UPPER PENINSULA

• Marquette: More boats were starting to head out now that the ice is gone. Most were trolling between the breakwall in the Lower Harbor to the Chocolay River. Coho, brown trout and a few splake were starting to show up and were caught off the breakwall. Water temperatures were about 34 degrees in the lake and near 38 degrees in the rivers. Catch rates have been slow in the Dead River and Carp River. Water levels have been fluctuating daily with most area rivers on the high side. Expect levels to rise even more as the temperature warms up.

• Chocolay River: Had slow fishing. Anglers are trying but few fish have been caught. Those lucky enough to catch fish were getting some fresh steelhead. The boat launch at the marina is ice free however no docks are in yet.

• Little Bay De Noc: Most of the Bay was still iced over however the ice is dangerous and no one should be going out on it. Several have started fishing the piers at the Escanaba North Shore launch and hoping for steelhead or brown trout, but no catches were reported. The transition to open water fishing could take some time with the cold temperatures at night. Boats could be launched at the Ford River and the North Shore launches but no docks are in yet and floating ice could be a hazard. Steelhead anglers have started fishing the Day’s River and the Ford River but not much to report yet. All area rivers are open and flowing fast.

• Manistique River: Steelhead anglers reported good numbers of fish before the snowstorm. Water levels are high and fast making it much harder to wade or see fish. Catch rates dropped but there are still a lot of fish to be caught. Most were casting spawn bags near downed trees or gravel areas. The boat launch is open and the docks are in for those early birds. The cleaning and disposal station are not open yet.

• Detour: Snow and ice are still occupying the boat launches in Detour Village. Gusty winds caused a lot of the snow to melt in Detour and the eastern Upper Peninsula however no docks were in yet.

— Michigan Department of Natural Resources