11 Best Fishing Lakes in Michigan

Michigan is one of the best states for fishing in the United States. Known as the Great Lakes State, Michigan is surrounded by fantastic lakes. It is home to four of the Great Lakes, but also to over 11,000 freshwater inland lakes. There are so many places to fish in this state, but below is a list of the 11 best fishing lakes in Michigan.

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Best Fishing Lakes in Michigan

The following lakes are some of the best fishing lakes in Michigan. There are many ways to
experience fishing in Michigan, from enjoying a warm summer day fishing out on the water to adventurous ice fishing in the winter. This comprehensive list of the best fishing spots in
Michigan is a perfect way to find the best fishing lake in the Great Lakes state.

1. Lake Superior

WHERE: The Upper Peninsula | BREEDS: Steelhead Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth Bass.

Lake Superior is the largest lake of the Great Lakes. This impressive lake is also the largest
freshwater lake by surface area in the world. Lake Superior is located in Michigan’s upper
peninsula and borders Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Canada.

Lake Superior should be on every angler’s bucket list for lakes to fish in. Lake Superior and
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are incredible places to visit and the fishing opportunities are
fantastic.

Charter fishing is one of the best ways to fish on Lake Superior because it allows you to go far out into the vast and deep waters of the lake. This makes for incredible fishing opportunities, as the larger fish in Superior are typically in the deeper waters of the lake.

Shore fishing is also common, both on the American and Canadian sides of Lake Superior.
Some of the best towns in Michigan to visit for fishing in Lake Superior include Cooper Harbor, Munising, Marquette, and Grand Marais.

There are more than 80 species of fish that can be found in Lake Superior, but the most common fish to catch here include Salmon, Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Smallmouth
Bass.

2. Lake Huron

WHERE: The Eastern side of Michigan | BREEDS: Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown
Trout, Walleye, Chinook Salmon, Drum, Cisco, Smallmouth Bass, Pink Salmon, Northern Pike, Catfish, Steelhead Trout, Atlantic Salmon, and Yellow Perch

Lake Huron is the second largest of the Great Lakes and is also one of the best fishing lakes in Michigan. Lake Huron stretches along the entire Eastern side of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, which provides plenty of shoreline for fishing. Additionally, Lake Huron has over 30,000 islands, most of which are small and uninhabited.

Lake Huron is a popular lake for shore fishing, but also is a great option for charter fishing.
Many charter fishing boats venture out into the deeper waters of the lake for an ultimate fishing experience. Kayak fishing has also become popular here in recent years.

Due to the extensive shoreline, there are many towns in Michigan that you can visit to fish in Lake Huron. Some of the most popular include the Saginaw Bay area, Au Gres, Tawas,
Cheboygan, Alpena, Port Austin, Port Sanilac, St. Ignace, and Mackinaw City.

The best time of year for fishing in this lake is between May through September. The most
popular fish to catch in Lake Huron are Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead Trout, and Walleye.

3. Mullett Lake

WHERE: Cheboygan County | BREEDS: Lake Sturgeon, Brown Trout, Brook Trout,
Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Splake, Smelt, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, and Largemouth Bass

Located in the Northern part of the Lower Peninsula, Mullett Lake ranks as one of the best
fishing lakes in Michigan.

Mullett Lake is one of Michigan’s largest inland lakes and covers an area of 17,500 acres. Mullett Lake is a popular fishing spot, both on the shore and out on the water. It is also next to another popular inland fishing lake, Burt Lake.

There are several fish types here, but a unique fish found here is the Lake Sturgeon. Lake
Sturgeon are typically very rare to find throughout the United States but can be found in Mullett Lake. This fascinating fish is massive and can measure up to 6 and a half feet long.

The variety of fish and up-north scenic atmosphere make Mullett Lake a perfect place for renting a cabin or camping and spending a weekend fishing in Northern Michigan.

