Lake Michigan
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Lake Michigan Fishing Reports
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Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Tubes
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Minnows
Species
Lake TroutSeason
Summer
Technique
Trolling 20'+
Structure
Open Water/Basin
Forage
Alewife
Caught deep trolling with a spoon. Troll way down near the bottom on a summer day and you’ll be glad you did!
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
53°
Mid Ocotober, water temps in the low to mid 50’s the smallies were stacked up on rocks surrounding a man made pier. The waves on Lake Michigan create current and the smallies would sit around and behind these large boulders. Pitching dropshots with a 3/8 ounce weight and holding it still for 10-15 seconds seemed to be the most productive way to catch them. We also caught a handful of fish on Howies tackle tubes casting horizontally with the pier and dragging it. Seaguar smackdown braid in 8 and 10 pound test in the flash color allowed me to see where my line was at all times and the InvizX leader kept it stealthy while giving great abrasion resistance around the zebra muscles.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Boulders
Had an awesome day dropping on fish to end the season. Used graphs to scan for structure. After structure was located we would spot lock and drop on the fish using a 3/8 oz weight, size 1 or 2 Owner Mosquito and the Venture Lures dropper worm or the Berkley Flat worm. Also caught a handful of fish using the Dropper worm rigged on a Ned rig. Water temps in the low 40 degree range
Species
TroutSeason
Winter
Technique
Inline Spinners
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Alewife
Water Temperature
34°
Went out for steel head and caught a nice female brown trout on a spawn sack. I use inline spinners as well. Inline spinners do well for steel head as coho Salmon in Lake Michigan
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Finesse Hair Jigs
Structure
Pilings
Forage
Insects
Water Temperature
50°
Slowly reeling in the hair jig was an awesome way to get some big sows !
Species
TroutSeason
Ice
Technique
Ice Fishing Jigs
Structure
Baitfish
Forage
Alewife
A small hook with a small golden shiner was the key to generating bites. Putting the split shot a foot above the hook gave the minnow plenty of room to swim.
Species
TroutSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Finesse Hair Jigs
Structure
River Channels
Water Temperature
40°
Float hair jigs under a float tipped with a waxie. Drift the foam lines in the deeper runs.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Umbrella Rigs
Structure
Points
Air temps 43 and water temps at 40. Tough day trying to bank fish. Blue bird skies with a light breeze.. tried the harbors around the dock pilings with blade baits off bottom and flip/flopping a trap off the bottom. Jerkbaits for suspending fish and umbrella rigs used more as search bait. Target mouth of harbor too since Lake Michigan-Chicago is so deep. Threw a hair jig slowly.
