Fishing Season: The Best Time to Catch Fish in Lake Michigan

From their borders, the states of Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan all touch Lake Michigan. Major ports in Chicago, Benton Harbor, Gary, and Green Bay surround its shores. This makes traveling and fishing in the lakes accessible to almost everyone.

 

The question now lies, when is the best time to go fishing?

Depending on what you want to catch, each month and season offers different varieties of fish in Lake Michigan. Usually, fishing season in Lake Michigan opens in mid-April, May, and June. During this time, it is best to catch Coho Salmon with a very good chance reeling in Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout.

The months of April and May are the peak season to catch Jumbo Yellow Perch. While from the month June until October Coho salmon and Chinook salmon dominate the waters. The best time to catch the biggest trout starts from September to October, which is spawning season. Trout caught in these months can weigh over 30 lbs.

 

In Lake Michigan, salmon is the most prized catch of the day.

Since its introduction into the Great Lakes in the 1960s, salmon fishing has been part of many fishing tournaments in Michigan. Most anglers hunt several species of salmon in Lake Michigan, including Atlantic salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon (better known as King salmon).

Anyone can catch salmon in Lake Michigan with its year round fishing season.  However, fishing at a particular time during the year can increase your chances of reeling in the “Big One.” Before sailing, keep in mind that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Regulations has imposed several fishing regulations. Some of these include size, catch limits, seasons, and fees.

 

Atlantic Salmon

From the beginning of spring until summer anglers chase Atlantic salmon in Lake Michigan. Their spawning period starts in midsummer and anglers can reel in their biggest catch in Great Lakes tributaries. Once a native to Lake Ontario, Atlantic salmon once disappeared in the Great Lakes at the start of the 20th century. The MDNR began introducing the fish into the Great Lakes and its connected water ways in the 1970s. Today, the endeavor has shown to be wildly successful and has since provided anglers with some of the best catches in the country.

 

Coho Salmon

Fishing season for Coho salmon peaks in late summer and early fall. But anyone can catch Coho salmon any time of the year in Lake Michigan. According to MDNR studies, migrating fish like the Coho salmon may be caught in certain rivers surrounding Lake Michigan, including St. Joseph River. Meanwhile, fishers can catch Coho salmon in winter months by casting in Munising Bay in Lake Superior.

Coho salmon are classified as a Pacific salmon species. It was one of the very first salmon introduced to the Great Lakes in the early 1960s. The fish then began spawning in 1967, which has made a huge impact on Michigan fishing.

 

King Salmon    

Many anglers choose to reel in King salmon while fishing the Great Lakes. In Lake Michigan, fishing season for King salmon begins in late spring and lasts through the summer. The spawning season for this fish begins in August and ends in September. Areas of Ludington, Manistee, and Muskegon produce hundreds of these fish each year. However, as the month of August ends, this breed starts to move upstream and many anglers wait to catch them in the faster streams and rivers. Grand River is one of the more popular fishing spots for King salmon.

As the King Salmon begins it migration from the river mouth, anglers can reel in some massive catches. King salmon, as the name implies, can reach as big as 20 lb to 30 lb. The biggest catch recorded in Michigan is about 46 lbs. and was caught in Grand River.

 

Different Salmon Species

Because of the vastness of Lake Michigan, other species of salmon like pink salmon, chum salmon, and kokanee salmon can live harmoniously with other species of fish. And like other fish species of the lake, they have their own peak season. The best time to catch these kinds starts in spring, late summer and early fall.  Spawning time also varies even with the same species and Michigan is a large state to cover. In the northern part of the state, spawning starts in May. While in the southern part of the state it may begin sometime in October.

 

If you’re going to head to Lake Michigan for some fishing of your own, you might want to grab a comfortable Michigan hat to help protect you from the elements.

 

Information about Lake Michigan

 

Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes located in North America. Of all the five lakes, Lake Michigan is the only lake that sits entirely within the US borders. The other four lakes, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Superior and Lake Ontario are shared by Canada and the US. The word “Michigan” came from the Ojibwa word ‘mishigami’ which means “great water.”

Because of its surface area and volume, Lake Michigan is the second-largest of the Great Lakes with the only one bigger being Lake Superior.

 

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Towns Bordering Lake Superior and What They Have to Offer

In North America, ancient civilizations founded their community around the Great Lakes. These bodies of water help cultivate the culture and tradition of the nation we come to know today. As the largest of the Great Lakes, the shores of Lake Superior are home to important cities in both Canada and the United States. This beautiful body of water is also one of the many reasons why states like Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan are awesome places to visit.

 

Duluth

With an estimated population of 86,110, Duluth acts as a major port city in Minnesota and the main town of Saint Louis County. Located in the north and at the westernmost part of the Great Lakes, Duluth is the second largest city located on the shores of Lake Superior. Sea vessels can access the town from the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes Waterway.

Duluth established a metropolitan area within the lake with nearby towns of Superior and Wisconsin, referred to as the Twin Ports. It formed the largest port in the Great Lakes for transporting grains, iron ore, and coal for decades since its foundation.

Some of the best family tourist attractions in Duluth include:

•    North Shore Scenic Drive
•    Canal Park
•    Aerial Lift Bridge
•    Historic Glensheen Congdon Estate
•    Great Lakes Aquarium
•    Lake Superior Maritime Visitors Center
•    Enger Tower
•    Lake Superior Railroad Museum
•    Spirit Mountain Adventure Park
•    Split Rock Lighthouse

 

Superior

Superior is the largest city found in Wisconsin’s Douglas County with a population of 27,244 according to the 2010 census.

It is located at the western end of Lake Superior in northwestern Wisconsin and is adjacent to the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior. Two well-known rivers surround Superior, Nemadji and Saint Louis, which help flourish its trading community. Superior also served as the last dock for the Edmund Fitzgerald before sinking in 1975.