4. Houghton Lake

WHERE: Roscommon County | BREEDS: Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Sunfish, Crappie, and Bass

Houghton Lake is Michigan’s largest inland lake, covering an area of 22,000 acres. It is in
Roscommon County, which is in the Northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, between the towns of Cadillac and West Branch.

Houghton Lake is easily one of the best fishing lakes in Michigan, and it is close to two other smaller lakes, Higgins Lake and Lake St. Helen, which are also popular fishing spots. It is a popular lake to go fishing at in the summertime, but also in the winter for ice fishing.

Houghton Lake has 7 different access points on the shoreline of the lake that are ideal locations for fishing. There are also some nearby bait shops right on the lake in case you need more bait or fishing gear.

There are a variety of fish that can be found on Houghton Lake, but the most common types of fish to catch here include Walleye, Pike, Bass, and Bluegill.

5. Lake Michigan

WHERE: The Western Side of Michigan | BREEDS: Brown Trout, Lake Trout, SteelHead Trout, Yellow Perch, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, Carp, Cisco, Burbot, Drum, Northern Pike, and Walleye

Lake Michigan is one of Michigan’s incredible freshwater lakes and is one of the best fishing lakes in Michigan. Lake Michigan is 300 miles long and covers an area of 22,300 square miles. Lined with sandy beaches and a great shoreline, it offers some of the best shore fishing in Michigan.

Due to Lake Michigan’s large size, it is another good choice for chartering a boat to fish out on the water. Fishing charter boats are a great way to experience fishing in Michigan, and some boat charters even have guides to help you find the best fishing spots.

As it is such a large lake, there are several places you can fish from Lake Michigan. The most popular places include Holland, St. Joseph, South Haven, Ludington, Muskegon, Grand Haven, Manistee, and Grand Traverse Bay.

Fishing in Lake Michigan happens year-round. In the winter months, you will mostly see Brown Trout, Lake Trout, and Steelhead. June is when the summer season starts, and with the warmer weather, you will see many more types of fish in bigger numbers.

6. Hamlin Lake

WHERE: Mason County | BREEDS: Bluegills, Crappies, Sunfish, Pike, Muskies, Perch,
and Walleye

Located just north of Ludington in Mason County is Hamlin Lake. Hamlin Lake is a beautiful inland lake that borders Ludington State Park and Manistee National Forest.

While you can fish in Hamlin Lake year-round, it is a well-known lake for ice fishing. In the winter months, Hamlin Lake freezes over in late December until early March. During this time, anglers from all over will visit the lake to participate in the popular Michigan pastime of ice fishing. Ice fishing is so popular at this lake that several ice fishing tournaments take place at Hamlin Lake each winter.

There are a variety of fish that are in Hamlin Lake, but the highlight is the large Blue Gill and Northern Pike that can be caught here, especially during ice fishing season.

7. Lake Gogebic

WHERE: Gogebic County | BREEDS: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Panfish

Lake Gogebic is on the western side of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This beautiful
13,000-acre lake is a stunning place to visit in Northern Michigan and is one of the best remote fishing lakes in Michigan. Fishing in a remote lake in Northern Michigan offers an incredible chance to catch fish in a relaxing and scenic setting.

A highlight of fishing in Lake Gogebic is that it has large, healthy fish populations, making it more likely to get some good catches. Some popular fish that are caught here include Walleye, Jumbo Perch, and Smallmouth Bass.

8. Gun Lake

WHERE: Barry County | BREEDS: Northern Pike, Walleye, Largemouth Bass,
Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, Rock Bass, Yellow Perch, and Bluegill

Gun Lake is a smaller inland lake located in Southwestern Michigan, nearby Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Gun Lake is a well-known recreational lake. It is a popular spot for swimming, fishing, and boating, and you will see many small boats out on the lake in the summertime.

Gun Lake is a popular fishing lake due to its abundant populations of both Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass. Northern Pike, Walleye, and Bluegill are also frequently caught fish at Gun Lake.

