Great Lakes Fishing Report & Forecast, May & June 2021

Published: Monday, May 17, 2021

Lake Superior

Steelhead runs typically peak in early- to mid-April but can last through May on many rivers. Rivers with good steelhead runs are the Chocolay, Carp, Two Hearted, Sucker, and Huron. Anglers can also have luck fishing for coho salmon off many of the river mouths between Marquette and Whitefish Bay, such as the Anna River, Sucker River, Two Hearted River, and Pendills Creek. There are also notable spring fisheries for lake whitefish and menominee off many of the piers and breakwalls, especially in Grand Marais and Marquette. A single egg is a common method to target these fish as they congregate. Smelt runs are sometimes still going in May with popular destinations being Keweenaw Bay tributaries, the Tahquamenon River, and tributaries to Whitefish Bay. Lake trout fishing usually picks up during late spring and early summer. While they can be found nearshore in the spring, as water temperatures warm, they will move offshore. Anglers with fish finders should look for schools of baitfish and troll the mid-water depths where the baitfish are found. Flashy blue-silver spoons or stick baits will often work well to entice lake trout to bite.

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan anglers begin to shift from nearshore coho salmon, brown trout, and lake trout fishing to more offshore fishing as the water begins to warm in late spring and early summer. Offshore trolling requires presenting lures in cooler and deeper waters often at 50 feet or deeper. These waters offer an opportunity to catch Chinook salmon and lake trout with the occasional steelhead or coho salmon. Down riggers, diving discs, and weighted lines will help anglers get their lures down to where the fish are. Based on early spring catches, Chinook and coho salmon numbers are looking better this year. There are still nearshore opportunities for fish that don’t mind warmer water such as smallmouth bass, walleye, and yellow perch. Offshore fishing opportunities are available from St. Joseph to the south up to Petoskey and Manistique to the north. Escanaba continues to be a great spot for warmer water species including walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and northern pike.

Lake Huron

The diverse fishery in Lake Huron presents many opportunities to anglers during May and June. Post-spawn walleyes are abundant throughout Saginaw Bay this time of year and success can be had from numerous access points along the east and west side of the bay. Along the rocky shoreline of northern areas, such as around Thunder Bay, walleye fishing can be very good in shallow water, particularly at night. The walleye bite should also pick up in the Cheboygan River by late May and early June, and the river is expected to have a better steelhead run this spring for two-year old fish since larger numbers of fish were stocked at this location in 2020.

A variety of salmon and trout can be targeted across Lake Huron including lake trout, rainbow trout, coho salmon, and Atlantic salmon. Atlantic salmon should provide near shore fishing opportunities in May and June along the shoreline including between Port Huron and Port Austin, between Tawas to Rogers City, Alpena and Presque Isle harbors, and near the Au Sable River.

Anglers should also consider heading to the Upper Peninsula in June when Atlantic salmon can be found near the DeTour Passage. Also in June, fishing the Hessel Pier and docks will provide a good opportunity to catch yellow perch. Splake fishing is nice in both May and June off the Hessel Pier or in boats. High water levels over the last few years have really helped the northern pike populations in the Les Cheneaux Islands area and in the St. Marys River.

St. Clair River, Lake St Clair and Detroit River

Walleye fishing is at its best during May and June, from the St. Clair River down through Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River. As the water begins to warm, the fish are actively feeding following spawning season. In the rivers, anglers are using jigs—3/4 to 1 oz due to the swift current—whereas many of the anglers targeting walleye in the lake are trolling body baits or crawler harnesses. Given significant walleye year classes in 2018, 2019, and 2020, we anticipate an excellent fishery in 2021. Although the harvest season for bass does not begin on these waters until the third week in June, the fishery is open to catch and immediate release. This has been popular for anglers because they can catch big smallmouth bass during this time of year.

Brought to you by the Michigan DNR. While anglers prepare their gear and equipment for spring fishing, there’s another key thing to remember: a 2021 Michigan fishing license! Purchase Michigan fishing licenses online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses.

Brought to you by the Michigan DNR.

To view Michigan DNR’s weekly fishing report, please visit Michigan.gov/FishingReport.

Lake Erie

Particularly in its western basin, Lake Erie is one of the most productive fisheries in the world. Walleye and yellow perch fishing is a popular activity for many Ohioans as well as residents of surrounding states, so it’s important to remember a few regulations before fishing Ohio’s portion of Lake Erie.

Walleye

Walleye hatch success has been exceptional for five of the past seven years, setting up a bright future for Lake Erie.

Walleye anglers will mostly catch abundant 2-, 3-, 6-, and 7-year-old fish that should range from 15 inches to as large as 28 inches. Abundant young fish from 2019 and 2020 hatches will show up in the catch and range from 9 to 14 inches, with an increasing number of 2-year-olds reaching 15 inches as the season progresses. Anglers are encouraged to release these sub-legal fish with as little handling as possible so they can contribute to the future fishery.

Perch

A declining population of Lake Erie yellow perch in Ohio’s central basin has prompted a reduction in the daily limit to 10 from Huron to Fairport Harbor beginning Saturday, May 1, 2021.

Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch fisheries are managed through an inter-agency quota system. Each jurisdiction regulates its catches to comply with annually determined safe harvest levels that ensure sustainability. Low abundance from Huron to Fairport Harbor led to a very conservative quota for yellow perch fishing from May 1, 2021, to Feb. 28, 2022. Central basin yellow perch hatches have been well below average and strong year classes are needed to rebuild the population to prior abundances.

Yellow perch abundance in the western basin provided limit opportunities seasonally in 2020 and remains strong in 2021. Ohio’s daily limits will remain at 30 in the western basin from Toledo to Huron and farther east from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut.

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

May is walleye time! The best places to be on Lake Ontario would be Chaumont Bay, Sodus Bay, Oswego River, and Sandy Pond. Anglers will find success during this time with big stick baits and Michigan Stinger spoons. Planer Boards of some sort are a must. These fish will range from 6 to 14 lbs and the people that travel for the giant Walleye of Chaumont Bay are after quality, not quantity.

June is a transition time of year for the salmon and trout of Lake Ontario. The Thermocline is setting up, pushing fish deeper and offshore depending on what you are fishing for. Downriggers, wire divers, copper, steel, and lead core are a go to for finding them. Massive brown trout can be found in June but very few can catch these monsters consistently, so choose wisely when picking a charter. Steelhead set up offshore in June—find temperature breaks and you’ll find steelhead. By late June, king salmon start rolling in offshore and begin gathering.