Michigan is a moderately sized state with one of the country’s most unusual regional compositions. It is the only state that borders four of the five great lakes (Erie, Michigan, Huron, and Superior). There are some fantastic fishing spots strewn about the province.
With a big-water shoreline than Florida and Oregon combined, plus 11,000 inland lakes and 3,000 rivers, Michigan has many locations to fish. Fittingly, it additionally has a numerous array of freshwater species to pursue.
Some of the best places to fish in Michigan are Saginaw Bay, Union Lake, Lake Huron, Lake St Clair, Grand River, Burt Lake, Cass Lake, Hubbard Lake, Lake Superior, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron. Apart from these more well-known places, there are many other water bodies where you can enjoy fishing.
Here is the list of the best places to fish in Michigan.
Saginaw Bay
On the eastern side of Michigan, Saginaw Bay is part of Lake Huron. It is one of the largest lakes in the United States, measuring 60 miles long and 30 miles wide.
There is a boat launch area as well as places to rent a boat for open-water fishing. A floating fishing platform on the bay and a fishing pier on the Pinconning River, both within walking distance of the parking lot, are accessible.
Take a picnic – there are plenty of picnic tables and grills nearby to use during the warmer months. Bullhead Carp, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Sucker Sunfish, and Walleye are among the fish that can be caught.
There are many great catches in the Saginaw Bay region. The Walleye is one of the most sought-after. The yellow pike, also known as the walleye, is a fish that can be found in much of Canada and the northern United States.
Union Lake
Union Lake is a fantastic fishing spot. The lake’s deepest point is about 110 feet deep, making it one of the state’s deepest lakes. The boat launch is at 42.61178 latitudes and -83.4465 longitudes.
The ramp is suitable for small to medium watercraft, and there are 33 parking spaces open. Black crappies, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass are some of the fish you can catch.
Yellow Perch Walleye Union Lake is one of Michigan’s most famous walleye fishing lakes. You’ll almost certainly get a fish in this lake, whether you’re fly fishing or baitcasting.
Lake Huron
This lake, located two miles east of Detroit, is home to muskies, walleye, and smallmouth bass, all of which are jumbo in size. The St. Clair River flows between southern Lake Huron and eastern Lake Erie in a shallow bowl.
Muskies abound, and trolling is the most popular method of catching them. Walleyes abound in the lake and the Detroit River, especially during the spawning run in March and April. Smallmouth bass is also abundant in both locations.
Lake St Clair
Lake St Clair is the ideal fishing spot, with a wide range of fish and plenty of activities.
The freshwater lake lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the state of Michigan in the United States.
There are lots of fishing guides and charters to choose from to make your fishing experience even better. The lake has 130 miles of shoreline and is 275,000 acres in size.
Muskellunge, Walleye, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Bluegill, Rock Bass, White Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, White Crappie, and Channel Catfish are some of the fish found here.
If you have kids, Lake St. Clair Metropark is a great place to visit. With a 1.5-mile shoreline, the park is ideal for fishing. Please notice that from April to October, shoreline fishing is prohibited along the beach and marinas.
The park is perfect for kids, with plenty of play areas and water activities to keep them entertained while you enjoy a relaxing afternoon of fishing.
Watercraft, windsurfers, and sailboards can easily navigate the park’s eight ramps. Before booking your travel, make sure to review the prices on the official website, as they are subject to change.
Grand River
The Grand River, which runs along the western Michigan coast, is also one of Michigan’s best fishing spots. The Grand offers excellent salmon and steelhead fishing, as well as large rainbow trout runs in the spring and summer.
Smallmouth bass can be found in riffles, and largemouth bass can be found in the backwaters of the Grand. The Portland State Game Area, which is located downstream from Lansing, is particularly noteworthy.
There are several stretches of the river that give peace away from the crowds – it’s easy to find a place where you won’t see another person for hours, if not the entire day!
Steelhead, salmon, smallmouth bass, lake trout, coho, sunfish, northern pike, musky, perch, and whitefish are among the fish that can be caught.
The months of May through September are ideal for fishing. If you want to catch some salmon, you can go fishing from early September to late October, as this is the best time for it.
Walleyes are present all year, but they are easier to catch when the water temperature exceeds 45 degrees.
Burt Lake
Burt Lake is home to a diverse range of fish, so grab your rod and head down to the massive Burt Lake. The 17,000-acre lake on the lower peninsula’s northern tip is ideal for an angler’s weekend getaway.
You’re sure to find suitable lodging for your trip among the numerous camping facilities, RV hookups, and lodging options available.
Boats and kayaks can be rented, and several boat launch ramps are open to the public. If you don’t like boats, you can fish from the bank – there are 35 miles of scenic shoreline where you can find the ideal fishing spot.
Don’t be concerned if you arrive unprepared. Bait and tackle can be purchased at local grocery stores. You will find a wide range of fishes, including walleye, black and white crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, green sunfish, yellow perch, trout, and catfish.
Cass Lake
Cass Lake is a massive 1280-acre lake in Oakland County, Michigan. It’s ideal for fishing, and there are boat launches nearby for those who want to go offshore.
If you get tired of fishing or have non-anglers with you, take advantage of the on-site water sports. There’s even a beach where you can swim. From dawn to dusk, take a break from fishing at one of the many picnic tables and grills available.
While there are no camping facilities on the lake, there are accommodation options only a short drive away. Some of the fishes you can catch are largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, sunfish, carp, catfish, and many more.
Hubbard Lake
Hubbard Lake is a large lake with a surface area of 8,850 acres, stretching two miles wide and seven miles long. The towns of Hawes, Alcona, and Caledonia are also included.
Hubbard is separated from other prominent inland lakes by this location, but it is only a short drive from the Thunder Bay River State Forest and Lake Huron.
Hubbard Lake is noted for having a healthy population of salmon, tiger muskie, walleye, and northern pike. Locals also extol the benefits of excellent smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing.
Lake Superior
Superior is the world’s largest freshwater lake, with a surface area of over 31,700 square miles. The two biggest knocks on Superior are its location and the fact that most anglers will never be able to fish the entire lake in their lifetime.
Yellow perch, walleye, white bass, northern pike, white perch, carp, muskie, sauger, and hundreds of other species can be found in the lake, in addition to trout and salmon.
Lake Erie
Though Lake Erie is more closely associated with Ohio, Michigan anglers may take advantage of the state’s thirty miles of shoreline. For those familiar with Lake Erie, thirty miles is more than enough to get into some fantastic fishing.
Lake Erie spans almost 10,000 miles of surface area. The sheer number and variety of species found here are incredible.
Anglers may expect to find world-class walleye, as well as rock bass, yellow and white perch, white bass, crappie, northern pike, and other species.
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of Michigan’s four Great Lakes, sharing a boundary with Ontario, Canada. It is the world’s third-largest freshwater lake, with a staggering surface area of 23,007 miles. Anglers would have more than enough room to fish for a lifetime on Huron alone.
There are lots of available species on Lake Huron, with hundreds of chartered and guided fishing options. Anglers may expect to see a variety of species, including lake trout, walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, sunfish, whitefish, various catfish species, trout and salmon, and white bass, depending on their venue.
Conclusion
Michigan is known for its fishing, and its name comes from the Ojibwe word “mishigamaa,” which means “big stream” or “large lake.” After reading this article, we are sure you will have plenty of options for your next fishing trip in Michigan.
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