If you are looking to get in on some spectacular fishing then Lake Huron or Hubbard Lake should be a consideration this year. Located in the northeast corner of the beautiful Lower Peninsula, this destination is worth your time to plan a vacation to come and explore. A unique small city with a shipwreck theme, Alpena is home to Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary located on the waters of Lake Huron. This 4,300 square mile area encompasses more than 200 shipwrecks that you can fish near or visit on the glass bottom boat and is the only freshwater marine sanctuary of its kind. Visiting the NOAA building is worth your time if you are vacationing here.
Lake Huron
Alpena County’s Lake Huron shoreline offers some of the best fishing that Michigan has to offer. Numerous species of readily biting fish make this a unique and amazing fishing destination. Alpena and Rockport offer access to the most consistent fishing on the sunrise side of the state. Being located on the East shore of the mitten offers shelter from the prevailing westerlies that can create some bumpy seas that are often associated with Great Lakes fishing. Most mornings have glass calm waters which make for a very enjoyable time chasing some trophy class fish located here.
Many of the trips on the big water result in a mixed bag of trout and salmon with walleye mixed in. Catching four species on a single trip gives you the “Huron Slam!” On more than one occasion, we have landed five and six species during a trip. Walleye, steelhead, lake trout, coho, chinook, and atlantic salmon make up most of the catches. Fishing the areas of Thunder Bay itself, Rockport’s Nordmeer wreck and off the point of False Presque Isle are the best locations all spring and summer. These spots hold fish in shallower water during spring and then move deeper as the summer progresses and the water temperature warms up.
To catch a mixed bag of species, it is important to run lures throughout the water column. Having lures up high (shallow) and running them progressively deeper nearer the boat will present lures to different species. Spoons set behind a planer board with a 1-2 ounce bead-and-chain sinker will target steelhead, walleye ,and atlantic salmon. Run these all summer on the furthest planer board from the boat. To target mid-depths, copper and lead core lines off boards are hard to beat. I run copper because it requires less line (1/2) of the amount of line that lead needs to achieve the same depth. To target the deepest fish, Dipsy Divers and downriggers will give you the best lure presentations.
This side of the state can be a bit tougher to get on the bite. I have found Flintstone spoons will get you more strikes consistently. A variety of bright colored, flashy spoons will give you lots of steady action. Don’t be afraid to try magnum spoons even though the bait fish are smaller. The extra flash and vibration will trigger many fish. Trolling speeds from 2-2.5 mph seem to work best for all species.
June and July offers some incredible walleye action. Saginaw Bay walleyes head north in search of food after spawning. These larger fish start showing up in late May and are often targeted in Thunder Bay during the evening or after dark trolling stick baits in 8-20’ of water. July and August can be a great daytime crawler harness bite. Fish are generally caught in 20’-30’ range with either snap weights or bottom bouncers. This crawler bite is not just happening in Thunder Bay, fishing also can be great off the port of Rockport just outside the drop-offs.
Hubbard Lake
This is a lake that is near and dear to my heart as I’ve been fishing it for over 25 years. Spanning 8,850 acres with a maximum depth of 85’, Hubbard can yield great catches of walleye and bass throughout the year. Three of the best times to target fish are early season, late summer, and first ice.
Opener through May
Walleye are generally staged in shallower water out to 15’ of water. The fish have just finished spawning and remain in the shallow areas of the lake feeding in the cold, shallow water. This time of year is primarily a night time bite with very few fish caught during the day. Try using stick baits such as Husky Jerks and Rattlin’ Rogues behind planer boards at 1.5-1.9 mph.
Late Summer
The deep bite is on! Fish head out to escape the heat, suspending themselves 30-40’ down in about 60’-70’ of water. Target your lures around the baitfish hanging out around the thermocline. Short and fast wiggling cranks such as hot-n-tots, Ripshads, and even Shad Raps will get you into the fish. To get them down to the fish, use 2, 3, or 4 oz. Off-Shore snapweights behind planar boards. Tattle flags are very helpful in detecting some of light biting smaller fish that fill this lake as well.
Smallmouth are very common throughout the lake all summer long. They can be caught in the shallows around the entire lake. Fish tend to primarily feed on rusty crayfish and will hit well in 5’-10’ of water on many different presentations. Crankbaits, tube jigs and topwater will get you plenty of action. Larger fish generally hold up just off the dropoffs and can be targeted with the drop shot method. The current state record smallmouth, 9.32 pounds, was caught October 18, 2015, on a drop shot rig out of this great fishery.
First Ice
Tip-ups seem to be what works best getting these finicky fish to respond. Jigging works but tip-ups will consistently put more fish on the ice. Blue (emerald) and Grey (spot tail) shiners are the baits of choice. A small treble hook in the dorsal, set several feet off the bottom will result in a marathon of flag chasing. The north and south end launches are the best for ice anglers to access the drop-offs that consistently hold fish. Set up near these drop-offs in the deep water flats (40’-60’). Fish will bite all day long and limit catches are common during January. Giant yellow perch, some pushing 2 pounds, can often top off a nice mixed bag catch for the day.
I have fished in and around the lakes of the Alpena region of Michigan for most of my life. Fishing has gotten better! I now fish often with friend and area charter captain Steve Hubert from Chum Bucket guide service. Steve is knowledgeable and fun to fish with. If you want to learn a bunch about the area, then get ahold of him and set up a fun day on the water. You can get his information and also get a fishing report for the region on our website under the Alpena destination tab. www.fishermansdigest.com as for me your humble fisherman I’m off to fish another destination and I’ll be sure to let you know the scoop!
John Bergsma travels Michigan and the Great Lakes fishing and filming for his TV show. For great destination information, fishing reports or to watch his show online check him out at www.fishermansdigest.com
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