Best Fishing Spots on Lake Michigan (& Nearby Tributaries)

Michigan is an anglers paradise with one of the largest lakes in the world at its doorstep. Lake Michigan offers salmon fishing, unlike anything you have ever seen that is embellished by seasonal spawns that make the adventure worthwhile.

The best spots to fish for salmon, trout, bass, and catfish on Lake Michigan are the towns of Menominee, Muskegon, Charlevoix as well as the Manistee River which is a major tributary of the lake.

Cities and towns dot the coastline offering staging points for anglers to venture onto the lake in pursuit of big fish and good fun.

For those who enjoy summer days, trolling the lake in July may make for a good trip and if you are an angler who doesn’t mind the cold, ice fishing on lake Michigan is second to none.

Connected to the lake itself are immense river and stream systems that run inland offering amazing fishing for the angler who bores from the big lake scene. Capitalizing on these rivers and streams during the salmon spawn is one of the largest outdoor activities in the state.

While there are countless places you can fish in Michigan, it might help to have a shortlist of what is considered the best fishing spots on Lake Michigan and in her rivers and streams.

Let’s look at a few locations that are known and maybe a few that are not as known, as well as some tips and tricks for your trip.

Recommended Fishing Charters on Lake Michigan

• Maykin Baykin Charters (South Haven, MI)
• Skyward Salmon Charters (Kenosha, WI)
• Fish-X-TC (Traverse City, MI)
• Fish’n Tales Charters (Ludington, MI)
• Prime Time Fishing Charters (Williamsburg, MI)
• Getaway Fishing Charters (Whitehall, MI)
• Powderhorn Sportfishing (Holland, MI)
• Elsie K Charters (Manistee, MI)

These charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish.

By clicking the links above, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Best Fishing Spots on Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is freshwater but when you arrive and if you do not already know, it has a real “ocean” feel to it. Marinas and harbors, lighthouses, fishing shacks, and amazing local tackle shops.

The best information on the local fishing scene comes from a local so don’t be afraid to be friendly with the local bait shops. The lake itself houses many species such as a large variety of salmon species, bass, trout, catfish, and bullheads.

The lake offers many great fishing spots that can be reached easily from a local marina or a hike to a shoreline. Be sure to follow regulations based on where you are fishing. Lake Michigan is shared between Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Most anglers that fish the main lake body will launch from an access point of their choice depending on the season, fish sought, and accessibility. There are several locations that make for great lake fishing and adventuring to choose from and we will compile a small list for you here.

Menominee, Michigan

Menominee is a great small town that sits on the border of Michigan and Wisconsin on Lake Michigan. This small town offers easy access to the lake while also offering great access to the Menominee River inlet as well.

The town itself has loding and other amenities that can be utilized as well as guides and outfitters, and bait shops. This location is smaller but is also relatively close to Green Bay for great fishing as well.

Green Island off the coast of Menominee is a popular spot for trolling with cut bait and plugs. If you are not fishing by boat, there are many shoreline places that offer excellent fishing as well as recreation.

The fishing, in general, is very good in this area. Shore fishing will be good during early spawn for salmon near the mouth of the river. Trolling near cover of any kind will yield good results for any angler, such as islands and other obstacles.

Bass and other species can be caught by shore in small ponds at Henes Park on the Michigan side of the border, just north of town. Again, be sure to read regulations for the state that you fish in.

Muskegon, Michigan

Muskegon is a great city nestled into the western side of “the mit” of Michigan. The Muskegon River runs inland but out in the lake itself, there are a few great places to see for angling big salmon and trout.

For open water fishing, trolling up and down the coast is very popular at different depths. Salmon during spawn will be more inland near rivers but otherwise can be caught in deeper waters as well.

Muskegon is near most of the west coast fishing spots for Michigan which makes it a great point of access for the area. For this reason, peak fishing seasons will be busy in this area with outfitters and guides.

If you plan to utilize an outfitter or guide, plan ahead in this area as it is very popular. Shore fishing the main lake in this area is terrific as there are many state and local parks that dot the coast as well as Duck Lake to the south which hosts great bass fishing.

Charlevoix, Michigan

Charlevoix is a great little fishing hub with great access to Lake Michigan’s many northern islands. Shy of landing on an island and launching directly, this is one of the best ways of fishing the islands.

Fish here run the same as elsewhere in the lake. Salmon move with the spawn and can otherwise be found throughout the lake. Trout run deep in colder months and are often sought after with spoons, plugs, or cut baits.

Directly north of Charlevoix is Beaver Island, where the small islands that surround the area make for great trolling runs and are often commercially fished for this reason.

Shore fishing from Charlevoix is great from the north point nature preserve area where there are ample beaches to fish from for trout and salmon. Lake Charlevoix offers great bass fishing year-round but especially during summer.

There are many outfitters and guides in the harbor at Charlevoix and it can be a slower harbor for fishing than others on Michigan’s coasts. Many outfitters are available on Beaver Island as well and it is a small hop away by plane to fish those island areas.

Best Inland Fishing off of Lake Michigan

Around the great lakes, during certain times of the season, the local fishing scene is buzzing with one word, salmon. Salmon make their dash inland up the rivers to spawn and from the mouth of the river to the highest points where rivers are born, the salmon are running.

Guides, charters, and outfitters are running rampant taking folks on the water to get in on the action making it very difficult to plan around spawn season. Planning ahead is always best.

