There are so many awesome fishing destinations on Lake Michigan and you can find them listed below by state.
Illinois
Winthrop Harbor, IL
Winthrop Harbor is a village in Lake County, Illinois. It has a population of just under 7,000 people. Winthrop Harbor is located along the northern border of Illinois and is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is a popular harbor for fishing out on Lake Michigan.
Waukegan, IL
Waukegan is the most populous city in and the county seat of Lake County, Illinois. This city is an industrial suburb about 36 miles north of downtown Chicago. This is a very popular place to fish out on Lake Michigan. You will have plenty of fishing charters that operate out of Waukegan and many anglers take their boats out of Waukegan as well.
Chicago, IL
Chicago is a major city that is full of people, entertainment, sports, tons of restaurants and a beautiful lakefront. There are several places to launch a boat from downtown, however, this is a very populated area. You are most likely going to deal with plenty of traffic and just lots of people in general in the downtown area. When trailering your boat, it is much easier to get around this town in the early mornings on the weekends. Fishing is good within the city limits for salmon and trout. At times, you can also experience very good fishing for smallmouth bass and perch. You will find other fish here too such as northern pike, largemouth bass, carp and more.
Indiana
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana. The city is located along Lake Michigan and it is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the only city in Indiana to border Chicago. Anglers target salmon and trout mostly in this part of the lake, but you may also catch smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, perch, northern pike and more.
Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City is on the south shore of Lake Michigan in Indiana. There is plenty here to keep you busy with the Old Lighthouse Museum, Washington Park Zoo and Washington Park, which is home to a beach. Combine that with the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan and this is a great destination for getting on the water in northern Indiana. Anglers target salmon and trout mostly in this part of the lake, but you may also catch smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, perch, northern pike and more.
Portage, Indiana
Portage is a city in Portage County, Indiana. It is on the border with Lake County. The population is right around 38,000 people. It is the largest city in Porter County and the 3rd largest in Northwest Indiana. Anglers target salmon and trout mostly in this part of the lake, but you may also catch smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, perch, northern pike and more.
Michigan
Bays de Noc, MI
The Bays de Noc area covers over 200 miles of shoreline in the southwestern part of the Upper Peninsula. There are beautiful sand beaches to go along with many places to stay, good food and excellent fishing. The area is comprised of three cities and towns, all situated on the shores of Little Bay de Noc – Escanaba, Gladstone and Rapid River.
Charlevoix, MI
The Charlevoix Area is a gorgeous area with plenty of water as the town of Charlevoix sits on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, Lake Charlevoix and Round Lake. It has been named one of “America’s Prettiest Towns” by Forbes, the second “Best Yachting Towns in the World” by Yachting magazine and the “Best Area for a Vacation Home” by Detroit Home Magazine. This is an outstanding destination for planning a vacation or weekend getaway. The fishing is also very good here for a variety of different fish.
Douglas & Saugatuck, MI
Saugatuck and Douglas are harbor villages that offer its visitors an excellent vacation getaway. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, this area has plenty to do such as art galleries, golf, fishing, boating and much more. This area is a popular fishing vacation destination and there are plenty of fishing charters available to help you fill a limit of salmon and trout.
Frankfort, MI
Frankfort, Michigan is a small town located within Benzie County. The city sits on the shores of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Betsie River. This area has some beautiful scenery with sandy beaches, high bluffs, some clean lakes inland and natural rivers.
Glen Arbor, MI
Glen Arbor is home to Big and Little Glen Lakes and miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan. It’s a beautiful area and there is plenty of outdoor recreation in this small coastal town. Anglers have a lot of options when it comes to fishing. Stay on the inland lakes or go fish Lake Michigan. Either way, the fishing can be very good in this area.
Grand Haven, MI
Grand Haven is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named. This area has plenty for its visitors with attractions, festivals & events, parks, beaches, shopping, dining and some excellent fishing. You will also find plenty of lodging options here as well.
Holland, MI
Holland is a coastal city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It is home to Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, institutions of the Reformed Church in America. This area is beautiful with Lake Michigan, Lake Macatawa and Holland State Park. Outdoor recreation is very popular here with some excellent salmon and trout fishing too.
Mackinaw City, MI
Mackinaw City is located on the “Straits of Mackinac.” The Mackinaw Area offers an abundance of things to do for the entire family. This is a beautiful area and a popular summer vacation destination for many families.
The waters around Mackinaw City are home to a variety of salmon and trout. Chinook salmon, Atlantic salmon, steelhead and lake trout are the species of fish that anglers target regularly by trolling this area. It is also popular to fish around the Mackinaw island, which is located just to the northeast of Mackinaw City. There are several fishing charters available also to help put you on some fish.
