HEREPlymouth
Plymouth MI
Fishing
Report
Live conditions, species status, solunar ratings, water body profiles, MDNR regulations, and community fishing coverage for Wayne lakes and rivers.
Bass: Hot Bite Crappie: Active Catfish: Active 6 Waters Profiled
First Look • Fishing Conditions
🌘
Waning Crescent
Illumination: 22%
63°F
53°F
14 mph
1005
as of 8:35 PM ET
Very Good — decreasing moon builds toward new moon peak. Dawn and dusk feeding surges expected.
Wayne • Western Wayne County / Detroit metro MI
Your Local Fishing Resource
HEREPlymouth is your local source for fishing reports, conditions, and MDNR regulations across Wayne. Use the waters list to find lakes, rivers, and reservoirs near you, the regulations section for current limits, and the guides directory to book a trip.
Current Conditions • Plymouth Waters
Species Status
Largemouth Bass
HOT
Fall feeding frenzy. Bass are chasing shad and blueback herring. Crankbaits and swimbaits dominate.
Top BaitCrankbait, Swimbait, Jig
Depth10-20 ft structure
Smallmouth Bass
FAIR
River smallmouth in deeper holes and pools. Slower presentations required.
Top BaitTube Jig, Crawfish Pattern, Ned Rig
DepthShoal tail-outs, 3-12 ft
Crappie
FAIR
Summer or late fall. Fish are deeper — target 12-20 ft brush piles with tube jigs.
Top BaitSmall Tube Jig, Live Minnow, Slip Float
Depth12-20 ft brush
Catfish
FAIR
Winter catfish are catchable but slower. Concentrate in deepest lake holes and river pools.
Top BaitCut Shad, Chicken Liver, Prepared Stink Bait
DepthChannel edges, 10-30 ft
Bluegill / Bream
FAIR
Bluegill in slower mode. Small jigs under a float near dock pilings and woody structure.
Top BaitCricket, Worm, Small Jig (1/32 oz)
DepthSpawning: 1-4 ft. Non-spawn: dock edges 4-10 ft
Trout
ACTIVE
Trout active in stocked waters. Cold water temperatures keep fish feeding.
Top BaitPowerBait, Night Crawler, Inline Spinner
DepthStocked areas — designated lakes and streams
Species status is based on seasonal patterns and current conditions for Wayne waters. Always verify MDNR regulations for creel limits, size minimums, and any current advisories before heading out.
Report a Bite Update
First Look
Weather & Fishing Conditions
63F
Light Rain
Feels like 63°F
as of 8:35 PM ET
Wind
14 mph S
Humidity
93%
Pressure
1005 hPa
Est. Water Temp
53°F
Moon
Waning Crescent
Sunrise / Sunset
7:11 am / 5:23 pm
Location
Plymouth, MI
On-the-Water Tips
- Water temps in the prime range — bass are active on shallow structure. Topwater lures effective morning and evening.
- Overcast and light rain conditions are often the best fishing weather. Fish shallow and aggressive — bass are less wary.
Solunar Index
Fishing Conditions Dashboard
Air Temperature
63°F
Optimal Bite
Wind Speed
14 mph
Gusty — Windy Bank
Barometric Pressure
1005 hPa
Low — Fish Deep
Moon Phase
🌘
Good
Extended Outlook
5-Day Fishing Forecast
TONIGHT
Light Rain Likely then Mostly Cloudy
60° / 50°
12 mph wind
GOOD
THU
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain
59° / 41°
15 mph wind
FAIR
FRI
Chance Light Rain
52° / 34°
13 mph wind
FAIR
SAT
Slight Chance Light Rain then Partly Sunny
50° / 31°
12 mph wind
FAIR
SUN
Sunny
58° / 34°
11 mph wind
FAIR
Lakes & Rivers
Water Body Profiles
6 fishing waters within Wayne — with species, access, tips, and restrictions.
Middle Rouge River (Hines Park stretch)
River (tributary of Detroit River)
Angler Tip
Newburgh Lake
Inland lake (Hines Park / Rouge River impoundment)
Angler Tip
Phoenix Lake
Inland lake (Hines Park)
Angler Tip
Wilcox Lake
Inland lake (Hines Park / Wayne County)
Angler Tip
Walled Lake
Inland lake
Angler Tip
Ford Lake
Reservoir (Huron River impoundment)
Angler Tip
Did We Miss a Spot?
Know a Plymouth-area fishing lake, pond, or river stretch that should be on this list? Let us know.
