Southwest Lower Peninsula
Dowagiac River
Steelhead were caught at the Pucker Street Dam in Niles.
St. Joseph River
Steelhead anglers have caught fish up at the Berrien Springs Dam.
Kalamazoo River
A few limit catches of steelhead were reported by boat anglers fishing up near the Allegan Dam.
Grand River at Grand Rapids
Those fishing up near the 6th Street Dam have caught steelhead. Look for some fresh fish to move in with the rain and warmer temperatures.
Grand River at Lansing
Had reports of a steelhead here or there but nothing consistent. Rain the next couple days could bring some more fish up this far.
Muskegon River
Steelhead fishing was average but should pick up with the rain and warmer temperatures.
White River
Had fair to good steelhead fishing.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Cheboygan River
Anglers caught steelhead at the dam with spawn, beads, spinners, worms and minnows. Conditions were a bit difficult because of high currents from overflow.
Ocqueoc River
Fishing pressure was slow at times, but anglers have caught steelhead averaging 15 inches. Try spawn and spinners.
Thunder Bay River
Fishing was slow, but anglers were getting a couple steelhead and Atlantic salmon when drifting flies or spawn bags with bobbers. The water is low, clear and very cold.
Au Sable River
Steelhead were caught by anglers drifting or floating wax worms, flies and spawn bags through the holes. River temperatures were hovering around 39 degrees, and the water is very clear, so winter tactics continue to produce best. Some fresh fish entered the river, and a fair amount of black stone flies were emerging.
Black River
Despite on and off skim ice, anglers found a couple steelhead at the mouth of the river when floating spawn bags.
Au Gres River
Down at Singing Bridge (Whitney Drain), steelhead anglers were doing well in both the lower river and in the surf. They were either drifting spawn or wax worms down the river or still-fishing with floating spawn sacks in the surf. A few anglers dragging small boats across the beach and launching to fish just off the river mouth were getting some steelhead, lake trout and coho close to shore.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Bear River
Catch rates were a bit slow, but some nice chrome fish were caught with spawn bags up near the dam and downstream between the bridges. A couple steelhead were also caught on wax worms or spawn bags at the mouth.
Traverse City
On the Elk River in Elk Rapids, a couple steelhead were caught below the dam in the early morning. In the West Bay, Bowers Harbor was still frozen at the boat launch. On the Boardman River, steelhead were caught below the dam with spawn or wax worms. There were quite a few planter rainbow trout near the dam, so beads and soft plastics would be a good option if you are losing bait quickly.
Big Manistee River
Steelhead were caught up as far as Tippy Dam by those using beads and spawn bags. The rain should help bring more fish in.
Pere Marquette River
Has a mix of winter run steelhead and a few fresh fish.