Finest Walleye Fishing in Michigan

The Walley fish is also called the Yellow Pike or Yellow Pickerel and is native to the Northern United States and Canada. This fish is the official state fish of Minnesota, South Dakota, and Vermont. Walley fish species are insatiable predators and all the time put up a battle when caught. This, due to this fact, makes them a preferred recreation fish.

Apart from their voracious character, walleye fish is well-liked for its nice style. The Walleye fish has a refined taste and as such lacks a robust fishy style. As an alternative, this fish has a evenly candy style when cooked. This fish additionally has comparatively fewer bones than most fish and presents a passable quantity of meat.

The truth that there’s hardly any restaurant in North America that doesn’t have Walleye fish on its menu is proof of how well-liked it’s.

The state of Michigan has a number of spots with excessive populations of Walleye fish. We’ve got compiled a listing of one of the best walleye fishing spots in Michigan on this article. So, whether or not you need to fish the walleye fish for sport or to take pleasure in their distinctive style, we all know this record will turn out to be useful.

Hubbard Lake

</

This Lake is situated between Alpena and Harrisville in Alcona County. It covers 8850 acres and has a protracted historical past of being a fantastic spot for catching Walleye fish. This lake has solely had one human intervention in 1991 when it was planted to extend the fish inhabitants. From that point, the lake has not been planted once more, and the Walleye inhabitants is sustained by means of pure copy.

The Walleye fish in Hubbard Lake has a fantastic age construction, reaching as much as 12-year-old fish.

As a result of Hubbard Lake has clear water, catching Walleye fish on this lake may be onerous. It is because the fish are inclined to desire deep waters to assist conceal themselves. Two nice fishing spots in Hubbard Lake are Churchill Level or Physician Level. Publish-spawn exercise is excessive earlier on within the season in these two fishing spots. This will increase anglers’ probabilities of having a fantastic catch.

Utilizing completely different fishing methods throughout completely different seasons will aid you along with your catch. For instance, you must use jigs with reside bait through the post-spawn season. Use trolling crankbaits throughout Summer season and drift utilizing slip bobbers with leeches at night time. You can too use a jig head with a leech on its head or a harness with an air-inflated crawler that has an orange blade.

Make certain to make use of a planner board to take the lures from the boat. This may assist forestall spooking the Walleye fish.

Gun Lake

Gun Lake is comparatively smaller than different lakes and covers 2680 acres. This lake is generally often called a preferred leisure spot in Barry County. Even so, this lake is a superb inland lake for Walleye fishing and solely requires you to regulate to the leisure actions.

For instance, you’ll be able to strive beating vacationers early within the morning earlier than they interact of their leisure actions. You additionally stand a greater probability of catching Walleyes in Gun Lake when you begin fishing at dawn. Nice fishing spots to contemplate are Hasting’s and Murphy’s Factors that are on the heart of the Lake.

Robbin’s Bay on the Southwest level within the northwest a part of Gun Lake could be very deep and has a relentless provide of Walleye fish at noon. You can too get a superb catch when you fish at night time when the Walleye fish are extra relaxed and out to hunt.

Efficient fishing strategies to make use of in Gun Lake embrace trolling and casting utilizing spinners and crankbaits.

Lake Gogebic

This lake covers 12,800 acres and is the most important of all Higher Peninsula Lakes. The expansive water of this lake presents stunning surroundings in addition to a fantastic fishing spot.  Lake Gogebic has by no means had a stocking of Walleye fish. It is because the construction, weeds, and sands on the backside of this lake favor the pure copy of Walleye fish.

It’s best to strive fishing within the jap facet of the lake through the early season and within the drop-offs or weedy areas throughout Summer season. In the course of the post-spawn season which happens after Could 15^th, Walleye frequent many of the lake’s bays through the day.

The sides of new-growth weeds on the Northern level of the lake are additionally good fishing factors for Walleyes.

Most traditional fishing strategies will work when you’re catching Walleye fish through the post-spawning season. It is because these fish are low vitality following excessive spawning actions and don’t battle again as a lot.

In case you’re angling at night time, strive shallow sandy bottoms the place the Walleyes are searching for meals. Probably the most acceptable fishing technique to make use of at the moment is long-lining or casting with crankbaits. Yow will discover Walleyes in a lot alongside the perimeters of weedy deep holes and rocky drop-offs in Summer season. In case you’re fishing at these factors, you must use jigs with minnows, leeches, or crawlers on the tip.

North Lake Leelanau

Though each the Leelanau lakes are nice fishing factors for Walleye fish, North Lake Leelanau has a bigger inhabitants of this fish. It is because, not like its counterpart, North Lake Leelanau has higher spawning circumstances and quite a few protein-rich weeds. In consequence, the Walleyes on this lake multiply extra and are bigger.

A terrific fishing level early within the season within the southern a part of this lake the place you’ll find Walleyes in sloping flats. Walleye fish will also be present in open water in Summer season. One tip is to comply with rainbow smelt fish as Walleye prey on them.

Anglers on this lake desire trolling with 1- or 2-ounce warms and spinners. You can too strive utilizing ¼, 1/8- or 1/16-ounce jigs with minnows. The latter method is best when you come throughout a big pocket of those fish.

Holloway Reservoir

Not like many of the lakes on this record, Holloway Reservoir is a man-made lake. It covers 2000 acres and is situated northwest of Lapeer County and northeast of Genesee County. This lake is a well-liked Walleye fishing level because it has conducive circumstances that favor the copy and progress of the fish.

