Lake Michigan Fishing: 3 Top Guides Tell You How And Where
Lake Michigan Fishing can be very good for boat anglers and for shore anglers. Our guides have provided their tips, tactics, and advice that will help you better understand fishing Lake Michigan. If you are not using these guide tactics then chances are that you will be missing fish.
Lake Michigan Fishing is twelve months of the year with the possibility of many species including salmon, steelhead, migratory brown trout, bass, musky, walleye, and panfish. Anglers do not need a boat for fishing Lake Michigan and ice fishing is also a possibility.
About Lake Michigan Fishing
With over 1638 miles of shoreline, and a huge list of species present that excite anglers, Lake Michigan fishing is amazing year-round.
There are places to DIY fish, launch boats, or take advantage of expert anglers through charters or fishing guides. You can target:
- Salmon- chinook salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, and sometimes Atlantic salmon
- Trout – rainbow trout, brown trout, steelhead, and lake trout.
You can go fly fishing on Lake Michigan or one of the tributaries. Spin casting is also a very popular method of targeting fish on Lake Michigan.
Chinook Salmon Fishing
Chinook salmon which are also known as king salmon are the most sought-after salmon on Lake Michigan. These big kings from Lake Michigan are the biggest salmon in the lake with a record sizes of 40.4 pounds.
You can fish chinook salmon all year long. They are often deep in the lake and prefer to swim in water temperatures between 40-65°F.
It is helpful to use electronic devices that can pinpoint water temperatures at depth. The best fishing in the lake is from May-August. Fish them in deep water in June and July and more shallow in August.
The chinook salmon will stage closer to shore and around river mouths starting in August, with more showing up in September.
They will start migrating in small numbers in August after big rains and cool nights and anglers fishing from shore or trolling out in front of the rivers during this time will do well.
By the end of September, most mature Chinook salmon will be up the rivers providing some awesome fishing for river anglers.
Check out our Michigan Salmon Fishing article for more information about the best times, best conditions, and best methods, baits, and lures to catch more salmon.
If you are going to be salmon fishing make sure you have the right gear and use the right methods for these huge salmon. See Salmon Fishing Rivers: Methods and Tips From Guides.
This article is part of a series starting with our very popular article called Salmon Fishing: A Complete Guide, where we discuss everything we could think about for salmon fishing.
Coho Salmon Fishing
Coho salmon are known as one of the most aggressive fighting fish you can battle.
That is one of the reasons why Lake Michigan draws so many anglers that target coho salmon.
The record coho salmon on Lake Michigan is 30.56 pounds. Coho are often found deep except when they stage to go spawn.
The best time to target coho salmon on Lake Michigan is in the late spring when they are near shore and near river mouths, or also during the fall months when the stage near the spawing rivers.
During the summer months when the fish are in deeper water trolling works best. Shore anglers can also use floats with suspended baits, and a method known as plunking for coho salmon from shore during the late summer and fall. Fly fishing coho salmon is one of the most rewarding adventures.
Pink Salmon Fishing
There are not a lot of pink salmon in Lake Michigan but there are some and often, when you find them, they are often on the north side.
Pink salmon spawn on odd-numbered years, 2023, 2025, 2027, etc.
You can fish for them in deeper water with a water temperature near 40°F and under 65°F. Fall is the time to target pink salmon from shore since this is when they will start moving closer to the shorelines and river mouths.
You can fly fish or spin cast for them as well as try the boat fishing methods used for Coho and Chinooks. Anglers will catch them off the piers and near the quiet bays with a river’s mouth.
While there are not many pink salmon in Lake Michigan, it is said that their numbers are growing and so is their popularity.
Atlantic Salmon Fishing
Like pink salmon, you won’t find many Atlantic salmon in Lake Michigan. Catches of Atlantic salmon are rare in Lake Michigan.
Atlantic salmon are mostly a species that anglers target in Eastern Michigan in Lake Huron and the St. Mary’s River.
Steelhead Fishing: Rainbow Trout
Lake Michigan fishing includes a migratory rainbow trout known as a steelhead.
Steelhead are one of the most sought-after gamefish in Lake Michigan and its tributaries and for good reason.
Where else can you catch 10+ steelhead ranging from 3 to 15 pounds plus in a single day?
Steelhead head upriver to spawn during the fall months. That journey can take them until the following March.
Tributaries of Lake Michigan are the areas to fish steelhead during the fall and winter months.
Before their spawning runs, you can target steelhead in the lake, especially where they start to congregate before their spawning runs.
