Fishing the Lake Michigan Shoreline,
Surf, Harbors and Ice fishing

Lake Michigan has a surface area of 22,300 square miles and 1,660 miles of shoreline. There are more than a hundred cities and towns on its banks. Access areas for fishing the Lake Michigan Shore include: harbors, piers, break walls, power plants, city parks, river mouths and scenic shorelines. During the fall salmon spawning runs thousands of fishermen will take advantage of the many piers, breakwaters, harbors and river mouths. Spring will see many of the same fishermen in the same areas fishing for Brown Trout, Steelhead and spring Coho Salmon. Summer fishing from shore targets perch, smallmouth bass and other fish. Summer fishing at night is a good time to try for salmon and trout that cruise the shorelines under the cover of darkness.

Shore fishing for trout and salmon on Lake Michigan is an art, employing a great variety of tips and techniques depending on the time of year and species of fish sought. Fishing tips and techniques for Salmon, trout, steelhead, coho, chinook, lake trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, perch and walleye, northern pike and other species that inhabit Lake Michigan are generic in nature and can be modified and applied to any location. Some techniques which are unique to the Great Lakes have been adjusted and used in saltwater fishing in Europe and the Pacific Coast of North America from California North to Alaska. River and creek mouths, power plants, warm water discharges are areas that will attract and hold fish at certain times of the year. Harbor, piers, breakwaters are natural areas to attract fish. In some states the hatchery raised salmon and trout are released directly into harbors and they will return there year after year. Wind direction also has a direct relation to fish locations. During the summer months winds blowing offshore can push the warm surface water away from the shore allowing the cool water to backfill the void, this cycle will bring bait fish with trout and salmon near shore. There is no one technique that will guarantee fish each time you fish Lake Michigan. Plan to learn, use and master several techniques to become a better fisherman. When fishing the shore of Lake Michigan most will soon realize that 10 percent of the fishermen usually catch 90 percent of the fish. These fishermen usually will employ a variety of tips and techniques to be successful.

The different types of fishing tips, articles and techniques located in the website are logically separated into several major topic categories:
• General Fishing Tips, Techniques and Information
• Shore, Surf, Harbor Fishing Access Locations
• Shore and Harbor Fishing Tips and Techniques
• Surf Fishing Tips and Techniques
• Ice Fishing Tips and Techniques
• Species Specific tips and information
Specific techniques and tips related to each type of fishing can be found in the different categories. Salmon, trout, steelhead and other species of fish fishing articles are also included.

• General Fishing Tips, Techniques and Information

  • Fish Identification: General information about identifing the various species of fish present in Lake Michigan.
    • The Fish of Lake Michigan by Wisconsin Sea Grant
    • Wisconsin Fish ID Database
    • The fish of Wisconsin
    • Trout and Salmon Identification by GLSFC
    • Lake Michigan Game Fish Information
  • Fishing Regulations: General information and links to the different fishing rules and regulations for each of the four states that border Lake Michigan: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.
    • Illinois Department of Natural Resources
    • Indiana Department of Natural Resources
    • Michigan Department of Natural Resources
    • Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  • Fishing in Lake Michigan: General information about the different types of fishing available:
    • Salmon Fishing
    • Trout Fishing
  • Fishing Knots: A link to a website that contains examples of tying various fishing knots with animated drawings that easily show each step in tying complex knots.
  • Hook Sharpening: A technical sheet from Luhr Jensen that details hook sharpening techniques.
  • Maps and Books: Information about various maps and books about Lake Michigan.
  • Online Maps: Links to several Online Map companies.
  • How Fish see Color: Principles of vision and the behavior of light as it penetrates the water can make lure selection more scientific.
  • Using Salmon and Trout Eggs or Spawn for Bait Information about the different Great Lakes trout, steelhead and salmon; techniques for tying spawn sacks or spawn bags; tips on how to gather salmon eggs and spawn; how to cure and store salmon and trout eggs, spawn, roe and skein for use as fishing bait.
    • Collecting Salmon and Trout Eggs Technique for collecting single or loose salmon or trout eggs for fish bait.
    • Removing Salmon and Trout Skein Technique for removing skein or roe from salmon and trout for fish bait.
    • Curing Salmon and Trout Eggs, Technique #1 How to use commercial salmon and trout egg cures to preserve the spawn.
    • Curing Salmon and Trout Roe, Technique #2 Technique on how to use commercial salmon egg cures for curing salmon roe.
    • Curing Salmon and Trout Skein for Egg Clusters Technique on how to use commercial salmon egg cures for curing salmon or trout skein to make egg clusters.
    • Homemade Salmon and Trout Egg Cures How to make your own egg cures for preserving salmon and trout spawn for use as fishing bait in spawn sacks, single eggs and egg clusters.
    • How to make Spawn Sacks How to make your own spawn sacks with salmon and trout eggs for use as bait.
  
