best walleye fishing in southwest michigan

MorrisRoadBridge. Leelanau might be one of the best areas in Michigan to go walleye fishing. Best Cold-Water Crankbait: Rapala Husky Jerk. Thats hardly a surprise, though. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. I have had some success fishing . The lakes formerly barren featureless bottom is now populated with manmade cover and structure like brush and logs the locals have sank to give the walleye and anglers someplace to go. Visitors can also rent a watercraft or hire a charter boat. For information on lodging and amenities in the area contact: Leelanau County Chamber of Commerce at leelanauchamber.com or by calling (231) 271-9895. Located halfway between Harrisville and Alpena in central Alcona County, 8,850-acre Hubbard Lake has a long history of walleye fishing and management. And theres a whole bunch of locations in Michigan where you can fish for Walleye. You can also fish from the docks by the bridge heading towards the beach on Whittaker Street. Let us know in the comments below. Well talk about the most productive techniques, lakes and rivers you can explore, the best time to go, and more. Walleyes from 5 to 9 pounds are very common, with several reaching 11 and 12 pounds. Longline trolling is a popular fishing method among anglers in this lake but you can use other methods too. 27 Best Lake Michigan Beaches Upper Peninsula Northern West Southwest. Once the weeds get taller and thicker you should change to pitching and jigging hooks with leeches using a slip-bobber. If you are traveling without your boat, new to fishing the great lakes, or want to learn from an expert and have access to the best tackle and gear then hire a guide. These. Saginaw River is another good jigging spot in the area, where anglers generally fish a 3/8 oz jig with split-tail minnows and paddle-tails. When planning a fishing trip to the Great Lake State, you might wonder which species youll come across. Walleye in this lake characteristically hold close to weedbeds, dropoffs, and especially in areas with both features. Water temperatures have been in the high 30s and low 40s. You can launch smaller boats as well into the shallow water. Washtenaw and Wayne counties' 1,270-acre Belleville Lake is an impoundment of the Huron River that's more noted for it black crappies and largemouth bass, but it a sleeper for walleyes according to Braunscheidel. Due to minimal pressure, this lake has become a great place for walleye fishing. Michiganders will find lots of great walleye action this year. Another hotspot is off Shawnee Shoals and the irregular breaklines that can be found there. Marie for the National Walleye Tour Event, hosted by . IceShanty Rookie; Posts: 8; SW Michigan Walleye lakes on: Jan 10, 2013, 04:05 PM What lakes in southwest michigan are best for walleye fishing? With 4,000 inland lakes and 86,000 miles of rivers and streams, fishing in Pennsylvania is indeed a freshwater anglers dream. The new Frontier, available in 8x42 and 10x42, has all the range-finding capabilities a hunter needs. About Us. Because Hubbard Lake has clear water, catching Walleye fish in this lake can be hard. Top 10 Michigan Walleye Lakes. As water temps warm into the low 40s and stay there, the steelhead run will begin in earnest and fishing will pick up. Inthis location,using crankbaits and stickbaits onsummer evenings almost guarantees a catch. Following are eight Michigan walleye fishing spots that you'll want to add to your list of favorite waters for 2012. The . A good forage base helps take the pressure off the young walleyes so predators don't eat the fry. St. Clair River Walleye anglers use one-ounce jigs, along with and jigs to maintain contact with the bottom due to quick currents. As surface water temperatures climb during late summer, look for walleyes over the 40- to 45-foot depths. Michigan anglers jig minnows while drifting downriver, ice jigs, and spoons in deep waters along the dropoffs and ledges. Tell us about your favorite fishing hole in the comments below! This lake has plenty of sloping banks and bays for fish to gather in, so . Spring fishing in Lake Michigan is good between the middle of April and May. This lake covers 17,000 acres and is the fifth largest lake in the State of Michigan. Paddle-tail plastics and split-tail minnow are also popular, along with certain live bait. However, anglers can catch them pretty much throughout the year, even during winter.. Saginaw River is another good jigging spot in the area, where anglers generally fish . Continue to 9 of 10 below. Great fishing spots to consider are Hastings and Murphys Points which are at the center of the Lake. So, whether you want to fish the walleye fish for sport or to enjoy their unique taste, we know this list will come in handy. Anglers can catch brown trout, lake trout, yellow perch, walleye, and coho salmon during this time of the year. And those are just some of [], If you come to the Great Lake State and yell Winter is coming! youll probably hear a lot of cheering. | Perch caught in this lake can range between 8 to 12 inches in length. Studio 106, 106 Mill St, Northport, MI 49670. From $325 to $425. The most appropriate angling methods to use in this lake include jigging with minnows and crawlers. The Galien River is a good place to fish for brown trout, northern pike, large or smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie or sunfish. It covers 8850 acres and has a long history of being a great spot for catching Walleye fish. Theres a reason that Walleye ice fishing is such a popular activity when the [], Ice Fishing in Michigan: The Complete Guide. Connect with me on Instagram and Twitter @me_eichstead to follow my fishing adventures and more! Unlike Holloway Reservoir, this lake only has weeds and structure to maintain the Walleye population. The search for Michigan's Best Inland Lake was a whirlwind, with over 140 different lakes nominated, and thousands of votes for Michiganders special picks. Subscriber Services. Saturday April 15, 2023 7AM to 12PM. Uncategorized. For a listing of Michigan public boating access sites visit the Department of Natural