T he Grand Traverse region is a host to several lakes and popular species of fish. The diversity of angling opportunities makes this one of the best locations for anglers in the country. Anglers have the opportunity to chase salmon, lake trout, steelhead, brown trout, perch, walleye, and smallmouth just to name a few. Local waters include Grand Traverse Bay, Long Lake, Lake Leelanau, Boardman Lake, Duck Lake, Green Lake, and Silver Lake, all within a twenty-minute drive of Traverse City.
It has been a long winter here in Northern Michigan. As I write this, most of our inland lakes are still incased with ice. For the most part, the Lake Michigan ice pack has melted or broken up. Anglers are finding a few brown trout and steelhead from a boat or pier. Trolling stick baits like Rapalas and Challenger minnows in four-to-twelve feet of water will be productive.
Casting spoons and fishing spawn sacks from the piers will give you your best chance for success. The high water in the rivers has made that fishery a bit challenging, but there are some great fish hitting the bank. With spring coming late this year, the ice out fishing should be outstanding.
Opening day for walleye and pike was April 26th this year. There are several di fferent techniques for early season walleye. My personal favorite is a jig with a minnow or a leech. Trolling stick baits seems to be the preferred method though. Pike can be caught using large minnows under a bobber, or by casting large body baits along breaks with new weed growth. Catch and release bass season also opened on that date. Bass will be found from shallow water to deep water the entire month of May. Jerk baits in the four to six inch sizes will be productive. A few of my favorites are the Mega Bass 110, the Lucky Craft Pointer, and the X-Rap from Rapala. If the ice is off the lakes, the fishing should be outstanding. Be sure to check with your local bait shops to get the latest fishing information.
Remember to be safe while fishing the early season. Water temperatures are still extremely cold and hypothermia will set in in a matter of minutes. Wear your life jacket and let someone know where you will be fishing. Good luck to everyone and please stay safe.