This usually occurs near some of the larger well-known steelhead rivers like:
- Muskegon River
- Manistee River
- St. Joseph River
- White River
- Pere Marquette River
These are all top places to target steelhead but there are many smaller and lesser known rivers that the steelhead will stage out from and will eventually migrate up to spawn.
Anglers will also troll near shore in fall and spring for steelhead. During the summer months, most steelhead will be far out in the lake in deeper water.
This is where trolling while using downriggers, dipsy divers, and planner boards with lures like spoons and crankbaits.
The lake acts as an ocean, which is why steelhead – sea-run rainbow trout – are found there and they thrive in this envoroment.
Steelhead are not a native species to the lake or its watershed but you find them throughout the state of Michigan and throughout the watershed that feeds Lake Michigan. They have been stocked in the lake and tributaries for over 50 years.
Many Lake Michigan rivers are clean and cold and provide excellent spawning habitat for the salmon and steelhead so wild steelhead are regularly caught in the lake and the rivers.
River fishing at the mouth and up the rivers can be fantastic.
If you are new to steelhead fishing we have lots of great info to help you out but you could hire a guide to teach you and to get you into some steelhead quickly.
Check out our contributing guides:
- Fire Plug Charters: Lake and river fishing for trout, steelhead, and salmon.
- Get Bent Guide Service: River fishing for trout, salmon, and steelhead.
Lake Michigan fishing also provides an opportunity for a summer run steelhead known as a Skamania steelhead. These summer run steelhead can be caught anytime in the Lake and they are known for powerful runs and lots of jumps.
You can find out more at Skamania Steelhead Fishing.
Whether they are summer or winter steelhead make sure you have suitable gear and you know the proper methods for the type of water that you fish. As a steelhead guide for over 20 years, I know how much of a difference proper gear, setup, and technique makes.
For more information check out these articles:
Great Lakes Migratory Brown Trout
Lake Michigan fishing also includes brown trout known as lake-run brown trout, or migratory Brown trout.
These large migratory brown trout spend much of their lives ranging between the lake and the rivers that feed into it.
Brown trout spend a lot more time near shore providing good angling opportunities for anglers to catch them by boat or from shore using lures and baits.
Brown trout can tolerate and prefer warmer waters than steelhead and salmon so the river mouths, piers, harbors, and marinas are known hotspots for lake-run brown trout. These areas can be dense with baitfish and if there is food there will likely be brown trout around.
The fall months from September through much of the winter is the time to look for big brown trout in the rivers. River mouths and far up the rivers will have brown trout until May.
They are opportunistic feeders and they will migrate between the lake and their river often in search of food and yearly to spawn.
Streamers are an effective target for browns as are lures. Anglers will also use baits under float and using the plunking method.
36.81 pounds was is the Lake Michigan record for a brown trout which was beat in 2013 by a 42 pound 1 oz brown trout. In WI, the record is 36.9 pounds.
These records help show the value of brown trout as a target for anglers who want to fish trophy species on the lake.
Yellow Perch
Yellow perch are native to Lake Michigan. The record is 3.75 pounds and the fish are plentiful.
They not only are fun to fish, but they are excellent for dinner or shore lunch.
Perch like a little current and you will find them hanging around underwater structures or swimming the current in schools. Bays, harbors, and marinas are good areas to try for perch.
Jigs are a good option for bottom fishing perch.
Bass
When most people think of Lake Michigan fishing they think of salmon and steelhead. But, Lake Michigan is home to smallmouth bass and largemouth bass.
Smallmouth bass are often fished around underwater structures and near the mouths of rivers that empty into the lake.
Largemouth bass are fond of quiet bays with weedy beds.
Expect largemouth bass in the 3-7 pound range while the trophy largemouth bass in Michigan is over 11 pounds.
Smallmouths are generally in the three-pound range. Spring fishing is a hot time before they start spawning in the shallows making them a perfect target for shore fishing or drift boat fishing.
Other Species
There are plenty of other species for angler to choose from and ones like catfish, garpike, burbot, and a variety of panfish like rock bass that most anglers wouldn’t think of.
There are also some pretty big game fish available too. See below.
Freshwater Drum
Freshwater Drum are best fished in the shallows of western Lake Michigan, near estuaries.
Drum are also known as sheepshead fish and they are awesome game fish, that are smart and tenacious.
Anglers will fish and catch them in bays, harbors, piers, and river mouths.
Watch the guys from SBS catch some big Lake Michigan Drum wheil fishing for bass at Michigan Pier Fishing With SBS.
