Walleye and pike season for the Upper Peninsula Great Lakes, inland waters and the St. Marys River opened Wednesday. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reports the opener should have been good, as water temperatures move up to the low to mid 40s.

Trout fishing still was slow in the northern regions due to the cold nights and cold river temperatures. The action should pick up in the next week or two. Water levels in the rivers were still high but starting to recede and clear up.

Marquette: Boat anglers are still doing well between the Lower Harbor and the mouth of the Chocolay River. Most averaged three to five fish with a mixed bag of chinook, coho, brown trout and splake in 15 to 40 feet.

Chocolay River: Water levels in the upstream sections were quite high. Most anglers are launching boats from the small marina near Harvey.

Little Bay De Noc: Perch anglers reported fair catches in the “Narrows” in 30 to 38 feet and around the Third Reef in 32 feet with crawlers or wigglers. Good smallmouth bass catches were reported off the mouth of the Ford River with plastics around the rocks and along the shoreline. The walleye opener should be good and much the same as last year. The mouth of the Whitefish River could have some of the better trolling options with crawlers in about 18 feet. The Escanaba River was good last year and probably will be again this year. Bass anglers reported good numbers of walleye around the mouth of the Ford River so this area should also be good.