  

• Shore, Surf and Harbor Fishing
  Access Locations and Articles:

  • Shore fishing access locations Lake Michigan has a surface area of 22,300 square miles and 1,660 miles of shoreline. There are dozens of tributary creeks, streams and rivers that provide excellent fishing. Some of our favorite access areas.
  • Shore Fishing Article from the Indiana DNR A PDF article from the State of Indiana DNR with access maps, species facts, seasonal fishing oportunities and fishing information for shore and tributary fishing. (requires Adobe reader)
  • Michigan Shore Anglers Guide A PDF article from the State of Michigan DNR with detailed access maps; detailed salmon, trout, and steelhead fishing tips and techniques; seasonal fishing opportunities and recommended fishing tactics for the different shore fishing locations. This 96 page article can have a long download time (requires Adobe reader)
  
  

• Shore and Harbor Fishing Tips and Techniques:

  • Shore Fishing Etiquette: Simple things and ideas that will make shore fishing more enjoyable for every fishermen.
  • Fishing Crank Baits for Trophy Great Lakes Brown Trout: Using crank baits to catch large trophy Brown Trout is a deadly fishing technique. Older browns will not waste much energy chasing small lures. They are looking for a meal, not a snack.
  • Tube Jigging for Trout and Salmon Technique: Using tube jigs under a slip bobber is a deadly fishing technique when used shore fishing in harbors for trout and salmon. This technique can be used in all open water seasons.
  • Berkley Powerbait Micros for Trout Techniques: Using Berkley Powerbait Micros fishing from shore in harbors for trout. This technique can be used in all open water seasons.
  • Floating Spawn Sacks and Eggs for Steelhead Fishing Technique: Floating spawn sacks and eggs for Steelhead and Rainbow Trout is an effective technique. This technique can be used in all open water seasons.
  • A-Just-a Bubble Rainbow Trout and Steelhead Fishing Technique: Using an A-Just-a Bubble float for light weight bait casting for Rainbow Trout and Steelhead. This technique can be used in all open water seasons.
  • Using Berkley Gulp Trout Dough Bait Fishing Technique Video: Video showing techniques for using Berkley Gulp Trout Dough Bait.
  • Luhr Jensen Technical Reports: (requires Adobe reader)
    • Click to download the Adobe Reader
    • Casting Spoons and Spinners  A technical article with tactics and techniques for casting spoons and spinners.
    • Jigging for Trout  A technical article with tactics and techniques for jigging spoons and lures.
  
  

• Surf Fishing Tips and Techniques:

  
  

• Ice Fishing Tips and Techniques:

  • Luhr Jensen Technical Reports: (requires Adobe reader)
    • Click to download the Adobe Reader
    • Ice Fishing A technical article with information on safety, equipment, fishing techniques and lures for Ice fishing.
  
  

Great Lakes Salmon, Steelhead, Trout and other species Fishing tips, tactics, articles, techniques, and information
Shore, Surf and Harbor Fishing	Tributary River and Stream Fishing	Open Water Boat Fishing and Trolling
For more information click a topic category above

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