. Targeting staging salmon in late summer with a presentation that is spread throughout the water column will produce a variety of species, including Atlantic salmon, steelhead, lake trout, and walleye. For walleye, try the offshore areas of Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay including Au Gres, Tawas, and Sebawing as walleye often move to the outer bay in the throes of the summer heat to find cooler water and prey.

Lake St. Clair

Mid-summer can sometimes turn into the summer doldrums for fishing. But given the diversity of the fisheries in Lake St Clair, there are still plenty of good opportunities. Both smallmouth bass and largemouth bass are finishing up spawning in June, so by July and August the fish are redistributing around the lake and looking for a meal. Late summer provides some of the better catch rates of the year for bass. This time also provides some of the most consistent catches for yellow perch anglers. Perch spreaders and shiners are the preferred technique. As the water warms through the summer, the muskellunge typically move to deeper waters, which are located on the Ontario side of Lake St Clair.

Brought to you by the Michigan DNR. Don’t miss the boat on fishing Michigan’s waters! Get your Michigan fishing licenses online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses.

Lake Erie

Summertime in Lake Erie is full of fishing opportunities. Walleye and perch are the focal species for many anglers, but smallmouth bass and steelhead fishing are popular as well.

Yellow Perch

Anglers are seeking tasty yellow perch from July throughout the fall. Many factors affect perch catch rates, such as the hypoxic zone (low-oxygen water), spiny water flea hatch, and weather. In recent years, peak catch rates in the western basin have occurred during the highest water temperature in late July and early August. Daily limits for yellow perch are 30 in the western and eastern zones, and 10 in the central zone.

Walleye

Legal walleye, 15 inches or longer, can be found throughout the summer anywhere in Lake Erie. However, bigger walleye usually move east as water warms in the shallower western basin. In the open water of the central and eastern basins, trolling is the most popular method for catching walleye. Trolling or drifting and casting during the day is common in the western basin. As evening approaches, walleye are found in shallow water and anglers cast crankbaits near the reefs around the islands. With an estimate of 95 million walleye age 2 or older, memories will continue to be made for the next several years in Lake Erie.

Smallmouth Bass

Fishing for smallmouth bass is a popular summer pastime in the harbors of the western basin and around the islands. Anglers are casting tube jigs or drop shot rigs from shore or boat in these areas. From June 26, 2021, to February 28, 2022, an angler can keep a total of five smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, or spotted bass (singly or in combination) that are at least 14 inches long.

Steelhead

Steelhead fishing is gaining popularity in Lake Erie. Many anglers will troll deep water in the central or eastern basins using crank baits or spoons. Trout must be at least 12 inches and the daily limit is five (singly or in combination) from May 16 to August 31, 2021. From September 1, 2021, through May 15, 2022, the daily limit is two while the minimum length remains at 12 inches.

Brought to you by the Ohio DNR. Updated Lake Erie Ohio fishing reports are available by calling 888-HOOKFISH (466-5347). Information on Lake Erie research and management programs, fisheries resources, maps, and links to other Lake Erie web resources are available at wildohio.gov.

Lake Ontario

July is when the big boys start rolling into town: Salmon. Big boats will be heading off shore to tangle with salmon and steelhead. The best places for these are around Oswego, Rochester, and Oak Orchard. Warm water fishing begins to get hot with bass and pike in the Mexico Bay and Henderson Harbor area, too. Then comes August and the staging of big, gnarly king salmon—what everyone is waiting for! Check out staging areas like Mexico bay and Oswego Harbor. You won’t be disappointed!