Best Times & Seasons to Fish Lake Huron (Complete Guide)
Lake Huron offers some of the best fishing among the Great Lakes and is a world-class salmon and lake trout fishery. Knowing the best times to fish this huge body of water can help you catch more and bigger fish.
The best season to fish Lake Huron is from May through September for salmon, steelhead, walleye, and trout. Early mornings and late afternoons until dusk typically offer the best fishing conditions.
In this article, we will cover the best times and conditions to fish Lake Huron. We will also do a month-by-month breakdown and tell you the best months to fish for each species of fish.
Seasonal Guide: Lake Huron
Winter
The air temperature in the region ranges between 17°F (-8°C) and 30°F (-1°C) during the winter months. The average water temperature in Lake Huron in winter is 34°F (1°C).
Winter is a great time to enjoy fishing on Lake Huron. The lake freezes and the ice fishing season starts in January. Ice fishing on the lake is excellent. Anglers can enjoy a day and catch such species of fish like northern pike, perch, trout, and walleye during the winter months.
Winter fishing on Lake Huron is very productive between sunrise and sunset. Be careful as the Great Lakes are known for unpredictable ice conditions. A lot of fish can be found in deep waters during cold winter months.
Spring
The air temperature in the region ranges between 25°F (-4°C) and 70°F (21°C) during the spring months. The average water temperature in Lake Huron in spring is 42°F (5°C).
Fishing on Lake Huron is excellent during the spring months. Anglers choose to catch jack salmon on the lake’s piers. Spring is a good time to catch trout. A lot of fish can be found at river mouths in spring. Saugeen River and Saginaw River are the best places to enjoy fishing in the region during the spring months.
The water in the lake is cold in early spring. However, water heats up and fishing is getting better during afternoon hours.
Storm season in Michigan starts in late March. Strong winds make fishing on the lake impossible. It makes a lot of sense to fish the deltas of the Bayfield, Maitland, Saugeen, and Nine Mile rivers during the spring months.
Summer
The air temperature in the region ranges between 55°F (13°C) and 82°F (27°C) during the summer months. The average water temperature in Lake Huron in summer is 72°F (22°C).
Lake Huron offers excellent salmon fishing in summer. Salmon is getting ready for spawning season. Water is warm and that’s why fish feed actively. It’s possible to fish for coho salmon and chinook salmon during the summer months. Anglers have a chance to catch a big fish during this time of the year.
In summer, fishing on Lake Huron is very productive during morning hours. The weather in the region is stormy in July. Be mindful that storms on the lake can be very dangerous.
Salmon goes to the deep waters of the lake in summer. Deep-water fishing techniques work well during the summer months. It’s recommended to use boats that come with downriggers to catch salmon in the lake successfully.
Fall
The air temperature in the region ranges between 29°F (-2°C) and 72°F (22°C) during the fall months. The average water temperature in Lake Huron in fall is 55°F (13°C).
Early fall means the beginning of the salmon spawning season on Lake Huron. Salmon moves to rivers and ports across the lake. During this time of the year, salmon starts moving to the Spanish River and the St. Marys River. A lot of salmon can be found in the North Channel as well. Also, anglers can catch pike in shallow bays.
Fishing during the afternoon and evening hours is the most productive in the fall. Storms may also occur in the lake’s area at the beginning of the fall. Be really careful during stormy conditions.
Fish can be found in the river mouths and near ports during the fall season. Water is cold during the fall months. That’s why it would be better to fish Lake Huron in the middle of the day.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Canada (both freshwater and saltwater), check out this guide.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Lake Huron
These Lake Huron-based 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 below, 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.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Windrift Sport Fishing | Linwood, MI |
| Eastside Fishing Charters Llc (Lake St. Claire) | New Baltimore, MI |
| Dietrich’s Sportfishing Charters | Bay City, MI |
| North Bay Charter | Harsens Island, MI |
| Finn’s Sport Fishing (Lake St. Claire) | Clay Township, MI |
| Northstar Fishing Adventures | Standish, MI |
| Bushwacker Charters Muskie Fishing (Lake St. Claire) | Harrison Charter Township, MI |
| Foolish Pleasure Fishing Charters | Port Austin, MI |
| Catchin Hell Charters – Saginaw Bay | Unionville, MI |
| Danny Boy Fishing Charters | Bay City, MI |
| Heatwave Fishing Charters (Lake St. Claire) | St. Clair Shores, MI |
| Castin St Clair Guide Service (Lake St. Claire) | St. Clair Shores, MI |
Monthly Breakdown: Lake Huron
January
Lake Huron freezes in January. Ice fishing season begins this month. It takes a few weeks before fish start biting after the lake freezes and its surface covers with ice. Anglers can catch northern pike, perch, trout, and walleye. Fishing is good between the early morning and the middle of the day. Fish can be found near deep waters.
February
Ice fishing season continues in February. However, fishing is becoming less productive. Fish is inactive and almost don’t move. Anglers have to search for fish on the lake. Fish bites well in the middle of a day.
March
Ice fishing season is coming to an end and shore fishing season begins. Early spring is a great time to target brown trout in the lake. Fish move to nearshore waters and shallow bays. Anglers can fish from shore, piers, or on beaches. Oftentimes, anglers have good catches in Harbor Beach at the beginning of spring. Fishing is the most productive in the afternoon.
