MICHIGAN’S BEST FISHING LAKES
In a recent analysis by Bassmaster magazine, the greatest fishing lakes in the United States were assessed, and Michigan was included six times within the top ten. A fantastic result for Michigan fisherman and the hundreds of visitors who visit the region each year in the hopes of capturing “the big one.”
With approximately 11,000 lakes in Michigan, the top Michigan Lakes that reached the US top 10 list include the following.
Lake St. Clair (ranked №2)
Burt/Mullet Lakes (ranked №5)
Bays de Noc (ranked №7)
Saginaw Bay (ranked №8)
Lake Charlevoix (ranked №9)
Grand Traverse Bay (ranked №10)
Let’s take a look at the best Michigan fishing lakes in more detail starting with Lake St.Clair.
Lake St.Clair
Lake St. Clair is a freshwater lake in the Great Lakes system that lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the city of Detroit, Michigan. The lake is not very deep, having a maximum depth of 27ft (8.2m) and an area of 1,114 km2. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, the most frequent of which are Muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Bluegill, Sturgeon, and Walleye. With 130 miles of coast to select from, the odds of catching a “big fish” are quite good. The lake is well-known for its excellent fishing opportunities and is approximately 6 miles from Detroit. Because of its vicinity, the lake is popular not just for fishing, but also for swimming, boating, kayaking, and other water sports.
The lake is said to host about 150,000 Muskies, which is a considerable quantity of fish for a lake of its size, resulting in significant catches on a single day of fishing. It is quite unlikely that you will not catch a Musky. Walleye are another favorite target species, and millions of them migrate up the Detroit River from Lake Erie to spawn during the spring Walleye run. Anglers have reported landing 50+ fish in a single session — but keep in mind the 5 per person bag restriction.
Because Lake St. Clair is a border lake, you must obtain a Canadian fishing license in order to fish in the Canadian section of the lake.
Burt & Mullet Lakes
Burt Lake is Michigan’s fourth largest lake and is connected to Mullet Lake. Because it is a vast lake, there is an abundance of freshwater fish waiting to be caught. Burt Lake, in Cheboygan County, Michigan, is home to a variety of fish, including Bluegill, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Muskie, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Sturgeon, to mention a few. The lake, which spans 17,000 acres and is encircled by 35 miles of gorgeous shoreline, is best explored by boat. Kayaking and canoeing are popular when the weather permits, and ice fishing enthusiasts may face the cold to try their luck at landing any of the previously named species when the lake freezes over and the ice is safe.
There are several boat ramps and excellent amenities across the region, as well as several fishing guides and charter possibilities.
Bays de Noc
Big and Little Bays de Noc, located near the upper end of Lake Michigan in the Green Bay region, correspond to around 100,000 acres of outstanding sports fishing water. Walleyes, which may be found in vast numbers and sizes, are the most preferred target species. The bays have tremendous topography, including steep dropoffs, cliffs, weeds, and other fish-loving structure, with the summer months being the finest time of year for capturing giant walleye.
The cleaner water away from the minor inlets provides the best opportunity to catch a trophy fish, but be cautious not to startle the larger fish with your boat, as they will return to deeper water. If feasible, use a fish finder with side-scan technology (if you’re looking for a new one, check out our best fish finder comparison). Trolling spinnerbaits along the edges of weed beds in 14 feet of water has produced nice results, as has jigging around structure.
In Michigan, the walleye season begins in mid-May, and the ideal spots to target in the first few weeks / month are the upper sections of the tiny bays.
Saginaw Bay
Some believe Saginaw Bay to be the world’s greatest walleye fishery. The huge open lake is home to numerous trophy-sized fish, but finding them is the difficult part. Trolling is the most prevalent type of fishing in the lake; trolling is the technique of gently driving around with a lure a good distance out behind or to the side of a boat or kayak. If you don’t have a boat or trolling isn’t your thing, bottom smash your way around the lake with jigs, tempting fish to your bait with an up-down ready action. Many fishermen will pair a jig with a night crawler to entice reluctant fish.
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