Manistee, MI
Manistee County is located on Lake Michigan, a part of northwestern Michigan. Historic Manistee, the Victorian port city, is the county seat, and it features a riverwalk running through downtown to Lake Michigan. The coastline villages include Onekama, Arcadia, Bear Lake, Copemish, Kaleva, Brethren, and Wellston. This area offers so much for people that enjoy the being around the water. Fishing, boating, beaches and plenty of accommodations, restaurants and shops make this a popular tourist destination in Michigan.
Salmon and trout are the primary species of fish in this area for most anglers. With Lake Michigan here and some very good river fishing available, it’s easy to forget about the other game fish here. Anglers can also catch walleye, big pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, muskie and a variety of panfish.
Manistique, MI
Manistique is located in the Upper Peninsula near the Bay de Noc area. It’s not a large city, but it is located on the shores of Lake Michigan and this area is popular for tourism. This area is home to “The Big Spring” which is the largest in Michigan. It’s over 40 feet deep and 16,000 gallons of clear water gush per minute. The water is crystal clear and there are tons of trout that call this area home. It’s a cool place to see.
Muskegon, MI
Muskegon is a decent-sized city that is known as a popular summer tourist destination in Michigan. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake, people come here to fish, boat and just enjoy the outdoors. The Muskegon River is also a huge attraction here since it’s one of the better fishing rivers in the state for salmon, trout and smallmouth bass.
New Buffalo, MI
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Pentwater, MI
Pentwater is a village in Oceana County. It’s a small community, but it offers people a nice place to get away and enjoy the outdoors away from the crowds. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan and Pentwater Lake, there is plenty to do here for those of you that enjoy being out on the water.
South Haven, MI
South Haven is located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Black River. This is a popular port city with plenty of outdoor recreation such as boating, fishing, golfing shopping and more. This area is known for its excellent salmon and trout fishing.
St. Joseph, MI
St. Joseph lies on the shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, which is around 90 miles east-northeast of Chicago. This is a very popular port for fishing with good numbers of salmon and trout being caught here throughout the fishing season. The St. Joseph River gets some excellent spawning runs from spring through fall for a variety of species such as steelhead, salmon, smallmouth bass and brown trout.
Traverse City, MI
Traverse City is located at the bottom of Grand Traverse Bay. The bay is part of Lake Michigan and it is 32 miles long, 10 miles wide and up to 620 feet deep in some spots. It is divided into two arms by the Old Mission Peninsula. Traverse City is the main town on the bay and this is a very popular tourist area. Plan on finding many restaurants, shops, accommodations and and some awesome scenery around the water.
This area offers some outstanding fishing for lake trout, salmon and smallmouth bass. Most anglers come here for the smallmouth bass fishing because it is truly amazing. You will find tons of bass in the 2 to 3 pound range and bass in the 4 to 5 pound range are possible with bigger fish here caught too. There are also some inland lakes close by which gives you some options when the bay is too rough on windy days.
Wisconsin
Algoma, WI
The Algoma port is known for its excellent fishing for salmon and trout. This port isn’t as popular as some of the other destinations in Wisconsin, but there are several fishing charters available and the fishing is very good here.
Door County, WI
Rated as one of the top ten vacation destinations in America, Door County has so much to offer. With hundreds of miles of scenic shoreline, there are numerous recreational opportunities in this area. From swimming on the beaches, shopping, dining, hiking, sight-seeing, boating or fishing, Door County has something here for everyone.
Door County is known for having a great salmon and trout fishery as well as being one of the top smallmouth bass destinations in the country. Walleye, northern pike and perch are also plentiful making this area an unbelievable place for fishing. With all of the different opportunities, you might catch your personal record for a variety of species all in one vacation.
Green Bay, WI
The town of Green Bay is a great town for people who enjoy the outdoors. It is a good-sized city, but not overwhelmingly big. You will find plenty to do here whether you want to find a good restaurant, hit up a farmer’s market, enjoy some of the culture in the city or spend some time at the amusement park.
For anglers, the southern part of the bay is known for its amazing walleye fishery. The water is much murkier in this part of the bay, so the water isn’t as beautiful as it is up in nearby Door County. However, the excellent fishing makes up for it. Besides the walleye, anglers target huge muskie out in the bay, perch, northern pike and smallmouth bass. The Fox River is also here and it provides some very good fishing in the spring and fall months.