Lake Trout Fishing
Lake trout are one of the few fish that are native to Lake Michigan. Lake trout can be caught all over Lake Michigan throughout the year the guys from our guide team know when, where, and how.
Lake trout can get very large and the current record in Lake Michigan is 39.16 pounds
Anglers will fish for lake trout in the shallow water areas of lake Michigan in spring and fall using a boat or from shore.
Lake trout are cold-water fish that like the water to be around 40°F. In the summer they are deep and you will need to fish them like you would salmon with down riggers. Lake trout are often caught while fishing for salmon and steelhead.
On some rivers, a few lake trout will enter the rivers and spawn in the lower sections or they will be found near the mouths of the rivers, and off the piers.
Watch the guys at SBS Outdoor action catching spring lake trout at Pier Fishing the Lake Trout Spawn – BEATDOWN! or while fishing on the pier at Michigan Pier Fishing – GIANT Lake Trout!
Lake Michigan Walleye Fishing
Walleye are amazing to eat and extremely fun to fish and in some areas of lake Michigan, they can be plentiful.
On some rivers, local guides will also catch walleye while fishing for other species.
You can target them in the early mornings or just before dusk.
They are a sight hunter. Big walleye are often found in weed beds along the shore but smaller walleye may swim in schools after smaller fish.
Lake Michigan Pike Fishing
Lessor known and not as popular is the Northern pike. Pike are often caught by anglers in harbors, marinas, and some river mouths. If there are baitfish and weeds in the area there are probably some pike too.
Anglers ice fishing in the bays and harbors will catch some pike.
Musky Fishing Lake Michigan
Did you know that parts of Lake Michigan have massive muskies over 50 pounds and maybe over 60 pounds.
In fact, some say the next world record musky could come from Green Bay which is a massive bay off of Lake Michigan.
You can find some great musky charters in the area that will take you out for trophy Musky, walleye, and bass.
How to Fish Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan fishing can be done from shore, or from large or small-sized boats. Some anglers will even use canoes and fishing kayaks.
Ice fishing is another way anglers can fish parts of Lake Michigan.
Boat Fishing
You can hire a fishing guide or book a charter to fish on Lake Michigan.
You can also DIY in your own boat as there are many places for in-shore anglers to find amazing fishing locations.
You can also launch your own boat at the many boat ramps.
In the harbors, marinas, inlets, and bays anglers can find calmer water that will hold a variety of fish species.
Boat fishing out in the lake, especially in the summer, generally involves techniques like trolling with lures.
As you can see in the above image, trolling using down riggers, and multiple rods are what the guides use to put more salmon, steelhead, and lake trout in the boat for their clients.
Downriggers are a must, especially for salmon in the heat of summer since they are often 80 to 110 feet deep. Cut-baits, and trolling spoons are the go-to baits for most charter boat captains.
Dipsy divers and lead-core lines can also be used to get moderate depths when the salmon are not super deep.
Often, guides will run multiple lines off the downriggers to target the exact depths the salmon are at.
They will also run dipsy divers or lead core lines higher in the water columns to get some steelhead which tend to be higher in the water column.
Planner boards are also used at times to spread the lines and cover more water. I use planner boards in the spring when the salmon, steelhead, lake trout, and brown trout are higher in the water column and closer to shore.
You don’t need a large boat for Lake Michigan Fishing. Generally, a boat of 16 feet and up can be good enough, however, lake Michigan can get massive waves over 5 feet so it is highly recommended that if you decide to venture out into the open water, that you know the forecast and pay close attention to the weather and wind.
Anglers will even use canoes or fishing kayaks to fish the sheltered inlets and harbors.
Shore Fishing Lake Michigan
For most anglers, shore fishing is the way only way to go, but don’t think that this means fewer fish because local shore anglers can catch a lot of fish at times.
The key is knowing what areas to fish, how to fish different species, and when these species will be in close to shore.
There are some hotspots or areas that are more likely to have fish as seen in the image above where our contributing photographer Matt is catching large salmon in a local Marina.
There are other areas that are equally good or even better at times.
Shore Fishing
The lake is huge and acts more like an ocean. Many people fish from the shoreline and are successful if they are in the right spots at the right times.
You can target steelhead, trout, salmon, perch, walleye, and many other species while casting from the shoreline.
The success of shore fishing has a lot to do with timing and water temperature as well as the location.
Salmon and steelhead tend to head up rivers in the late summer and fall and the will stage in areas close to shore and close to the river mouths for many weeks before the conditions are good enough for them to run the rivers.