Apart from a superb construction, this lake has sufficient baitfish and weeds, river channels, turbid water, and flats. All these components make Holloway Reservoir have extra Walleyes than any inland lake within the State of Michigan.

Nice fishing factors on this lake embrace the southern a part of Mt Morris Highway Bridge or the perimeters of the channels on the western a part of the lake.

Longline trolling is a well-liked fishing technique amongst anglers on this lake however you should utilize different strategies too. For instance, you should utilize stick baits, rattles on lures, or light-weight jigs. Your alternative of fishing technique will rely on the season and the region of the fish you’re angling at.

Portage Lake

This lake covers 2110 acres and is present in Onekama Township, Manistee County. Though it’s shallower than most lakes in Michigan, Portage Lake produces one of many largest and heaviest Walleye fish within the State. That is attributed to the truth that the lake has considerable forage and vegetation cowl that provides the fish with loads of meals.

The forage and construction of this lake additionally supply the Walleyes safety from anglers, thus, permitting them to develop massive. The vegetation on this lake additionally makes it onerous to navigate and fish with ease. As such, you might want to be affected person and skillful when you select to fish for Walleyes in Portage Lake.

Use a robust, 7- or 9-foot fishing rod and a jig with a crawler or leech on the tip. You can too strive fishing early within the morning or late within the night. Throughout these occasions, use a slip bobber with a leech on the hook and pitch it within the weedy pockets the place Walleye fish search for meals.

Mullet Lake

This lake covers 17,000 acres and is the fifth largest lake within the State of Michigan. Walleyes are a preferred alternative for anglers on this lake as they’re each quite a few and enormous. Walleye fish present in Mullet Lake can develop as much as 15 to twenty inches and may weigh as much as 10 kilos.

A terrific space to search out Walleyes on this lake is drop-offs with gravel bottoms through the post-spawning season. That is often on the final Saturday of April. Because the seasons change from Spring to Summer season, the Walleyes have a tendency to maneuver to the reefs, often on the Western finish of the lake.

You can begin fishing for lively Walleyes by trolling or casting minnows or crankbaits into the reefs. Begin on the backside and work your manner up for suspended Walleyes. The suspended Walleyes are usually much less aggressive and bigger as they feed on alewives, smelt, and ciscoes. So, you would possibly need to goal the suspended Walleyes somewhat than the underside dwellers.

You can too strive angling utilizing jigs with leeches or crawlers, single blade spinners, and crawler harnesses.

Houghton Lake

This lake covers 20,044 acres and is the most important lake in Michigan. Though this lake attracts a good variety of leisure boating and actions, its expansive waters permit anglers to fish with little interference.

Not like Holloway Reservoir, this lake solely has weeds and construction to keep up the Walleye inhabitants. As such, you will see that many of the Walleye fish in dense pockets of this lake.

Throughout post-spawning season, often on the final Saturday of April, you’ll be able to simply catch Walleyes in shallow waters. This season is, nonetheless, characterised by a rise within the progress of weeds which make it onerous to fish. It’s best to, due to this fact, benefit from the season earlier than the weeds grow to be too tall.

It’s best to use the trolling method to fish for Walleyes when the weed continues to be brief. When utilizing this technique, use in-line boards to maneuver the lure from the boat.

As soon as the weeds get taller and thicker you must change to pitching and jigging hooks with leeches utilizing a slip-bobber. You will have to be extra affected person and have extra prowess when fishing in thick weed pockets

Kent Lake

</

This can be a reservoir lake that covers 1200 acres and is situated in principally Oakland County and partly in Livingston County. Though it is a artifical lake, Kent Lake is the second most fished lake in Michigan. Even so, this lake continues to have a surplus provide of Walleye fish. This is because of boating insurance policies and restrictions.

Most anglers choose to fish on the lake’s river channel the place the Walleyes are usually in a lot.

Probably the most acceptable angling strategies to make use of on this lake embrace jigging with minnows and crawlers. You may change to spinning rigs, metallic spinners, and worms because the season advances.

Burt Lake

This lake covers 17,120 acres and is situated in Cheboygan County, Michigan. The Walleye fish on this lake are sustained by means of pure copy and may develop as much as 18 inches in size. Though this lake doesn’t supply the best variety of Walleyes, anglers won’t ever miss making a catch.

Nice factors to fish on this lake embrace the shallow waters of Bullhead Bay and Maple Bay. You can too discover Walleyes close to the Sturgeon and Indian Rivers and the Colonial Level.

Trolling is one of the best fishing method to make use of in Burt Lake.

Huge Manistique Lake

Also called the Nice Manistique, this lake covers 10,130 acres and among the many largest lakes within the Higher Peninsula. Though this lake sometimes receives small crops, the Walleye inhabitants within the lake is sustained by means of pure copy.

The Walleyes in Huge Manistique Lake presents smaller fish in comparison with different lakes. Even so, the fish may be discovered nearly wherever within the lake.incontent_12 –>

You may catch Walleyes on this lake by drifting or trolling utilizing half crawlers or backside bouncers.

Suggestions for Fishing the Walleye

Like every sport price its title, fishing for Walleyes requires a tactful strategy. Listed below are a number of suggestions we hope will assist along with your subsequent Walleye catch;

1. Examine the lake’s structure to grasp the place you find excessive populations of fish.
2. Select an acceptable time of the day and season to fish for Walleyes.
3. At all times have acceptable fishing gear.
4. Select a fishing technique based mostly on the construction of the lake, the conduct of Walleyes within the lake, time of the day, and season.