SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN — The extremely warm weather helped improve fishing conditions especially on the inland lakes. More anglers were out however catch rates were best in the early morning or evening when the heavy boat traffic slowed. Bluegills are on or just moving off the beds. The crappie action slowed as hot weather pushed the fish to deeper water.  Bass were caught along the shoreline and around structure. Pike and carp could be seen in the shallows.

Southwest Lower Peninsula

Overall: The inland lakes finally had some good fishing. The bluegills were spawning or just coming off the beds and were hitting on spiders or live baits. Anglers have a caught a good number of bluegills, bass, pike, catfish and carp. The crappie bite slowed as the fish moved back to deeper water because it has been too warm. 

• St. Joseph: Salmon fishing slowed but anglers were still taking a decent number of Chinook in 120 feet or more. Coho and lake trout were also caught. Spin-doctors and flies seem to work best. Pier anglers caught catfish and freshwater drum. Perch anglers were starting to catch some in 50 feet or so but fishing was still slow. 

• South Haven: Salmon fishing slowed here as well. Boat anglers were still getting coho, lake trout and the occasional Chinook in 60 to well past 120 feet. Spoons have caught the most but no particular color stood out. Pier anglers are getting catfish and freshwater drum. No perch to report. 

• Grand Haven: Salmon were caught 50 to 120 feet down in 170 to 250 feet. Orange, blue and green spoons are working well along with green or white flies. Pier anglers using cut bait caught channel cats and freshwater drum. 

• Grand River at Grand Rapids: Walleye anglers are fishing around the bridges and the creek mouths. Anglers were getting a good number of smallmouth bass so the opener should be good. Pike were also caught. 

• Grand River at Lansing: The smallmouth action slowed at the North Lansing Dam.  The carp bite was excellent as the fish prepare to spawn. 

• Morrison Lake: Had good bluegill fishing. Anglers were using red worms, wax worms and small flies. 

• Lake Ovid: Was producing a few crappie and lots of bluegills though many were small.     

• Maple River: Catfish were hitting on worms and live bait such as small bluegills.       

• Muskegon: Boat anglers have done well on salmon 45 to 100 feet down in 160 to 240 feet with green or white flies behind white flashers or bright colored spoons. A couple smallmouth bass were caught by pier anglers using jigs. 

• Muskegon Lake: Bluegills were caught around the lake including just off the launch at the North State Park. A few walleye were caught along the weed line between the State Park and the Bear Lake Channel. Bass were caught near the docks. Smallmouth were hitting on blade baits in the channel. 

• Whitehall: Boats trolling 40 to 80 feet down in 180 to 250 feet caught good numbers of Chinook and coho salmon along with the occasional steelhead. Blue or green flies and meat rigs along with spoons in orange, blue dolphin, and raspberry carbon all fished well. Pier anglers caught walleye in the channel in the early morning and late evening with body baits or soft plastic swimbaits.