That means when they stage near shore and by the mouth of a river angler have a good chance of catching more than one.
Walleye and bass can also be found in the quieter areas of the lake near structures and weed patches.
Shore fishing techniques involve fly fishing, fishing from a boat or canoe (nearshore), or walking and wading.
You can hire guides for shore fishing and river fishing on the lower rivers.
Late summer and Fall are the best times to target salmon and steelhead from the shores of Lake Michigan.
Pier Fishing
Piers are a popular place to fish and for good reason. They are considered an underwater structure as they will attract smaller fish and draw in larger fish, especially walleye and smallmouth bass.
Piers also enable anglers to fish much further out into the lake than they would be able to from the shoreline and this can put you into deeper and colder water that might hold more salmon, steelhead, and trout.
If the pier has lights, it is possible to target fish that are attracted to light at dusk and where permitted at night. Fishing at night can be an awesome way to catch baitfish as well.
You can target a variety of large game fish from piers such as salmon, trout, and steelhead but there are still times when these fish will or won’t be in this close to shore, like in the heat of the summer and sometimes midwinter.
Timing is everything so be sure to check local run times for any fish species you want to target.
Not sure where to go pier fishing. It can be as simple as looking on google maps in the mouth area of popular steelhead and salmon rivers and seeing if there is a pier.
Many of the bigger rivers flowing into Lake Michigan will have a pier extending out into the lake.
The bigger the pier, and the bigger the runs of migratory fish, the better the fishing can be.
River Mouth Fishing
There are many rivers that empty into Lake Michigan, and salmon, steelhead, and brown trout use these rivers to find new feeding grounds and to spawn.
River mouth fishing is one of the best places to target big game fish and many anglers will fish the river mouths when these fish are staging.
August and September are prime months for king salmon (chinook) to enter the rivers and begin their migratory spawning runs. The coho salmon (Silvers) will run later starting around September.
The salmon will be closer to the shore and will enter and sometimes leave the river mouths if the conditions are not suitable.
They usually do this during low light hours which is why early morning and dusk are the best times. If the conditions are good, they will shoot up the river.
When the salmon and steelhead enter the river they often enter in schools which can be dozens at a time or hundreds, or even thousands.
Steelhead, one of the most sought-after game fish on the lake – begin their runs in the late fall and early winter. That means all of these fish pass through the mouth of a river to gain access to the watery highway they use to reach their spawning grounds.
Steelhead can hang around the river mouths even in August since some will follow the salmon in or will just feed on the baitfish present there.
Since steelhead does not die after they spawn, anglers can also do well at the river mouths as the spawned -out steelhead are leaving the rivers which often occurs from Late March to Late May.
The mouth of rivers that empty into Lake Michigan can be crowded during run times. You can fly fish, fish from a boat near the shore, cast lures, spin fish, float fish, plunk, or drift fish. Most anglers are successful using lures, spoons, salmon roe, and even minnows.
If you are not sure what to use for bait or lures, we’ve got you covered. We share the most effective lures and baits the us guides and other anglers use on these pages:
Ice Fishing
I’ll admit that ice fishing is not my specialty, however, some of my buddies and some of our guides ice fish. In mid-winter, I generally prefer to find an open river somewhere and go catch some winter steelhead. See Winter Steelhead Fishing Michigan.
But some guys love ice fishing and eagerly await the hard water. Depending on the local conditions, ice fishing season can begin in late December and run as late as early April though generally, the ice breaking ends the season in March.
Ice fishing may seem like a crazy adventure, but when you equip for a day of ice fishing you can enjoy a wonderful fishing adventure.
Many of our guides, myself included will fish and guide all winter so we have learned how to stay warm and comfortable. Check out our guide tips and how we do it at Winter Fishing: Stay Warm And Dry.
During ice fishing season, all of the normal summer and warm weather fish are still available. That means you might catch salmon, steelhead, lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, walleye, bass, and perch.
It is a good idea to prepare for an ice fishing trip. If you are new, consider one of the many ice fishing charters or guides. Guides will help you understand the methods, baits, and most of all where to go to find safe ice.
CAUTION: ice over current areas such as river can be very unpredictable and dangerous so unless you’re an expert avoid ice fishing in these areas.
Inlets, bays, harbours and marinas are often the best and safest areas to ice fish. Even staying close to the Lake Michigan shoreline is a good bet for ice fishing.
A hut is a good investment, even if this is your first time on the ice. The hut will protect you from the worst of the weather and some can be equipped with portable heaters and are large enough to accommodate a few anglers.
