Lots of Options Up for Grabs

Michigan fishing majorly comprises of Atlantic salmon/pink salmon/Chinook salmon/coho salmon, large-mouth and small-mouth bass, white bass, walleye, northern pike, lake trout/brook trout/brown trout/ rainbow trout, sunfish, catfish, bullheads, crappies, whitefish, yellow perch, suckers and gar and smelt. Fishing in Michigan waters has led to some of the biggest monster fish breaking records such as 51.19 pound Tiger Musky, 61.5 pound in Lake Trout and 61.5 pound Carp.

Types of Catch Available

Atlantic Salmon

Pink Salmon

Coho Salmon

Chinook Salmon

Largemouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

White Bass

Rainbow Trout

Brown Trout

Brook Trout

Muskie

Walleye

Yellow Perch

Bullhead Catfish

Crappie

Bluegill

State Fishing Records

Top 10 Fishing Spots Across Michigan

Whether you are a first-timer or victorious angler, Michigan offers excellent fishing opportunities for everyone. With so many fascinating spots to fish from, we have made a Michigan fishing guide for all you enthusiasts planning a trip to the state of great lakes.

Duck Lake

Are you bass lover and looking for a top-notch spot to fish? Positioned just north of Albion, Duck Lake features slanting drop-offs, weed edges, recessed islands and shallow bays where bass anglers can practice any technique they like. For flip-fishing lovers, there are plenty of boat harbors, swimming rafts and anchored boats that anglers can probe for bass that will sometimes top 5 pounds. Hunt for bass making the rounds of weed edges in 10 to 15 feet of water. In Duck Lake, you can fish very well in April and throughout the summer months.

Lake Saint Clair

Lake St Clair is part of Michigan’s Great Lakes system, as it is situated between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, which are linked through the St Clair River and Detroit River. This freshwater guarantees a healthy population of game fish, and the lake has an age-old reputation as a world-class fishing destination. Muskellunge, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, walleye, giant channel catfish, carp, pike and largemouth bass are most commonly found here. Attention all champion anglers: the productive season for Musky runs from June through October, when you can catch trophy-sized fish.

Hubbard Lake

With a depth of 85 feet, Hubbard Lake is the state’s 12th largest lake, located in the northeast and always popular for fishing. With walleye being the most abundant, you will also find small-mouth bass, northern pike, lake trout, whitefish, yellow perch, suckers, and gar. A canoe, kayak or fishing boat is a real gain for accessing the fish populations here. The excellent lucidity of the water tempts many anglers throughout the year, with ice fishing also prevalent in winter months.

Lake Michigan

The third-largest of the Great Lakes and with 1,660 miles of coastline, the lake presents a plethora of fishing opportunities, and if you are looking for brilliant fishing for Coho salmon, chinook salmon, and steelhead, then this is the right place for you. Fishing in offshore waters, mainly from late April through August is common here. Lake Michigan also offers rainbow trout, lake trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and walleye in the Midwest. Grand Haven, St. Joe, and Ludington in west-Michigan are leading port.

Grand Traverse Bay

Casting a line for a trophy small-mouth? Head no further than Grand Traverse Bay! It is fairly unnoticed in favor of the bigger lakes and generally fished for steelhead, walleye, and Coho salmon. Hence, landing the biggest smallmouths is a big possibility. Reports claim that trophy bass usually reaches over 7 pounds. Traverse City, located at the southern end of the Bay, has a great variety of recreational activities, making Grand Traverse bay an excellent tourist attraction. The beautiful beaches that surround this lake are great for swimming and enjoying the holiday with your family. The bay is 32 miles long, 620 feet deep and located off Lake Michigan. It is split into two parts by the Old Mission Peninsula, which offers innumerable fishing spots. You can fish here in those times when fishing in bigger lakes becomes impossible.

Grand River

Located in the western Michigan coast, the Grand River offers one of the best fishing in Michigan. Attention Salmon and steelhead lovers: head no further than the Grand River. In the spring and summer seasons, you will be able to catch giant rainbow trout. It also has ample smallmouth bass in skims and largemouth in its backwaters. The Flat River is great for catching smallmouth bass in riffles, largemouth bass in backwaters, bluegill, crappie, northern pike, channel catfish, flathead catfish, brook trout, perch, walleye, and muskellunge in nearby rivers and lakes.

Lake Charlevoix

Up for fishing in one of the best lakes in Michigan? Lake Charlevoix was voted the second best lake in the USA in 2012. Broadly known for being the best lake in the USA, this 56-miles of shoreline features unspoiled beaches, comfortable Michigan fishing lodges, and breathtaking views. In a total area of 17,200 acres, a southern arm averaging 58 feet deep, you will find amazing fishing opportunities. Bass varies in size, averaging between 3 and 5 pounds. The lake also has a variety of habitations, though the bass is usually found in the shallow water. Spinnerbaits, jerk baits tube baits, and crankbaits are perfect for Lake Charlevoix. You can troll easily here. It is best to find the drop-offs and fish from May to June. Mid-day, the fish, is deeper, and in mornings and evenings, anglers can find fish in the shallow water. Smallmouth Bass prefer structure, so fishing near rocks, docks, trees works perfectly.