Kenosha, WI
Kenosha, Wisconsin is known for its excellent salmon and trout fishing. Kenosha is a popular port for fishing. You will find many fishing charters that operate out of Kenosha. Anglers catch chinook salmon, coho salmon, brown trout, steelhead and lake trout in the Lake Michigan waters out of Kenosha. In the fall, big numbers of salmon and trout will move into the harbor and then up Pike Creek to spawn. There are several spots to fish from shore here and some anglers will ice fish in the harbor for brown trout and steelhead all winter long.
Kewaunee, WI
The Kewaunee area isn’t as popular of a port as some of the other destinations in Wisconsin, but for the people that live up in this area, they get to enjoy a beautiful part of Lake Michigan.
In this area, there are several fishing charters here and the fishing is good for salmon and trout from spring through fall. The Kewaunee River also offers some good fishing during the annual spawning runs. Come here with your own boat or use a charter. Either way, there is some very good fishing out of Kewaunee.
Marinette County, WI
Anglers have a lot of options for catching quality-sized fish of so many different species here. Whether you launch your boat out of the marinas on the lake or the boat ramps in the rivers below the dams, you have a lot of water to fish here and the fishing can be outstanding at times.
The bay is home to so many different species of fish and so many huge fish that fishing the bay can be very appealing. However, the Marinette area attracts so many fish due to the 2 major rivers here that are spawning rivers for so many different fish. While you have a good stretch of fishing in the spring and the fall, the summer can be a lot tougher since the fish aren’t congregated here as well as they are in the spring and fall. Some anglers do fish the offshore waters out of Marinette in the summer, but most of the guides and charters will move into the Marinette area during the peak runs and then back out to other areas during the summer. The walleye and muskie guys will spend a lot of time in lower Green Bay in the summer and the bass guys will spend a lot of time in the Sturgeon Bay. Consistently catching fish here in the bay is definitely a timing thing, but you can catch fish out here in the summer too. Walleye, bass & perch will usually be the targets in the offshore waters of Green Bay in the summer.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee is one of the most popular ports for salmon & trout fishing on Lake Michigan. There is a nice charter fleet that operates out of downtown Milwaukee. Tons of people come here to fish Lake Michigan’s waters from spring through fall for chinook salmon, coho salmon, brown trout, steelhead and lake trout. In the past 10 years or so, Milwaukee has also become of the most popular ports for targeting big brown trout and steelhead during the winter months.
Oconto County, WI
Green Bay is home to some excellent fishing and Oconto County is right in the middle of the it. This area is home to some excellent walleye fishing, but anglers will also catch smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, perch and more.
Anglers are close to some awesome fishing out in the bay in Oconto County. The rivers helped attract fish in the spring and fall, so anglers target the mouths of these rivers mostly for walleye, but other fish too. The lower part of Green Bay is known for its excellent walleye and muskie fishing. During the summer, the fish aren’t as easy to find since they won’t re congregated near the rivers. However, the open water fishing can be very good if have the boat to handle these waters. Anglers usually cover lots of water by trolling for walleye out in the bay during the summer. When you find schools of fish related to structure, then you can break out the jigs and other bottom rigs to fish vertical or drift for walleye, perch and some smallmouth bass too.
Port Washington, WI
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Racine, WI
Racine, Wisconsin is known for its excellent salmon and trout fishing. The Root River gets a lot of attention here in the spring and fall. There are plenty of fishing charters that operate out of Racine. Anglers catch chinook salmon, coho salmon, brown trout, steelhead and lake trout in the Lake Michigan waters out of Racine. In the fall, big numbers of salmon and trout will move into the harbor and then up into the Root River to spawn. Anglers do fish from shore in this area and some will ice fish for brown trout all winter long right in the harbor.
Sheboygan, WI
Sheboygan is a decent-sized city located on the shores of Lake Michigan. This isn’t really a popular vacation destination, but it is a popular day trip for anglers looking to get into some good fishing.
Salmon & trout fishing is very good here from spring through fall and there are many fishing charters that can help put you on some fish. The Sheboygan River gets a good run of fish in the spring and the fall, so shore anglers can experience some good fishing in the river.
Two Rivers / Manitowoc, WI
Manitowoc & Two Rivers are 2 small towns located on the shores of Lake Michigan. These port towns aren’t very popular fishing vacation destinations, but they are good destinations for a day trip. Most people that come here to fish for the day will be from Wisconsin.
The Manitowoc & Two Rivers area is home to several fishing charters and some very good fishing for salmon and trout on Lake Michigan. The area rivers will also hold fish in the spring and fall as they migrate up the rivers. The fall run will be bigger as many species of salmon and trout will move up the rivers to spawn.