A good tip for local ice fishing on Lake Michigan is to chat with your local bait shop about lake conditions and ice thickness. They will be able to tell you where to go and how to keep yourself safe during ice fishing.
Best Areas To Fish Lake Michigan
You could fish and catch any species anywhere on lake Michigan, even out in front of a large Michigan City, as well as cities and towns in Indiana, or Illinois. Anglers could be catching fish from the shores around Chicago Illinois or Milwaukee.
You can even get a fishing charter a few minutes from downtown Chicago.
Some of the more popular fishing areas include”
Menominee – In Michigan and on the border with Wisconsin, the town of Menominee on the Upper Peninsula – there are plenty of guides and charters available as well as DIY fishing spots. Plus, you have access to the Menominee River – including runs of salmon and brown trout.
Muskegon – Near the Grand Rapids area, Muskegon sits right on lake Michigan and hosts the mouth of the Muskegon River. There are plenty of charters and guides available and you can find DIY fishing spots, especially at the State Park here.
This is the Lower Peninsula and an excellent spot for fishing all year round. You can target Salmon, Steelhead, brown trout, and rainbows.
Manistee – Sits on the shores between Lake Manistee and Lake Michigan. It is an excellent location for fishing, and with three world-class beaches, there are plenty of options for DIY fishing. The mouth of the Manistee River is here and you can target salmon, including Atlantic salmon, brown trout, and Steelhead on the river, at the mouth, and in Lake Michigan.
St Joseph – The town of St. Joseph and the St Joseph River is another good spot for most freshwater gamefish and is one of the better river for summer steelhead fishing. Check out, Fishing The St Joseph River.
Fish Lake Michigan: 4 Seasons
Depending on the season, the fish will be in different areas. Some of this is based on their spawning cycle and some is based on water temperatures, and some is based on the baitfish.
Spring
Spring fishing on the lake often focuses on brown trout, salmon and steelhead which are very active in the spring and are often near shore.
Even the big charter boats will stay in closer to shore at this time since this is where the action is.
You can catch browns, steelhead, salmon, and lake trout off the piers and river mouths. Some might even enter harbors and inlets to feed on baitfish.
Tributary rivers are also an option for steelhead and rainbows. Bass fishing remains hot until the spawn and then it can be more difficult.
Summer
Early summer is usually deep water fishing for salmon, steelhead, and lake trout way out in the lake. By August the Chinook salmon are moving toward their native rivers to prepare for spawning.
I also mentioned summer run steelhead which will start entering the rivers in June and July, through to October. This provides anglers the opportunity to catch them on the piers.
In late summer, August, and September the Chinook are starting to enter the rivers after big rains and cooler nights, and the Coho, brown trout, and steelhead, are not long behind them.
The lake shifts from deep water fishing to fishing the shallows and mid-depths.
Bass are still plentiful as are walleye and brown trout. Musky fishing can also be very good in late summer.
Fall
Fall is one of the most active fishing times on the lake.
The Steelhead are preparing to enter their native rivers and the salmon runs are mostly over, though the coho salmon may still be making their runs upriver so they may be around the river mouths.
Second and 3rd-year immature mature salmon will still be out in the lake.
Perch, walleye, and bass are still options for DIY fishing and fly fishing. You can also target lake trout and salmon with a charter.
Winter
Winter fishing can be some of the best steelhead fishing on tributaries and as the ice sets, ice fishing becomes a primary way of accessing all fish on the lake.
From December through spring, ice fishing can be as active as summer fishing. Salmon, trout, perch, bass, and other fish are available.
Charter Boats and Guides
Charter boats and fishing guides are available around the lake. You can find specialized guides and charters that will target king salmon, silver salmon, steelhead, and trout or guides that are more generalized and will take you fishing for what is local – perch, walleye, etc.
Reviews are an excellent way to evaluate which guide or chart you want.
Special thanks to Fire Plug Charters, Get Bent Guide Service, SBS Outdoor Action and photographer Matt K for their contributions to this article.
Fishing Regulations For Lake Michigan Fishing
Lake Michigan fishing regulations encompass several states.
It is a good idea to know where you are fishing, which state you are in, and what the regulations are for that area.
A guide will help keep you legal and allow you to focus on fishing over worrying about regulations.
Lake Michigan Fishing Q&A
If you have any questions, or tips and advice about Lake Michigan Fishing that you would like to share with us, let us know in the comments section below.
Tight Lines,
Graham and The Guide Team