Aside from rivers, there are many lakes, streams, reservoirs, and other water bodies that offer great fishing for steelhead, catfish, bass, and other species of note. Inland locations usually offer many more amenities for anglers such as camping, being more near a town, etc.

Inland locations fed by the main lake body itself also offer a way to fish both the main lake body and inland easily on a trip. If you choose a location with enough of each, you can have a great fishing trip with the family.

Here are a few different locations that are inland that anglers flock to during their stays. These locations hinge on salmon spawn but also yield results for other species as well, such as catfish, trout, and bass.

Manistee River

The Manistee river enters mainland Michigan through the city of Manistee and stretches far inland with the slopes of the land. This waterway offers a great environment for salmon during their spawn as well as other species due to the complex water path it takes through the countryside.

The river itself breaks into many pieces immediately upon entering the mainland and this offers a perfect chaotic environment for catfish, bass, trout, as well as chinook salmon. Fish love the cover, and during the spring, this area is thick with good vegetation that fish will linger in.

Manistee itself is centrally located on the west coast of Michigan and it is a short drive from several other towns. Outfitters and guides are available year-round and are more accessible during non-spawn times.

This river connects to other small water bodies further inland offering a few places to fish calmer waters during your trip. Most anglers that come with watercraft town-hop towards Manistee Rivers mouth on a fishing trip.

Recommended Fishing Guide/Charter on Manistee River: Manistee River Fishing Company (Brethren, MI)

Lake Winnebago

Lake Winnebago may not be what you think of when you think of Lake Michigan but it is very much connected through Green Bay and offers great fishing for many species in a more still water environment.

Fish you are going to see the most of here are panfish such as gill and sunfish, walleye, sturgeon, and a few less common species such as musky and pike. This lake is a very popular location for ice fishing as it is large enough to offer immense fishing activity but small enough where the locale is easily accessible.

Boating is allowed on Lake Winnebago and can be utilized to launch from the city of Oshkosh on the east side of the lake. Southern launches can also be made from the city of Fond du Lac.

Lake Macatawa

Lake Macatawa is located on the western side of the Michigan coast and offers great access to the beach of the main lake but also a large lake that stretches inland. The city that encompasses the lake is called Holland and offers all of the amenities you will need for any fishing stay.

Further up the lake, the Macatawa River begins and starts its long stretch inland, giving salmon a path for their spawning journey. The uniqueness of this location is the lake before the river that offers ample room for anglers to capitalize on early spawn before salmon make it upstream.

Lake Macatawa is also connected to many parks and fishing access points that are on foot for great shore fishing. It accesses the main lake well which means you can be fishing many different ways and locations in a single day.

Does Chicago have good fishing?

Chicago may not be what you think of when thinking of good fishing but it has its pleasant surprises and offers great fishing in many settings such as small lakes, ponds, and lagoons. Chicago bay, however, is where the fishing is best.

People come to Chicago to fish but also to enjoy Chicago and for that reason, Chicago Bay is a popular hotspot for salmon, trout, and many other species. It is very common to be guided on a fishing excursion here.

The Chicago River stretches through the city and offers great fishing for catfish that can reach up to five pounds and trout as well as salmon that can be large in size as well. The Chicago river simply will not have that country feel while fishing it but that does not mean the fishing is not good here.

What Species are Most Sought After In Lake Michigan?

Salmon

Salmon is one of the key fish sought in Lake Michigan and its connected waterways. Spawn occurs during specific months for specific species and anglers flock to the area to get in on the action.

Salmon are strictly supervised by the fisheries and fish and game enforcement agencies of all states bordering the lake and monitored every season to determine bag limits and other environmental factors.

Trout

Trout can be found throughout the lake in droves and are typically very responsive to trolling. Not as strictly regulated as salmon, the daily and possession limits are typically more liberal with trout than with salmon such as King and Coho.

It is hard to say specifically where one might find trout as they are everywhere in the lake itself, they can be caught in rivers and lakes in the surrounding areas as well. Trout are highly sought out for their good fight and good taste to those who keep them.

Catfish

Catfish can be found throughout the lake itself but are probably most commonly found in a river or some form of moving water. The Chicago River is a good example of such a location.

Catfish are notorious for their ability to grow large and fight hard. They taste good when kept and make for a very memorable catch. Catfish almost exclusively feed on the bottom so a sinking bait of just about any kind can land you a catfish.

Bass

While bass are prevalent in the main lake, they really reach their full potential in an inland lake or pond. This is where you are likely to see 5 or more pounds for a bass.

Bass are notoriously aggressive predators and they love a “strike from below” approach. Try floating lures and scents when fishing ponds. Bass can be carefully regulated to their size in certain water bodies so read regulations carefully.

Do You Need a Boat for Lake Michigan?

Most local anglers will tell you that you do not need a boat for Lake Michigan. For river fishing inland, you likely do not need a boat at all. Just a vehicle to travel along the river inland with.

A boat will be most useful when fishing the main waterbody itself as you can get on the fish easier with sonar and other tools that most fishing boats will have, but it is not necessary.

People catch every fish on this list from shore in Michigan, but you may not yield results like you would in a boat. This is why the possibility of a guide or charter may be a good fit for you if you want this experience but lack a boat.

Either way, Michigan is a beautiful place to fish for everyone of any capability. Fishing accesses that can be walked into and bays that can be boated and trolled are abundant for any angler.