9. Lake St. Clair

WHERE: Metro Detroit | BREEDS: Musky, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Lake Sturgeon, Walleye, Bass, and Panfish

Lake St. Clair is located in Southeastern Michigan, in the Metro Detroit area. It is bordered by Macomb and Wayne counties and the other side of the lake borders Ontario in Canada.

Lake St. Clair is one of the best fishing lakes in Michigan. Fishing can be done here year-round, including ice fishing in the winter.

Lake St Clair has great spots for shore fishing and is one of the best places to fish in Michigan without a boat. There are six different areas around the shore that are ideal for fishing. While you don’t need a boat to fish here, you definitely can fish from a boat. Some experienced anglers will even fish from a fishing kayak.

There are many types of fish in Lake St. Clair, but one of the unique and rare Lake Sturgeon fish can be found here. Musky are also popular fish to catch in Lake St. Clair, as they enjoy the more shallow waters.

10. Union Lake

WHERE: Oakland County | BREEDS: Bluegill, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Walleye,
Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, and Largemouth Bass
Union Lake is one of the many small inland lakes found in Oakland, County Michigan.

Nearby towns include Walled Lake, White Lake Township, and Commerce Charter Township. While Oakland County has several small inland lakes, Union Lake is a popular one for fishing.

This small, inland lake is only 465 acres in area size, but is known to have good fishing
opportunities. It may be small but is a great fishing lake in Southeast Michigan. The best time to visit the lake is in the summer months between June through September.

11. Lake Erie

WHERE: Southeastern Michigan | BREEDS: Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, Walleye,
Steelhead Trout, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, and Yellow Perch.

Lake Erie is another one of the Great Lakes and borders Southeastern Michigan. Lake Erie is a popular fishing spot in the summertime, although fishing occurs here year-round like many other places in Michigan.

Lake Erie is known for its abundance of Rainbow Trout, but there are several other types of popular fish here including Yellow Perch, Salmon, Walleye, and more. In the summer, fishing for large Walleye is the goal that most anglers have, and the prime season for catching these large Walleye is between July through September.

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Do You Need a License or Permit to Fish in Michigan?

Yes, if you are age 17 or older you are required to have a fishing license to fish in any of the
lakes in Michigan. Fishing licenses are valid for 1 year which goes from March 1st to March 31st of the following year. The fishing license costs $26 for Michigan residents and $76 for
non-residents. Seniors above age 65 can get a discounted license for $11. Licenses can be purchased at the www.michigan.gov/fishing website.

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Common Fish in Michigan: What can you catch?

Many types of fish can be caught in the best fishing lakes of Michigan, but below is a list of the most common fish that are found in the Great Lakes State:

• Walleye
• Yellow Perch
• Brown Trout
• Rainbow Trout
• Steelhead Trout
• Lake Trout
• Smallmouth Bass
• Northern Pike
• Coho Salmon
• Chinook Salmon
• Atlantic Salmon
• Muskellunge
• Blue Gill

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Fishing in Michigan: Equipment List

When fishing, it’s important to come prepared with all the right equipment. Check out this list below for some recommended items to bring while fishing in Michigan.

• Fishing Rods
• Bait
• Tackle Box
• Fishing Line
• Fishing Net
• Waterproof Boots
• Hooks
• Digital Fish Scale
• Fisherman’s Pliers
• Fishing/Camping Chair

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Best Fishing Lakes in Michigan: FAQ

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Conclusion: Best Fishing Lakes in Michigan

These are the best fishing lakes in Michigan, from the impressive Great Lakes to the scenic inland lakes. Michigan is an incredible state for fishing, as it is the state with the most freshwater lakes and a large variety of fish. Fishing in Michigan is a popular pastime, and not only are there plenty of fishing lakes, but there are also many fishing tournaments that happen throughout the year, including ice-fishing tournaments in the wintertime. Michigan lakes offer amazing fishing opportunities and are worth visiting.

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