Early Spring Fishing on Lake Michigan

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If you’re getting cabin fever and looking for something to get you out of the house, why not try some early spring fishing on Lake Michigan? With the winter ice all but gone, the shores of the lake are heating up both literaly and figuratively. And although some days can still be quite nasty out, there are often some really nice days sprinkled in. So here are a couple of ways you can get out and take advantage of some of what Lake Michigan has to offer this time of year.

Before we get into it, just a quick word of warning. Lake Michigan is very cold this time of year and there are not nearly as many boats out to help you if you get into trouble. So be sure that you don’t go alone and that you have good communication in the event of an emergency. And as always, make sure all of your boat’s safety gear is up to par. With that said, let’s get into it!

Pier Fishing

Once the ice is clear, you’re almost certain to find anglers on almost any given pier or jetty on the nicer days. These anglers are often chasing steelhead, espeicially on piers that are at the mouths of major tributary rivers.

Using fresh spawn is usually the bait of choice either suspended under a bobber or drifting near the bottom. The bottom rig typically consists of a pyramid weight sliding on the mainline, a barrel swivel, a 3-6′ leader and finally, a hook with the spawn bag. The spawn bag here should have a few foam beads mixed in to provide buoyancy and keep the spawn off the bottom.

Another common method of pier fishing is casting spoons. Little Cleo’s or other heavy spoons of various colors and glow-in-the-dark varieties are thrown around these pierheads to attract steelhead and young salmon looking for an easy meal.

Trolling the Beaches

If you have a boat, another popular way to enjoy a nice late winter day is to troll for salmon & trout along the beaches. And when I say beaches, I mean it. This time of year, the fish come very close to shore to take advantage of alewives and other bait fish that are concentrating in these warming waters.

It is not uncommon to to find fish in less than 20 FOW during late winter/early spring time period and once you find a pattern, you will often find a fast limit. And if you like salmon, these are sure to be some of the best tasting you will ever eat.

Perch Fishing

And last, but certainly not least, is the phenomenal perch fishery that the southern part of the lake has to offer.

But be aware that unlike some of the other perch hotspots in the Great Lakes, such as the western basin of Lake Erie or Lake St. Clair, perch in Lake Michigan can sometimes be found quite deep. And when I say deep, 70′ is not uncommon.

When fish are found at this depth, especially when the water is cold, the bite can be very difficult to detect. It is advised to use braided line in these instances as it’s low-stretch characteristics will telegraph the bite to the rod much better.

Whatever you choose to do on Lake Michigan during late winter and early spring, it’s sure to be the cure for your cabin fever.