Report a Fishing SpotLocal Experts
Field Guides
No Plymouth-area fishing guides are listed yet.
Guide Service or Charter Captain?
Get listed in the Field Guides section and reach active anglers across Wayne and the HERE City Network.
List Your Guide ServiceCommunity Reviews
I Fished Here
Share Your Trip
Fished a Plymouth-area lake or river? Tell us about it in 280 characters or fewer.
Community
Here We...
Reel Them In...
Big catches, personal bests, and tournament fish from Plymouth anglers.
Cast Them Cold...
Your favorite post-fishing spots. Where do you go when the rods are stowed?
Coverage
Fishing News HERE
Local — Plymouth and Western Wayne County / Detroit metro
Local
DNR Launches 3-Year Study After 27 Lake Sturgeon Stranded
ONTONAGON, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has started a three-year effort to learn why 27 threatened lake sturgeon ended up cut off in shallow pools below a hydroelectric dam in the western Upper Peninsula this summer, and whether it will keep happening. The fish were found below Victoria Dam in a channel
Nov 4, 2026
Local
Invasive Mudsnails Turn Up in Southern Michigan
KENT COUNTY, Mich. — A tiny invasive snail that has spread through several of northern Michigan's best-known trout rivers has now been found in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula for the first time, state invasive species officials said Monday. New Zealand mudsnails were collected in Bear Creek, a small coldwater stream that feeds
Nov 3, 2026
Local
DNR Uses DNA Tests to Gauge Walleye Stocking Success
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is rolling genetic parentage tests into walleye stocking checks statewide after a Upper Peninsula pilot showed the multimillion-dollar program can succeed in one lake and barely register in others. Biologists briefed the Natural Resources Commission in Marquette this week on parentage-based tagging, which matches DNA from
Oct 17, 2026
More at Outdoor Sports
Hunting, camping, hiking, and all outdoor sports coverage for Plymouth and Western Wayne County / Detroit metro MI
Tackle, Rods and Reels
Essential Gear HERE
Gear reviews and picks for the Plymouth angler — rods, reels, tackle, and kayaks tested for Western Wayne County / Detroit metro MI waters.
Gear Reviews — Tested for Western Wayne County / Detroit metro MI Waters
As an Amazon Associate, HERE earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.
Fishing Rod Holder Smart Fish Catcher Fishing Pole Holders Automatic Spring Tip-Up Hook with…
Rod
Hand-picked by the HERE Fishing desk this week. Fishing Rod Holder Smart Fish Catcher Fishing Pole Holders Automatic Spring Tip-Up Hook with….
$26.96
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Fishing desk
View on Amazon →
HADORAM Robotic Swimming Lure 5.1” Fishing Lure 4-Segement Multi Jointed Swimbait Electric B…
Lure
Hand-picked by the HERE Fishing desk this week. HADORAM Robotic Swimming Lure 5.1” Fishing Lure 4-Segement Multi Jointed Swimbait Electric B….
$22.99
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Fishing desk
View on Amazon →
Garmin Striker Cast, Castable Sonar, Pair with Mobile Device and Cast from Anywhere, Reel in…
Reel
Hand-picked by the HERE Fishing desk this week. Garmin Striker Cast, Castable Sonar, Pair with Mobile Device and Cast from Anywhere, Reel in….
$129.99
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Fishing desk
View on Amazon →
Deeper PRO+ 2 Sonar Fish Finder - Portable Fish Finder and Depth Finder For Kayaks, Boats an…
Fish Finder
Hand-picked by the HERE Fishing desk this week. Deeper PRO+ 2 Sonar Fish Finder - Portable Fish Finder and Depth Finder For Kayaks, Boats an….
$159.99
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Fishing desk
View on Amazon →
Chasing Gladius MINI S Upgraded Professional Underwater Drone Set, with 4k Resolution + EIS …
Fishing Gear
Hand-picked by the HERE Fishing desk this week. Chasing Gladius MINI S Upgraded Professional Underwater Drone Set, with 4k Resolution + EIS ….
$1399.00
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Fishing desk
View on Amazon →
【2025 New】FIFISH V-EVO 4K60FPS Underwater Drone with Robotic Arm, with Removable SD Card, QY…
Fishing Gear
Hand-picked by the HERE Fishing desk this week. 【2025 New】FIFISH V-EVO 4K60FPS Underwater Drone with Robotic Arm, with Removable SD Card, QY….
