If you’re looking for some Spring Flings this year, as an angler you will have a tough time finding a state with more opportunities than Michigan. By “Spring Fling” I mean a fishing trip in one of our beautiful peninsulas.
Let's start in the southern zone where the spring season is home to some of the best fishing in the entire state. If you are even a relatively avid angler, you have probably tried or heard of the walleye run on the Detroit River. This annual draw is quite the event to behold. Boats from every corner of our state make the pilgrimage to the Big D to chase this fine tasting fish. April and May seem to be the heaviest months, but walleye can be caught starting in March all the way through July. Vertical jigging is the preferred method of take, but other methods are employed as well. My advice for the first timer is this: hire a guide and have them show you the ins and outs of this style of fishing. Boat control is key and with so many boats on the water it’s important to be familiar with both your equipment and the river. A quality captain to show you the way is well worth the money spent. If possible, try to set aside a couple of days for the best results, as the river and the weather can be a little temperamental this time of year.
If you’re not into walleye fishing or are simply looking to try something else, try heading west. It’s not Gold you’re looking for – its silver! Silver fish! Specifically, the coho salmon. As the shallower end of Lake Michigan starts to warm, bait fish begin to congregate in the southern portion of the lake and this triggers a push of coho salmon. It creates a great opportunity for anglers to target what is arguably the best table fare in our state. This is typically done in shallower water, meaning 30-60 feet, and done by trolling as many rods as you feel comfortable running. One word of caution, when this kind of fishing is hot, you can barely keep your rods in the water. Although these coho don’t always put a huge bend in the rod, they are almost unbeatable on the dinner table. Another fun thing about spring fishing for coho is every once in a while you can find a stray king salmon in these same waters, and those will definably put a bend in your rod!
If you’re looking to get out of southern Michigan, there are several other opportunities to the north. Although there’s a lot of water to chose from, it’s pretty hard to beat the Leelanau Peninsula. It’s a spring angler's paradise with many lakes in a relatively small area. If I had to pick one species to target, I would recommend you spend some time chasing smallmouth bass on East and West Grand Traverse Bay. If you can time your trip to when the fish are spawning, you will witness some of the most entertaining fishing that Michigan has to offer. A wacky worm, a ned rig, or a tube and a pair of good polarized glasses is all you will need for a great day on the water! These fish aren’t the best for the table but pound for pound no fish fights harder. Oh, don’t forget to leave room for some wine tasting as well!
In Michigan, there’s almost too much to choose from when it comes to spring fishing. In addition to locations mentioned above, there’s also great fishing for trout, pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, and many other species around the state. We are truly fortunate to live in such a wonderful place! Good luck, and may your Spring have a few Flings this year!
To view the spring 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.