Resources website. Although this lake occasionally receives small plants, the Walleye population in the lake is sustained through natural reproduction. Piers, docks, and shoreline riprap are all key areas to target. Best Spinner: Northland Baitfish Float'n Spin. In peak season, you'll find big walleye hiding out in the 30-38 inch range. Walleye hang out by the bottom, so your captain might slow troll at a variety of depths. The Walleye fish in this lake are sustained through natural reproduction and can grow up to 18 inches in length. For example, you can use stick baits, rattles on lures, or lightweight jigs. Emerald shiner minnows, for example, are native to the area. You can also try angling using jigs with leeches or crawlers, single blade spinners, and crawler harnesses. Jigging spoons or minnows work best when the ice is around 4-5 inches thin. Scott said that the lake receives small plants from private organizations and individuals, but they are insignificant. Michigan fishing map feature. This lake covers 17,120 acres and is located in Cheboygan County, Michigan. * * *. The Walleye fish in this lake are sustained through natural reproduction and can grow up to 18 inches in length. Despite being one ofMichigans most heavily fished lakes, it continues to produce considerable numbers of walleye, partially because a speed limit for boats helps keep walleye calm and relaxed. The primary weapon is casting stick baits such as the Northland Rumble B. Gun Lake is one of Michigan's best lakes for walleye fishing. This lake covers 2110 acres and is found in Onekama Township, Manistee County. For fishing reports, call your local bait shop to inquire about current conditions. Because both are now sustained by natural reproduction, VHS has not had an effect on the fisheries. That said, it is known to have some of the best walleye fishing in all of Michigan. This is a reservoir lake that covers 1200 acres and is located in mostly Oakland County and partly in Livingston County. Source: Ethan Denton / shutterstock. The Columbia River is currently the greatest of all . The best species to stock are brook and rainbow trout. That's why you'll find walleyes on a shallow reef on a bright day if it's windy. The fish start their spawning in spring, migrating into feeder streams during this time or seeking out shallow bars, weeds, and shoals. Guides drastically increase your chances of having a fun day catching fish. Local anglers practically revere Walleye fishing in Michigan. You can find Walleyes in plenty along the edges of weedy deep holes and rocky drop-offs in Summer. "We've been fishing Lake Namakagon for quite a few years now and this was our 3rd consecutive year staying at the Four Seasons Resort.". 5. Which lakes and rivers contain the fish species you are interested in. Since Walleye move a lot, trolling is one of the most productive ways to catch them. Muskegonis home to many piers for visitors and residents. Local clubs make an effort to stock fall fingerlings; 80,000 spring fingerlings that we planted a few years ago provided a fishery the last few years, but it was almost entirely for adult fish last year. You also can reel in walleye, smallmouth bass, pan fish and pike. It comes as no surprise then, that theres an abundance of freshwater you can explore. Using different fishing techniques during different seasons will help you with your catch. Popular species to target in our lakes and rivers include trout, salmon, steelhead, walleye, pike, bass, catfish, perch and a variety of other panfish. The suspended Walleyes tend to be less aggressive and larger as they feed on alewives, smelt, and ciscoes. Your choice of fishing method will depend on the season and the region of the fish youre angling at. Unlike in the Detroit River, Lake Erie Walleye anglers usually go for trolling. To opt-in for your free subscription, enter your email address below, then submit. All these factors make Holloway Reservoir have more Walleyes than any inland lake in the State of Michigan. Ice fishing for Walleye in Michigan is a treat for many anglers, residents, and visitors alike. #7 Best Value of 20 Fishing Resorts in Wisconsin. Working light jigs ( oz jigs,1/8 oz jigs,1/16 oz jigs) along the flats has also been known to be productive early in the season. If youre fishing at these points, you should use jigs with minnows, leeches, or crawlers at the tip. For more information on bait shops, lodging and amenities in the area contact the Indian River Chamber of Commerce at irchamber.com or by calling (231) 238-9325. West Michigan is an angler's paradise! Located along the sunset coast of southern Lake Michigan, it is a Midwest paradise. Keep lures in a 30-foot vertical band, some as much as 20 feet above the thermocline. The rivers headwaters are especially popular among Walleye lovers, where Lake Huron narrows down and dumps into the river. Sail on a replica War of 1812 tall ship. Recent surveys resulted in good catches up to 23 inches, with the largest at 28 inches. There are plenty of fishable rivers and inland lakes in the state with great Walleye fishing. Because perch prefer cooler water, the best fishing is usually in water depths ranging from 40 foot to 80 foot on Lake Michigan. Gun Lake is relatively smaller than other lakes and covers 2680 acres. The tri-county area of Southwest Michigan is home to hundreds of inland lakes as well as hundreds of miles of additional rivers and streams. Cass Lake Michigan. Dont have a boat? Contact the Alpena Convention & Visitors Bureau at alpenacvb.com or at (989) 354-4181 for information on bait shops, lodging and amenities in the area. If youre angling at night, try shallow sandy bottoms where the Walleyes are looking for food. South Haven Lighthouses. Those fish should grow quickly and begin contributing to the fishery in 2013. Spot and range targets without wasting valuable seconds switching between gear with Luepold's new rangefinder binocular, the BX-4 Range HD. Use metallic spinners early on, and experiment with bright colored blades as the water warms. Do you have a story or a tip to share? As a result, the Walleyes in this lake multiply more and are larger.