IRON MOUNTAIN — This weekend’s heat will help water temperatures rise, speeding the transition to fish seeking cooler, deeper waters.

During summer, in the heat of the day, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources recommends focusing angling efforts on deeper waters. Try depths ranging from 18 to 30 feet, especially near drop-offs, weed edges, sunken humps and rock piles. These areas attract baitfish, which in turn draw predatory species such as walleye and bass.

Wisconsin’s northern zone smallmouth bass harvest season opens today and runs through March 1. The zone includes Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.

The Michigan DNR reported this Upper Peninsula activity:

Little Bay de Noc: Anglers reported slower walleye fishing this week, with limited catches. However, some anglers found success using sonar to accurately present casted lures to walleye, while others employed slow trolling with crawler harnesses near the bottom. Most fish were observed along or near steep drop-offs. Yellow perch anglers reported fair to good fishing, catching fish in relatively deep water. Smallmouth bass anglers also reported good fishing.

Big Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers reported tough fishing, although the catches reported were large fish. Good smallmouth bass fishing was reported near rocky areas, along weed lines, and near rock to sand transition areas.

Keweenaw Bay/ Huron Bay: Anglers reported catching good numbers of coho and chinook salmon, as well as an increase in the number of chinook salmon caught. These fish were caught trolling spoons and flasher/flies in 50 to 100 feet of water. Those targeting lake trout were successful when trolling and jigging both natural and artificial presentations in 120 to 150 feet of water.

Marquette: Water temperatures continued to warm to around 45 to 50 degrees, even out towards White Rocks and Granite Rock. The coho and chinook salmon bite around Marquette decreased this week. Lake trout were found from the end of the break wall eastward towards White Rocks while jigging in 100 to 130 feet of water. Few anglers were able to make it out towards Granite Rock and the Clay Banks this week but reported both jigging and trolling as successful methods.

Au Train: Lake Trout anglers continued to do very well jigging or trolling Northeast of the Au Train Island. With warmer weather, lake trout were caught in shallower water by anglers targeting salmon from Scott Falls out towards 5 Mile point in 40 to 60 feet of water.

Munising: The bite was reported as slow. However, boat anglers trolling had some quality catches of chinook salmon near Grand Island along with some lake trout. Anglers had success splake fishing off the dock on the Anna River mouth with spawn reported working best.

Grand Marais: The lake trout bite was good with boat anglers having success when jigging and trolling at deeper depths. Boat anglers trolling in shallower depths caught a few coho salmon and rainbow trout east of the break wall. Anglers caught lake whitefish off the break wall using spawn but reported the bite slowing down. The best reported times were early morning.

Ontonagon River: Fishing efforts on the river were good. Walleye were caught in respectable numbers. Most anglers preferred trolling, some found success when jigging.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Angling efforts from these ports were fair. Reported catches consisted of lake trout, with occasional coho salmon and brown trout. These fish were caught in fair numbers by those trolling.

Black River Harbor: Fishing efforts from the harbor were low. Catches consisted of coho salmon, brown trout, and lake trout in low numbers. Anglers had the most success when trolling across a variety of water depths.

Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers reported catching lake trout and whitefish while jigging in 100 to 130 feet of water. Natural baits yielded the best success. Those trolling spoons and flasher/flies also caught lake trout, as well as coho and chinook salmon, with the most success occurring in 60 to 90 feet of water.

St. Ignace: Lake trout anglers reported catches off the back side of Mackinac Island in 40 to 50 feet of water. Spoons with attractor colors such as orange and green, green and silver, silver, and chartreuse proved most effective. At the Pine River, walleye anglers reported catching between 1 and 3 fish when the bite was good. Boat anglers trolled nightcrawler harnesses or used deep-diving crankbaits, while shore anglers found success floating leeches. The walleye bite was best between 5:00 and 10:00 AM. Additionally, bullhead catfish, rock bass, and perch were also caught at the Pine River while targeting walleye.

Les Cheneaux Islands/DeTour: Anglers in Hessel caught perch using worms, minnows, and leeches. Smallmouth bass were also caught off the pier. Boat anglers reported good numbers of smallmouth bass and pike in the shallows of Cedarville and Hessel. In Detour, anglers had success with lake trout by jigging and trolling in the shallows at depths of 80 to 120 feet. Atlantic and Chinook salmon were targeted by trolling near the lighthouse. Atlantic salmon were caught on 3-color lead core lines and in the top 20 feet of the water column.