Saginaw Bay

Saginaw Bay is 60 miles long and 30 wide, which is located on Lake Huron and is larger than almost any other lake in the US (except the five great lakes). Known as one of the best places for fishing in Michigan, Saginaw Bay is known countrywide for its tremendous walleye fishery, with large varieties especially caught during the spring reproducing months in April and May. Good walleye action continues throughout the year into the winter months.

Lake Gogebic

Being the largest inland body of water of the Upper Peninsula Michigan, Lake Gogebic stretches more than 13,380 acres in the Northwest end of the state. Anglers’ from all around the world flock here in pursuit of walleyes and peak fishing occurs in springtime along the lake's rocky coastlines. Bass fishing becomes popular in late spring and early summer, and you can catch smallmouth and largemouth bass around the lake's weed beds. In winter, Lake Gogebic offers excellent ice fishing allowing you to catch jumbo perch, pike and crappie. You can access the waters and camping sites from Lake Gogebic State Park.

Manistee

Manistee is a favorite destination of vacationing families because it offers a plethora of fishing and other outdoor adventure activities. It is renowned as the birthplace of Michigan's Great Lakes salmon fishery and is still one of the best harbors on Lake Michigan. In June, the fishing picks up, and you will be able to find some big catches. Fishing prospects at Manistee are not restricted to Lake Michigan. Manistee Lake is abundant in hand-sized bluegills, largemouth, and smallmouth bass, trophy Northern pike and Master Angler-sized walleyes. You can also enjoy Manistee’s beautiful beaches, canoeing adventures and forests where you can bike, hike, pick berries, or bird watch.

