There is a wide variety of fishing available in the state of Michigan.
When the ice on the nearby lakes finally melts, anglers get a case of spring fever and start fantasizing about fishing in open water. It doesn’t matter whether you’re after steelhead, panfish, walleyes, or even suckers; the spring fishing season in Michigan often features some of the greatest catches of the year.
Spring is Fishing Time in Michigan
The most important thing to do is time to get out all of the fishing gear, do an inventory, clean it up, remove any trash from the tackle box, and, of course, sharpen the hooks.
You may want to think about switching the line on all of your reels. There is a possibility that this endeavor may set you back a lot of money, but it will be money well spent. Think of using some of the more modern kinds of lines. It has been said that Fireline is one of the greatest braided lines and that it can last for a very long period without needing to be replaced. If you haven’t done so before, you should experiment with some of the new solar lines. These make it so that the line is less visible under the surface of the water and seem to have less stretch in them. Make sure that you spool the line in accordance with the parameters provided by the reel manufacturer. In other words, you shouldn’t use a reel that’s intended to handle lines ranging from 2 to 6 pounds test on a 12-pound reel. It is a smart move to load as many different line sizes as possible onto as many different reels as you can. Because of this, you will be able to fish with the rod, reel, and line that are most suited for the species you are trying to catch.
Maintaining poles is not as challenging as some other structures. Check the guides to see if they have been twisted in any way, and make sure the wrapping is as snug as possible. Check to ensure that the reel seats are securely attached to the handle. In addition to this, it is a smart move to apply a little amount of WD40 or another material of a similar nature to the ferrules and the shafts of fiberglass rods.
Examine the contents of your tackle box. You should clean those older lures and make sure the hooks are as sharp as possible. When it comes to cleaning spoons and spinner blades, a little window cleaner goes a long way. Additionally, it may assist in the cleansing of body baits. Your tackle box should have your tackle organized into sections that will be of service to you. Maintain order by collecting all of your spoons. Maintain order in all of your jigs, etc. You may also organize lures according to the species that they are designed to catch. In other words, you should group your bass baits together in the same section of your tackle box and your walleye baits together in a separate section.
What Kind of Fish Are in Michigan?
It is time to go fishing at this point. But where should one fish, and what kind of fish should one look for?
In the spring, many anglers like going for suckers as their primary quarry. When smoked, this normally bony fish may make for delicious cuisine for the table. Getting a hold of a sucker isn’t too difficult, and you can do it just about anyplace. The springtime is when these fish make their migrations upstream to spawn, and you may find them in the same places as steelhead do. In addition to this, there is a multitude of additional streams that are home to excellent sucker runs.
Suckers are fish that feed on the sediment at the bottom of the water column and may be caught with any presentation that is fished on the bottom. You may try fishing with a three-way rig that has a short dropper tied to a large sinker. Worms and crawlers are the most effective baits for catching one of these whistle-nosed fish. It’s also possible to catch fish on wigglers, wax worms, or solitary salmon eggs. The majority of anglers just throw their heavy sinker rigs out into an area that seems to be deeper, pull the line taut, and then place their poles in a rod holder or a “Y” stick. Relax and take in the warm sunlight of spring, but keep an eye out for even the tiniest touch on the rod tip.
The exceptional steelhead fishing in Michigan is well-known among fishermen who take their sport seriously. Although it is possible to fish for steelhead in rivers without wearing waders or fishing from a boat, the vast majority of anglers choose to fish for steelhead while wearing waders. There are a variety of techniques that may be used to fish for these silver hammers. Some of the more effective methods are casting spinners, using wigglers or flies, or drifting spawn. A noodle rod, which is a longer rod that can preserve a lighter line and is favored by most serious steelhead fishermen, is the favorite weapon of most steelhead anglers. These poles, which range in length from nine to twelve feet, are able to safeguard lightweight lines. Anglers targeting steelhead often fish with lines rated between six and eight pounds breaking strength and use leaders weighing between four and six pounds.
Panfish often begin their reproductive cycle in the spring. All three species of panfish spawn in the spring: perch, crappie, and bluegills, in that order. All around the shorelines of the Great Lakes and in some of the rivers that pour into the Great Lakes, anglers may catch perch by using minnows or wigglers as bait. They may also be caught in the lakes that are found inland. It seems that crappies and even perch are more likely to spawn in smaller creeks or canals that are located away from the main body of water. During the spring, these man-made canals may serve as magnets for panfish.
Walleyes are another popular species to pursue throughout the spring for fishers. Walleyes may still be pursued as legal targets in the Great Lakes and the waterways that link to them, despite the fact that the season on inland waters won’t start until the last Saturday of April in the Lower Peninsula and the 15th of May in the Upper Peninsula. It’s likely safe to say that the Detroit River is both the most well-known and reliable source of spring walleyes. The most effective technique for catching these fish is vertical jigging with a three-quarter ounce jig that is topped with either a big minnow, a twister tail, a plastic worm, or any combination of these three. The most important thing is to make use of your engine so that your boat does not drift ahead of the stream.
Walleyes may also be captured by trolling near the mouths of rivers or from the piers that surround the major lakes. It would seem that these fish are following the migration patterns of the smelt. After nightfall is when you’ll have the most success fishing. Casting Countdown Rapalas or Thundersticks from the end of the pier is one of the most straightforward approaches to catching these fish. Be careful to let your bait sink to the bottom of the water before beginning your retrieve, and go very slowly. The fish may be enticed into striking with just the slightest of movements. When fishing throughout the night, chartreuse, fire tiger, or gold-colored lures seem to be the most effective. Use blue/silver, rainbow trout, or other lighter-colored lures while fishing on evenings with more ambient light.
Surf’s Up for Steelhead, Brown Trout, and Salmon
The current trend toward warmer temperatures encouraged more people to go fishing. Steelhead, Brown Trout, and even Salmon may be caught in the Great Lakes via the increasingly common practice of surf fishing, which is gaining in popularity.
Anglers that fish from the surf toss spawn bags or other offerings as far as they can while wading as far out into the lake as they can. The goal here is to get the bait through the first sandbar and if at all possible, the second as well. After that, the fisherman makes his way back to the shoreline and positions the fishing rod in a holder fashioned out of PVC pipe and rebar. After that, the fisherman may kick back, relax, and keep an eye on their rods.
Sunset over the BeachSurf fisherman is required to bring just the gear they will utilize throughout their trip. A couple of pyramid sinkers, some treble or spawn bag hooks in sizes 6 or 8, a few barrel swivels, and of course, your bait are all you need to get started. Your surf fishing essentials are not complete without a chair that folds up and rod holders. There are instances when casting spoons, fresh smelt, or alewives, or even utilizing casting spoons, might be more rewarding than using spawn. It is not the appropriate time of year to be wearing conventional beach attire, so make sure that you dress warmly.
We wish you the best of success with your spring fishing, and if you land a monster fish, be sure to send us an email with a photo attached so that we may post it on the Bragging Board.