Upper Peninsula Weekly Fishing Report – May 12, 2021

Marquette: Though the water is cold, and the fishing has been slow, anglers are picking up a few lake trout, Chinook and steelhead. Brown trout are still around and were found in shallow water.

Au Train: The ramp has been in for a week now. Coho are in shallow water and were hitting on jigs and stick baits with a slower presentation. A few brown trout have also been caught. Chinook salmon were starting to be caught on spoons in the early morning. Steelhead are spawning in the rivers and were hitting on spawn bags.

Grand Marais:  Pier anglers targeting whitefish continue to do well however catch rates are slightly lower and the fish were running a bit smaller. Winds from the north have been favorable however it was taking some anglers longer to catch their limit. Very few boat anglers were out and those that did make it out caught a few lake trout.

Fishing Tip: Taking great catch-and-release photos

Are you an avid catch-and-release angler? Do you like to take photos of the fish you catch, prior to returning them to the water? Do you know the safest way to take these photos so you ensure the fish can live to be caught another day?

1. Wet your hands before you handle the fish – that way you won’t remove any of the protective mucus (aka slime) the fish has coating their body.
2. Remember a fish can not breathe out of water, so they will become uncomfortable rather quickly. Keep the fish in the water until your camera is ready to take the shot.
3. Take the photo with the fish close to the water, that way if it squirms out of your hands it will land in the water – not on a hard surface.
4. While holding a fish do not pinch or squeeze it and do not stick your fingers in its gills.
5. Be mindful of the different kinds of fish that have teeth and/or spines that could stick you.