Michigan State Fishing Records

Species	Weight	Length	Location	Angler	Date	Photo
American Eel	7 lbs 7.04 oz	43"	Saint Clair Lake	Chad Markham	1990
Atlantic Salmon	32 lbs 9.92 oz	41"	Lake Michigan	Elaine Bender	1981
Black Buffalo	33 lbs	36.5"	Grand River	BRADLEY JAMES NIETERING	2004
Black Bullhead	3 lbs 7.04 oz	17"	Magician Lake	Louie Keller	1999
Black Crappie	4 lbs 1.92 oz		Lincoln Lake	Frank Lee	1947
Bluegill Sunfish	2 lbs 12 oz	13.75"	Vaughn Lake	Gary Saylor	1983
Bowfin	14 lbs 0 oz	35"	Little Crooked Lake	Michael Miller	1981
Brook Trout	9 lbs 8 oz	28.1"	Clear Lake	Dennis Nevins	1996
Brown Bullhead	3 lbs 9.92 oz	17.5"	Coldbrook Lake	Michael Kent	1989
Brown Trout	41 lbs 7.2 oz	43.75"	Manistee River	Thomas Martin Healy	9/9/2009
Burbot	18 lbs 4 oz	40"	Saint Marys River Munuscong Bay	Thomas Courtemanche	1980
Carp	61 lbs 8 oz	47.5"	Big Wolf Lake	Dale France	1974
Carpsucker	8 lbs 0 oz	25.25"	Stony Lake	Kevin V. Zoulek	2000
Channel Catfish	40 lbs 0 oz	41.5"	Houghton Lake	Richard French	1964
Channel Catfish	40 lbs 0 oz		Houghton Lake	Dick Latarski	1960
Chinook (King) Salmon	46 lbs 0.96 oz	43.5"	Grand River	Ray Essex	1978
Coho Salmon	30 lbs 8.96 oz	40"	Platte River	Paul Lewandowski	1976
Flathead Catfish	49 lbs 12.96 oz	45.7"	Maple River	Rodney James Akey	5/22/2012
Freshwater Drum	26 lbs 0 oz	37.5"	Muskegon Lake	James Black	1973
Gizzard Shad	4 lbs 1.92 oz	21"	Saint Clair Lake	Gary Bielecki	1996
Green Sunfish	1 lbs 8.48 oz	10"	Kirkwood Lake	Julius R. Drotos	1990
Hogsucker	2 lbs 8.64 oz	19"	Saint Joseph River	Allen L. Shembarger	1994
Hybrid Bass	10 lbs 12 oz	27.5"	Kalamazoo River	Jeff Van Broklin	1996
Hybrid Sunfish	1 lbs 7.04 oz	11.25"	Arbutus Lake	James Manville	1988
Hybrid Sunfish	1 lbs 7.04 oz	11.75"	Doans Lake	Lloyd T. Jarman Jr.	1991
Kokanee Salmon	1 lbs 15.04 oz	18"	Clinton River	John Reiland	1978
Lake Herring	5 lbs 6.4 oz	25"	Lake Michigan E. Grand Traverse Bay	Robert E. Rogers	1992
Lake Sturgeon	193 lbs 0 oz	87"	Mullett Lake	Joe Maka Jr.	1974
Lake Trout	61 lbs 8 oz	49"	Lake Superior	Lucas Lanczy	1997
Lake Whitefish	14 lbs 4.48 oz	31.75"	Lake Superior	Robert J. Majurin Jr.	1993
Largemouth Bass	11 lbs 15.04 oz	27"	Big Pine Island Lake	William Maloney	1934
Largemouth Bass	11 lbs 15.04 oz	26"	Bamfield Dam	Jack Rorex	1959
Longnose Gar	18 lbs 0 oz	53"	Williamsville Lake	Dennis Promo	1995
Longnose Sucker	6 lbs 14.08 oz	22.5"	Saint Joseph River	David Rose	1986
Menominee (Round) Whitefish	4 lbs 0.96 oz	21.5"	Lake Michigan	Kenneth E. Bilski	1992
Mooneye	1 lbs 11.04 oz	14.38"	Saint Clair Lake Goose Bay	Robert J. Commire	1995
Muskellunge	50 lbs 8 oz	56.13"	Torch Lake	Kyle Eric Anderson	9/27/2009
Northern Muskellunge	49 lbs 12 oz	51"	Thornapple Lake	John Geml	2000
Northern Pike	39 lbs 0 oz	51.5"	Dodge Lake	Larry Clough	1961
Pink (Humpback) Salmon	8 lbs 8.96 oz	28"	Carp River	Ron Karasek	1987
Pumpkinseed Sunfish	1 lbs	11.00"	BAW BEESE LAKE	ROBERT WILLIAM HOUSER	2004
Rainbow Trout	26 lbs 8 oz	39.5"	Lake Michigan	Mark Johnson	1975
Redear Sunfish	2 lbs 5.76 oz	12.60"	Lyon Lake	Herbert Lee Fox	9/27/2010
Redhorse	12 lbs 14.24 oz	29.25"	Muskegon River	Mike Polega	1991
Rock Bass	3 lbs 9.92 oz	20"	Holoway Reservoir	Edward Arnold	1965
Sauger	6 lbs 8.96 oz	25.5"	Torch Lake	Gary Frederick	1976
Smallmouth Bass	9 lbs 4 oz	27.25"	Long Lake	W.F. Shoemaker	1906
Splake	17 lbs	34.5"	Lake Michigan Big Bay Du Noc	JOHN A BROCKWAY	2004
Tiger Muskellunge	51 lbs 0 oz	54"	Lac Vieux Desert	John Knobla	1919
Tiger Trout	9 lbs 4 oz	26.6"	North Branch Manistee River	Francis Putnam	1975
Walleye	17 lbs 3.04 oz	35"	Pine River	Ray Fadely	1951
Warmouth	1 lbs 6.08 oz	11"	Great Bear Lake	Michael Berg	0
White Bass	6 lbs 11.84 oz	21.9"	Huron Lake	David Kraushaar	1989
White Crappie	3 lbs 6.24 oz	19.5"	Stony Creek Metro Park	Terrance Poirier	2000
White Perch	1 lbs	13.25"	LAKE HURON	KYLE PATRICK RYAN	2002
White Sucker	7 lbs 3.04 oz	28"	Au Sable River	Matt Frampton	1982
Yellow Bullhead	3 lbs 6 oz	16.8"	Lake Sixteen	Gary Charles Fox	2003
Yellow Perch	3 lbs 12 oz	21"	Independence Lake	George Slutter	1947

Brown Trout

Appearance

Brown trout vary greatly in appearance, but are generally olive green to brown on top, shading to a creamy, golden yellow on the sides and an off- white along the belly. Most brown trout are covered with black spots along their sides, back, and dorsal fin with each spot surrounded by a light halo. Frequently, the spots near the lateral line are red. Unlike other trout species, brown trout tails have few if any spots.

Habitat

Brown trout occupy a range of aquatic systems and habitats from Coldwater mountain streams to larger rivers, ponds and lakes.

Diet

Brown trout feed on several animal prey species, aquatic invertebrates being the most abundant prey items. However, brown trout also feed on other prey such as land-based invertebrates (e.g. Hymenoptera) or other fish. Moreover, in brown trout, as in many other fish species, a change in the diet composition normally occurs during the life of the fish, and piscivorous behavior is most frequent in large brown trout.

Fishing for Brown Trout

Fishing for brook trout with a Bubble Fly or Bubble Bait rig is a great way to catch brook trout. The Bubble allows for easy casting or float and release to get to the hard bends and deep pools. Using a spinning reel or fly rod the bubble can help get to the fish. For lake fishing the Bubble works great with a nightcrawler and letting the bubble troll the bait for you using water current or wind.

Top 5 Bubble Fly Combos for Brown Trout

Ant, Cricket, Hopper, Adams Parachute, Wullf Royal

Top 5 Bubble Bait Combos for Brown Trout

Nightcrawler, Wax Worms , Corn, Power Bait, Salmon Eggs

Bubble Fly Challenge Games for Brown Trout

Panfish & Trout