$1699.00
Best for: Recommended by the HERE Fishing desk
View on Amazon →
Tackle Shop, Guide Service, or Marina?
Get featured in the Essential Gear section and reach active anglers across the HERE City Network — 100+ cities.
Learn About Gear AdvertisingMDNR
MDNR Regulations
License requirements, bag limits, and size limits for Wayne waters. Always verify current regulations at michigan.gov.
MI Fishing Licenses
Bag & Size Limits — Plymouth Waters
Regulations shown are for general reference (checked 2026-10-16). Special rules apply on many individual lakes and rivers. Always verify current rules with Michigan Department of Natural Resources at michigan.gov before keeping fish.
Spawn Timing & Key Dates
Season Calendar
Apr 25, 2026
Trout opener; Lower Peninsula walleye & pike
Statewide trout opener and the inland Lower Peninsula walleye and northern pike openers (MDNR).
May 23, 2026
Bass possession season opens
Most waters; Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers open June 20 (MDNR).
Jun 2, 2026
Muskellunge stocked: Belleville Lake
634 muskie (MDNR stocking database).
Jun 6, 2026
Muskellunge possession season opens
Statewide muskie possession opener (MDNR).
Feb 14–15, 2026
Free Fishing Weekend
Fishing licenses waived; all other rules apply (MDNR).
Jun 13–14, 2026
Free Fishing Weekend
Fishing licenses waived; all other rules apply (MDNR).
Spawn timing is approximate and based on typical Wayne water temperature patterns. Actual timing varies by year and water body. MDNR trout stocking schedules are published annually — visit michigan.gov for exact dates and stocking locations.
Questions and Answers
Fishing FAQ
Common questions about fishing in the Plymouth area, answered.
-
Yes. Anglers 17 and older need a Michigan fishing license to fish public waters; anglers under 17 may fish without one but must follow all fishing rules. Licenses are sold by the Michigan DNR (michigan.gov/dnr).
-
Wilcox Lake in Wayne County's Wilcox Park (14157 Edward N Hines Dr., Plymouth) is a popular summer fishing spot; Wayne County's 2025 restoration project included dredging, shoreline and habitat work, and parking. A short drive down Hines Drive, Newburgh Lake (Newburgh Pointe, Livonia) is about 152 acres with bluegill, bass and other panfish, two fishing piers and a small boat launch. Maybury State Park in Northville has an 8-acre spring-fed fishing pond with a pier.
-
Yes. Wayne County lists a small boat launch at Newburgh Pointe on Newburgh Lake (38348 Edward N Hines Dr., Livonia). For rentals, Kensington Metropark in Milford rents kayaks and canoes near Maple Beach on Kent Lake (no outboard motors).
-
The Middle Rouge runs through Wayne County's Hines Park, which links Wilcox Lake in Plymouth with Newburgh Lake in Livonia; the lakes, with their piers and shoreline, are the easiest access points. MDNR's stocking database shows no Rouge River stocking from 2024 through 2026. In Wayne County, MDNR stocked 634 muskellunge in Belleville Lake on June 2, 2026.
-
Not locally, according to MDNR's stocking database: there were no trout plants in Plymouth-area waters from 2024 through 2026. Wayne County's recent trout stocking was in the Huron River at Rockwood (Michigan-strain rainbow trout, April 10, 2026), and the Huron River at Proud Lake in Oakland County is a Type I trout stream stocked each year. Michigan's trout possession season on most streams opens the last Saturday in April (April 25 in 2026).
FISHING NEWS NEAR PLYMOUTH MI
Fishing coverage from the 10 closest HERE cities.
Latest Plymouth Fishing News
DNR Launches 3-Year Study After 27 Lake Sturgeon Stranded
ONTONAGON, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has started a three-year effort to learn why 27 threatened lake sturgeon ended up cut off in shallow pools…
Invasive Mudsnails Turn Up in Southern Michigan
KENT COUNTY, Mich. — A tiny invasive snail that has spread through several of northern Michigan's best-known trout rivers has now been found in the southern half of…
DNR Uses DNA Tests to Gauge Walleye Stocking Success
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is rolling genetic parentage tests into walleye stocking checks statewide after a Upper Peninsula pilot showed the multimillion-dollar program…
DNR Pike Rules Open Otsego Marsh, Lift Small-Fish Caps
LANSING, Mich. — Fresh DNR northern pike rules that took hold Oct. 15 reopen Otsego County marsh water year-round and let anglers keep more smaller pike on four…
