UPPER PENINSULA

• Little Bay De Noc: Surface water temperatures were about 48 degrees. Perch fishing was fair to good in the northern parts of the Bay with minnows, wigglers and crawlers in 32 feet. Shore anglers caught smallmouth bass along the Ford River when casting spinners, plastics or crank baits. The water is higher than last year with a fairly strong current. The walleye opener looks to be good this year as many perch anglers were marking fish throughout the Bay. The mouth of the Whitefish, Escanaba and Ford River should all be good during the early season.

• Big Bay De Noc: Perch were caught in Garden Bay and most were spawned out. Overall fishing was good but the fish were smaller at 8 to 10 inches. Most were using crawlers, minnows and wigglers in front of the Commercial Fish House. Not sure on the walleye opener here but the better fishing could come the second or third week after the waters warm up. Spots to try would be off the mouth of the Ogontz River, Kates Bay, the “Boot”, off Indian Point and Nahma.

• Marquette: Had floating ice in both the Upper and the Lower Harbors so there had been no fishing. In the Chocolay and Carp Rivers, very few steelhead were caught and those caught were spawned out or had loose eggs. A couple splake were caught at the mouth of both rivers.

• Au Train: The boat launch is open and quite a few anglers were heading out.

• Munising: The Bay is open but there continues to be some lake ice that drifts back into the channel so use caution. Fishing pressure has been high in this area. Those targeting coho were getting 3 to 5 fish per trip when trolling stick baits and crank baits with high lines. Steelhead and splake were also caught. Shore and pier anglers caught splake and the odd coho with spawn and crawlers or when casting spoons.

• Grand Marais: Good catches of coho were reported by those trolling around the harbor, to the east and towards the Sucker River. Morning and evening were best. Boat and pier anglers caught the occasional brown trout and steelhead which were running small. Pier anglers were taking some limit catches of whitefish when using a single egg.

• Detour: The ice is completely gone in and around Detour Village. The docks are in at both launches. Now is the time to get your boat in the water if you want to target Chinook and Atlantic salmon as well as lake trout. These fish are chasing baitfish in shallow waters along the shoreline. Run baits 6 to 8 feet down.

• Drummond Island: A few yellow perch were caught between the Monahan Dock and the old Sportsman Club Point. Small to medium size minnows work best when drifting in 6 to 8 feet until you find a school of fish.

— The Michigan Department of Natural Resources