Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Michigan fishing report for March 19, 2025.

First off, let's talk weather. It's a chilly one today with temps hovering around 45°F and partly cloudy skies. Winds are coming in from the northeast at about 10-15 mph, so bundle up if you're heading out. Sunrise was at 6:02 AM and sunset will be at 7:01 PM, giving us just under 13 hours of daylight.

Now, Lake Michigan doesn't have tides like the ocean, but we've got a slight northeast swell of about 1-2 feet. Water temps are starting to warm up a bit, sitting around 42°F near the shore.

Fish activity has been picking up lately as we're getting into that early spring transition. Coho salmon have been the stars of the show, with anglers reporting good catches in the 3-6 pound range, with a few larger ones mixed in. We're also seeing some nice brown trout action, especially near warm water discharges.

Last week, we saw some decent catches. One lucky angler pulled in a 14-pound coho near Montrose Harbor, and there were several reports of 6-9 pound brown trout being caught along the lakefront.

For lures, bright-colored spoons like Little Cleos in orange or chartreuse have been hot for salmon. Don't forget about those trusty J-plugs either - they're always a good bet this time of year. If you're targeting browns, try slow-trolling some medium-sized crankbaits or suspending jerkbaits.

Bait fishermen have been having luck with spawn sacs for salmon, while nightcrawlers or cut bait are working well for browns and the occasional laker.

As for hot spots, Montrose Harbor has been on fire lately. The rocks near Belmont Harbor are also worth checking out. If you're willing to drive a bit, the power plant discharge in Waukegan has been producing some nice catches.

Remember, folks, the new fishing license season starts April 1st, so make sure you're up to date. Tight lines and good luck out there!