The diverse number of species Michigan fishing has to offer is way beyond the scope of one article. So I will divide and conquer by writing about four areas of angling, trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye, and finally the Great Lakes.
To write about trout in Michigan one has to start with the Au Sable River in the central-east of the state. One of the finest trout streams in the country it has been designated a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream by the Department of Natural Resources. With 146 miles of water counting its eminently fishable branches the Au Sable offers easy wading, major hatches, and adequate access. Every fly fisherman should fish the Au Sable at least once in his life. Other notable streams are Bear Creek, Manistee River, Pere Marquette River, and Pine River on the Lower Peninsula. On the Upper Peninsula some great rivers to fish are Ontonagon River both the East and Middle Branch, Paint River, West Branch of the Sturgeon River, and the East Branch of the Tahquamenon. Hatches start about 1 to 2 weeks later on the Upper Peninsula. So if you have a favorite hatch you can fish it twice, once on the Lower Peninsula then follow it on up to the Upper Peninsula
Michigan has some outstanding lakes for largemouth bass but the place to start is Fletcher’s Pond. There you can cast for some real lunkers. Try a Mepps, a Rapala, or my favorite a Red Devil spoon. The water in Fletcher’s pond is not deep so deep-running lures will snag often. You should fish around the stumps of dead trees for the best chance of catching a scale tipper. Other good lakes you should fish largemouth are Black Lake, Houghton Lake, Long Lake, Elk Lake and Manistique Lake.
An excellent place to fish for smallmouth bass and walleye is the headwater of the Au Sable River. Especially in the spring when they are on the move to spawning grounds is good. You should use a crawdad-imitating lure for walleye and a small black jig for smallmouth. Fish in slower, deeper pools and on the bottom. Traditional lake fishing for both species is numerous in Michigan. Some excellent lakes are Mullet Lake, Stanford Lake, Lake Michigamme, Lake Gogebic, Grand Lake and Brevoort Lake.
The Great Lakes are an excellent fishery. You can troll for salmon 250′ down or fill your live box with crappie from a crappie hole. As well as fishing for salmon and crappie, you can fish for trout (steelhead, browns and lake), bass (largemouth, smallmouth and stripers), walleye, catfish, sturgeon, and bluegill. For salmon, steelhead, and lake trout it is best to have a boat equipped with a downrigger but bass and walleye can be caught near shore.
By: Craig Petersen
Posts Tagged ‘Houghton Lake’
Michigan Fishing Has Never Been Better
March 10th, 2010Ice Fishing Can be a Very Exciting Experience
December 19th, 2009
One of the most popular recreational forms of fishing in Scandinavia, Russia and Germany is Ice Fishing, a sport also practiced in Canada and the United States, not only during winter, but also all year round in Alaska. However the most popular place to enjoy this activity is in the Great Lakes. Considered originally from Scandinavia, it was brought to America by Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish settlers arriving to Minnesota, a state where people from Nordic families is totally engaged in this sport. Ice fishing was exported to Canada from Minnesota and from here, it also arrived in Alaska.
Minnesotans found ice fishing an entertaining option, keeping in mind that the Great Lakes are often totally frozen, with the only exception being Lake Erie. When the bays of the Great Lakes freeze, yellow perch and northern pike are the most common catches waiting for enthusiasts of this sport. Ice fishing is practiced catching fish with lines and spears or hooks by opening a hole in the frozen lake to fish through. Depending on personal preferences, fishermen can sit in a heated cabin on the ice or on a stool placed on the open expanse of the frozen lake. Cabins are more popular indeed, because most of them have bunks and diverse amenities.
From all the forms of fishing, ice fishing is perhaps the activity requiring less effort and skill, just patience, good luck and the inner conviction of enjoy doing nothing else that sitting on ice, if not physical, at least exposed to low temperatures. For some people, this condition may appear unappealing but in the northern states, ice fishing is considered a serious entertaining activity with competitions and contests offering good prizes to people with the largest fish catches within a limited period of time.
One of the contests attracting more people every year is held at the Houghton Lake in Michigan. The “Tip-Up Town, USA”, an annual festival celebrated the last 56 years ago during the second third of winter, and enhanced with other snow related activities such as strolling, snowmobiling, snow-sculpting and fireworks, in conjunction with Ice fishing.
While in the United States, Ice fishing contests have a prevalent carnival like atmosphere, full of camaraderie, in Finland, ice fishing contests have been defaced after repeated scandals involving both organizers and contestants, who have been caught cheating, making people belief this is not a sport, but just a pastime. However, in the United States there is an association supporting ice fishing activities, the American Ice Fishing Association (AIFA), which says that ice fishing contributes to managing the fish species population, and the economic growth of the community, bringing calming and relaxing effects of well being to all the participants.
Because ice fishing can be something more than a one-day experience, there are shelters conveniently located for longer fishing expeditions. Some others are mounted on-demand using simple structures, although the larger heated structures are basic for the success of fishing trips lasting several days.
There is a website that describes boat fishing, ice fishing, and has info on numerous freshwater fish, baits, and lures, plus other great freshwater fishing tips. The website is called: Fishing Stringer, and may be found at this address:
http://www.fishingstringer.com
By Robert W. Benjamin
Copyright © 2006
You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.
By: Robert Benjamin
