Best Places for Pier Fishing in Michigan 2017
While Michigan has enough lakes to accommodate virtually any size boat, fishing isn’t just for those out on the open water. From Lake Michigan to Lake St. Clair to Lake Superior, and just about everywhere in between, our state also boasts a plethora of pier and shore fishing destinations that can be as cast-friendly as they are fishing-friendly. to fish.
Muskegon is home to many piers for visitors and residents. Early morning or afternoon, about two hours before sunset, are usually the ideal times to fish at Muskegon Pier or Muskegon Lake. Bluegill, bass, and walleye are the most rewarding catches, and most of them can be caught with nothing more than earthworms in the summer months.
Brighton has a location known for its fishing pier on Mill Pond, right downtown. Some fishermen friends tell me that the perfect place to get in on the action is on the boardwalk near City Hall. Catfish, bigmouth, bluegill, and even a turtle can grace your line if you’re working live bait.
Houghton is home to Otter Lake Dam, which offers great bank fishing. On a good day, you’ll find that the locals are thronging from the walkway to the dam. All kinds of fish are caught here, from bass to bluegill, trout and pike, usually with minnows or synthetic baits.
Alpena experienced one of the region’s first fishing villages on Thunder Bay Island, and fishing has always been one of the area’s specialties. The Thunder Bay River, which runs directly through town, offers distinctive fishing for trout and other shoreline species as it moves away from downtown. But you don’t have to stay in that neighborhood to get a good bite. Just a quick trip south and you’ll find Hubbard Lake, home to perch, bass, pike and more, which has become a hotspot for family vacations with pier fishing at campgrounds.
Leelanau might be one of the best areas in Michigan to fish for walleye. The docks and shoreline of Lake Shore Drive, along the area of Lake Leelanau called The Narrows, have been a hotbed for walleye after implantation in 2012. The lake is self-sustaining and a perfect habitat for walleye, because of the abundance of perforations and insects. In this place, using crankbaits and stickbaits on summer evenings almost ensures a catch.
Clare is one of the more inland options, but what it may lack in access to the Great Lakes it makes up for with excellent shore and pier fishing. Being close to a college community, there are plenty of new anglers testing the waters off the shores. Deerfield Park, just off the M20, offers a system of ponds and rivers that are open year-round for crappie, walleye, bass and pike.