Boats in the harbor at Eldean Shipyard on Lake Macatawa

Fishing

Lake Michigan fishing report

King salmon and trout reports from Lake Michigan near Holland, Saugatuck, Grand Haven and Port Sheldon — coho, chinook, steelhead, brown trout and lake trout, caught mainly trolling with downriggers, lead lines, copper wire and dipsy divers.

Latest reports

Straight from the charter captains

Reports are contributed by captains fishing out of the port of Holland. Fish on!

Black Pearl

August 17

Fishing is good out of the port of Holland. We have been catching mainly king and coho salmon with a few steelhead in the mix. Fish can be found in 70 ft on out to 160 ft and likely further. We are targeting 30–70 ft down with most of our rods. Blood Run wire divers 150–200 back on highs and 80–120 back on lows have been our most productive rods. Riggers down 40–70 with spoons on the outdowns and a BWP on the chute. 175–375 coppers have been taking fish with spoons on the higher coppers and flasher combos on the rest.

Black Pearl

July 20

Fishing slowed after the NW blow on Saturday. We found fish to be scattered from 40 ft–140 ft on Sunday. A combination of meat rigs and spoons took fish. Riggers down 40–50 with glow spoons and meat rigs took our biggest kings early. Our high wire divers with meat rigs back 120–210 took fish all morning. Coppers in 200–300 lengths with a mix of spoons took fish later in the morning. Hopefully the lake sets up a little bit over the coming weeks.

Rod Boss Sportfishing

July 17

Fishing has been quite consistent over the last week or two — finally consistently getting double digit catches. Spoons on coppers 100–250s and spinny flies and meat rigs on the 300 coppers. Divers with mag spoons early switching to spinny flies and meat later. Trout fishing on the port and starboard riggers has been pretty consistent. 70–100 fow early moving out to 120–150 later. Hot presentations: Green Knight, Mag Moonshine Bloody Nose, and Green Closer + Olive Oil Fly.

Black Pearl

July 14

Fishing has been really picking up out of Holland. Kings are showing up from 70–150 ft. There are a few coho, steelhead and trout in the mix as well. Riggers down 40–70 ft with glow spoons have been good all day. Blood Run wire divers back 160–230 on the highs and 80–120 on the lows have been producing with flasher/flies and meat rigs. Coppers in 150–400 lengths with spoons on the higher stuff and flasher/flies are taking fish.

Black Pearl

July 4

Fishing is picking up out of Holland. We have been finding scattered kings from 90–130 ft and trout deeper. Riggers with spin doctors and flies 50–70 down or near bottom. Divers back 180–220 on highs and 100–140 on lows with Big Weenie meat rigs. Blood Run coppers in 150–400 lengths with spoons. Mag Moonshine and Fuzzy Bear spoons have been most productive.

Rod Boss Sportfishing

May 30

125 and 150 coppers with a Jagerbomb stinger, 200 green gobie and 300 sexy veggie did all the work today. Lost a few trout coming up from the depths. Due to the waves and the east wind we fished 90–275 fow. The fishing has consistently started to taper down over the last week — June fishing is here.

Have a report to share?

If you have a salmon or trout report for Lake Michigan out of Holland, send it to info@eldean.com and we’ll add it here. Include the date, depth, presentations and what was biting.

Getting on the water

Fishing charters, boat rentals and sailing charters operating from the harbor are listed on our charters page. Fuel up at the 168-foot fuel dock before you head out the channel, and check the harbor weather and buoy data for lake conditions.

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