- January through May
- Peak spring fishing is late February and early March through early May
- Rivers and river mouths like Betsie Bay, Platte Bay, and Grand Traverse Bay
- Typical steelhead will bite best early in the day and late in the afternoon, but will bite all throughout the day
Michigan Spring Fishing Trips
Spring is an exciting time to go fishing in Michigan - steelhead, bass, cisco, lake trout, brown trout, walleye, and perch are all available in abundance in our rivers and lakes. Our expert Captains and Guides will put you on fish, providing you with the best fishing equipment to ensure you have a great time on the water. Ranging from a variety of techniques like conventional casting gear, fly fishing, trolling or jigging, Sport Fish Michigan can help set up the trip of a lifetime.
Michigan fishing with Sport Fish Michigan is an experience every angler will enjoy. Whether you're highly experienced and looking for a Captain or Guide to lead you to Michigan's best fishing locations, or a novice interested in learning how to fish from an experienced coach in a fun and relaxing atmosphere, we'll create the perfect fishing trip for you.
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Spring Fishing Species Guide - Northern Michigan
Steelhead
Smallmouth Bass
- May through into mid-November
- Peak spring fishing is early May through early July
- Inland Lakes and Grand Traverse Bays
- Typical smallmouth bite is all throughout the day
Cisco
- Late April through mid-October
- Peak spring fishing is in May and June
- Grand Traverse Bays and Lake Michigan
- Typical cisco bite is throughout the day
Lake Trout
- January to September 31, when the season closes
- Peak fishing is April throughout the summer until the season closure
- For casting and jigging, May through September is peak
- For trolling, the peak is April through September
- Grand Traverse Bays, Lake Michigan, and select inland lakes
- Typical bite is throughout the day, but early light can be excellent
Brown Trout
- Year-round on the rivers; March through May on Lake Michigan
- Peak spring fishing is early March through April
- Rivers and Lake Michigan
- Typical brown trout bite is early morning and late evening
Perch
- Year-round
- January through March; June through August; September through November
- Inland Lakes and Grand Traverse Bays
- Typical perch bite is throughout the day; bigger perch tend to be early in the morning or late in the evening
Walleye
- Great Lakes and Detroit river peak April through May
- Saginaw River February through mid-March
- Saginaw Bay May through early June
- Inland Lakes - Late April through May
- Note: There is a seasonal closure from March 15 through late April on all bodies of water except the Great Lakes and Detroit River
- Typical walleye bite is early morning and late evening into the dark, but will bite all throughout the day depending on technique and body of water
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Items Provided for Fishing Trips
- Captain or Guide with a DNR & US Coast Guard Inspected and Insured boat
- All top-of-the-line tackle and gear
- Snacks and beverages
Northern Michigan Rivers and Lakes
Rivers
Detroit River--* Not in northern Michigan
Muskegon River
Manistee River
Betsie River
Platte River
Boardman River
Au Sable River
White River
Saginaw River--*Not in northern Michigan
Lakes
Crystal Lake
Platte Lake
Long Lake
Green Lake
Duck Lake
Glen Lake
Grand Traverse Bay
Suttons Bay
Loon Lake
Portage Lake
Bear Lake
Elk Lake
Torch Lake
Spider Lake
Betsie Bay
Hamlin Lake
Lake Cadillac
Lake Mitchell
Muskegon Lake
Lower Herring Lake
Otter Lake
Lake Skegemog
Lake Leelanau
Burt Lake
Mullet Lake
Lake Michigan
Saginaw Bay
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