Some of the best family tourist attractions in Superior include:

•    Pattison State Park
•    Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center
•    Fairlawn Mansion & Museum
•    Wisconsin Point Lighthouse
•    SS Meteor Maritime Museum
•    Ice Caves
•    Old Firehouse and Police Museum

 

Marquette

Marquette is a city in Marquette County in Michigan with an estimated 21,355 residents according to the 2010 census. The most populous city of the Upper Peninsula also acts as a key port on Lake Superior. The Northern Michigan University calls Marquette their home and iron ore is its main shipping industry.  With the quality of living in the town, CBS MoneyWatch named Marquette among the best places in the US to retire.

Initially, the town was called New Worcester but later changed to Marquette on August 21, 1850. This is to honor the French Jesuit, Jacques Marquette who first discovered the place.

Some of the best family tourist attractions in Marquette include:

•    Presque Isle Park
•    Sugarloaf Mountain
•    Lakenenland Sculpture Park
•    Marquette Mountain
•    Marquette Maritime Museum
•    Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum
•    Dead River Falls
•    Marquette Regional History Center
•    Iron Ore Heritage Trail

 

Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay rests in Ontario Canada and, according to the 2011 Canadian census, it has a total of 108,359 residents and is the second-most inhabited city in Northern Ontario. Its municipalities include Oliver, Paipoonge, and Neebing. It also has the townships of Shuniah, Conmee, Gillies, Fort William First Nation, and O’Connor.

In the late 17th century, Europeans made their way to Thunder Bay and it became a French fur trading outpost on the shores of the Kaministiquia River. It then became a popular trading spot for other important goods like grains.  Traders usually traveled from western Canada to the east coast through the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Seaway, making Thunder Bay a notably important location.

Some of the best family tourist attractions in Thunder Bay include:

•    Terry Fox Monument
•    Fort William Historical Park
•    Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
•    Thunder Oak Cheese Farm
•    The Blue Point Amethyst Mine
•    Centennial Botanical Garden
•    Mission Island Marsh
•    Thunder Bay Museum
•    Chippewa Park
•    International Friendship Garden

 

Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste. Marie pronounced as “Soo Saint Marie” lies on St. Marys River in Ontario, Canada. Located near the Canada-US border, it is the third largest city in Northern Ontario. In its southern area, the US city of Sault Ste. Marie is located in Michigan State. Residents of the place are referred to as Saultites. The International Bridge connects the two countries with Interstate 75 in Michigan and Huron Street on Ontario side.

Early French settlers called the river Les Saults de Ste. Marie in which the town got its name. For at least a hundred years, the descent from St. Mary’s River to Lake Superior slowed shipping traffic requiring overland portage of cargo from one lake to the other.

Some of the best family tourist attractions in Sault Ste. Marie include:

•    Canadian Bushplane Heritage Center
•    Sault Ste. Marie Boardwalk
•    Sault Ste. Marie National Historic Site
•    Mill Market
•    Roberta Bondar Park
•    Gros Cap Conservation Area

 

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Fun Activities for the Kids in Battle Creek

If you’re looking to spend some time in Battle Creek with the family, this Michigan town has a lot to offer the little ones in your entourage. With them in tow, any of the following places will be a blast.

 

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg Discovery Center

The Dr. John Harvey Kellogg Discovery center is not just your ordinary museum. Kids will surely love this discovery center. Their guides are well informed not just about the facts but how to keep your family entertained during the tour. They will encourage you to try and test some of the health equipment in the vicinity.  Try to visit during the summer or spring so you can also explore some of the village outside. Your kids will learn a lot in some of Kellogg’s inventions. Much of modern day health equipment was patterned from many of Kellogg’s contraptions.

 

 

Binder Park Zoo

The zoo is well maintained and a beautiful place with a natural setting for the animals. Despite its small size, the held lots of animals. They also have an African Safari Area and kids will love this place. They have a train ride inside the vicinity and other activities for your kids. You can also enjoy the small scenery as the zoo chooses to keep a natural habitat for the animals. They boast of a great giraffe exhibit where you can also feed them. It’s a great time to spend the morning just walking to explore the zoo.

 

 

Full Blast

Beat the summer heat in Full Blast. It’s a good indoor-outdoor water park and they also have slides perfect for you kids. Aside from bigger slides which are popular for teenagers they also have smaller slides for toddlers. The place also has a trampoline to drain your kid’s adrenaline rush. Keep your kids busy in Full Blast and you don’t need to bring that much food, they offer hot dogs and nachos at a fair price. The lifeguards are all attentive keeping everyone safe as the crowds may go rowdy sometimes.

 

Try a Hot Air Balloon Ride at Altitude Endeavors, Inc.

Not every city offers hot air balloon ride, so if you come and visit Battle Creek, this activity is a must. I would not advise you to go if you have toddlers, but for teenagers so seek adventure, this one tops the list. Experience Battle Creek in a different perspective (I mean literal), once afloat, you will be amazed in the scenic view. It’s a breathtaking view from above, perfect for those social media selfies (hey not everyone can experience this).

 

 

Kingman Museum

Huge museum can sometimes overwhelm little kids but the Kingman Museum is just perfect for them. Edward M. Brigham established the museum 1934. Since then, the main focus of the museum is about displaying artifacts from Brigham’s expedition and natural history. The large polar bear and musk ox will greet you and always creates fascination in children. It’s the right size for young minds to explore and learn history. The staffs are well informed and very friendly. They even know how to keep those little minds engaged. Kingman Museum also has a Children’s Garden and it’s a great place to visit. It is a very good destination for couples with small children.

 

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