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.
We received some great news for bass anglers in Michigan! The NRC has voted on and passed year-round catch and release fishing for bass. The harvest dates remain the same. This is great news for any angler wishing to get out on the water as soon as the ice is off. May is always a fun month to be a bass fisherman. You can find a lot of activity can in 4 to 40 feet of water. Jerk baits, blade baits, and hair jigs will all come into play for smallmouth fisherman. The fish are hungry after a long winter and are ready to eat! In the shallower lakes, bass will move shallow and then begin their pre-spawn activities as soon as the water temperatures begin to rise. In the larger lakes to include Grand Traverse Bay, the bite will not heat up for quite some time. Please remember to check your fishing regulations for the harvest season guidelines.
Walleye anglers are excited with the opener on the last Saturday of April. Walleyes can be targeted in 5 to 25 feet of water, depending on the time of day. Trolling stick baits, jigging a leech, or blade bait are some great early season techniques to put fish in the boat. Using your electronics to find these fish is the key to success. Northern pike will begin to stake their claim in the emerging weed growth as well. Any body bait or a sucker under a bobber is always a solid bet for these toothy critters.
The initial reports from southern Lake Michigan look decent. Several coho and a few kings have been showing up. Brown trout fishing has been good to great! Reports of two to five fish per outing are being reported. The best way to target browns is by trolling stick baits in 3 to 12 feet of water. You can find lake trout in 25 to 70 feet of water. Spoons and cowbells with a spin-n-glow or a peanut are popular choices for trout. You can also use jigging spoons if you prefer not to troll. There are new lake trout regulations in place this year.
As always be sure to check your fishing regulations and stay up-to-date with any new rule changes or species limit changes. Your local bait-n-tackle store is a great place to get the most recent and up-to-date information. Have fun out there and take a kid fishing. Good luck and stay safe!