April
Spawning season ends for many species of fish and fish move to deep waters in April. Now, it’s possible to catch smallmouth bass, salmon and walleye. The weather is changing and fish move in the lake. Fish search for food and warmer waters in April. A lot of fish can be found near structures. A trolling method works well. Anglers get a lot of bites in the middle of a day this month.
May
Fishing can be challenging in the late spring. Anglers should aim to find the schools of fish in May. It’s very important for anglers to know the migration habits of fish. Oftentimes, fish is found in the southern part of the lake. The water in the lake is getting warmer. Anglers should aim to target fish in the top 20 feet of water. Fish bite well in the afternoon.
June
Salmon concentrates in the northern part of Lake Huron in the early summer. Anglers prefer to target fish near the rivers and streams around the lake. In addition to salmon and trout, anglers can catch steelhead, walleye, and whitefish. Fish bites well in the morning.
July
The water is warm and the activity of fish increases in July. The vast majority of fish species get active. Fish can be found in the nearshore waters in July. A lot of fish usually concentrate in the northern part of the lake. Fishing is the most productive during the morning hours.
August
Salmon and trout bite well in the late summer. Salmon group in nearshore waters. Anglers should also fish the mouths of rivers and streams and a river channel. Fishermen can enjoy fishing from sunrise to sunset in August.
September
Water in the lake is still warm in the early fall. So, anglers can continue fishing. Later, fishermen should aim to search for the spots where warmer water meets colder water. The best time of day to go fishing is in the middle morning.
October
Anglers should fish in the rivers and streams around the lake at this time of the year. Warmer water in such spots attracts a lot of fish. However, fish is less active in the fall due to cold waters. When fishing Lake Huron, anglers should try to keep the lures away from the boat.
November
In November, fish move to the southern part of Lake Huron. Water is getting colder, so fish is becoming less active. The success of fishing depends on random luck. Anglers should make experiments with trolling speeds, the depths of lures, and distances from the boat.
December
Fishing on Lake Huron slows down in the early winter. Fish don’t move and don’t feed actively, but anglers still can get bites in December. It’s the time of the year when anglers are getting ready for ice fishing season.
Lake Huron Species Breakdown
Lake Trout
Lake Huron’s waters impress anglers with the abundance of the lake trout. The population of lake trout in Lake Huron is constantly growing. It’s possible to fish for lake trout year-round.
However, anglers who target lake trout get the best results in spring. Fish is less active during the summer months. Lake trout bites well between the first light and afternoon.
Steelhead
Anglers can target steelhead in the waters during the fall months. The season to catch steelhead in Lake Huron starts in October and lasts until March. It’s possible to catch steelhead in the lake at any time of the day.
Salmon
Lake Huron offers great salmon opportunities. Anglers can catch coho, chinook, and pink salmon during their fishing trips. Fishermen choose to use trolling spoons and plugs to catch salmon in Lake Huron. Salmon bites well before sunrise and after sunset. Salmon fishing is the most productive between May and September.
Yellow Perch
Yellow perch is a very good fighter. It’s a good target for beginners. A lot of yellow perch can be found in the northern part of Lake Huron. Anglers can catch yellow perch year-round, but fishing is best between early spring and late summer. Yellow perch bites well in the early morning and late evening.
Walleye
Anglers can fish for walleye at any time of the year. Tawas Bay is one of the best spots on Lake Huron where anglers can target walleye. Here, chances to catch a trophy walleye are high. Walleye usually bites well around dawn and dusk.
Charters & Fishing Guides: Lake Huron
– Best season to book
It’s possible to fish Lake Huron year-round. The fishing season starts in spring and lasts till the fall. However, fishing is best in spring. Fishing Lake Huron is popular in summer because a lot of anglers are on weekends. So, they visit the lake to enjoy fishing during the summer months.
Also, it would be better to book fishing adventures for weekends. The lake is usually very busy on weekends during a peak fishing season.
– Time of day to book trip
Morning fishing
A lot of anglers choose to fish Lake Huron in the early morning. Water cools down in the morning and the activity of fish increases in summer. Fish actively feeds during morning hours in summer. It’s not hot in the morning during the summer months.
That’s why anglers find it comfortable to fish. On the other hand, anglers must wake up early to experience morning fishing. Also, fish may not bite well in the morning during the spring, fall, and winter months.
Midday fishing
Midday fishing is suitable for anglers, who don’t like to wake up early. However, it can be too hot to fish during midday hours in summer. That’s why midday fishing is more suitable for spring, fall, and winter months.
Afternoon fishing
Water cools down and fish start feeding actively in the evening. If you choose to go fishing in the afternoon, you don’t need to wake up early. The only drawback of afternoon fishing is that trips are short.
Full-day fishing
Full-day trips give anglers plenty of fishing time. Full-day trips are a good option for beginners and people, who visit the lake for the first time. Anglers can fish Lake Huron in the morning, midday, and afternoon.
The chances to catch a trophy fish are high during full-day Lake Huron fishing trips. Anglers don’t feel hungry during full-day fishing trips. Meals and drinks are provided during full-day fishing trips as well. However, full-day fishing is the most expensive option.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Michigan, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Erie, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Ontario, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Lake Superior, please check out this helpful guide.
