The 12 Best Fishing Lakes in Michigan

Michigan is a dream fishing destination. With nearly 65,000 lakes and the longest freshwater coastline in the country, this state has an abundance of access, including some of the most well-known lakes in the United States and secret spots where you can enjoy peace and serenity. Check out these picks for the top 12 best fishing lakes in Michigan and discover what you can catch!

1. Lake Huron

No list of lakes in Michigan would be complete without including at least one of the Great Lakes. Lake Huron features Michigan on its west and Ontario, Canada, on its east and north. This lake is special because it boasts over 30,000 islands and has the longest shoreline of any Great Lake. Needless to say, there are many fishing spots. In fact, it is one of the best fishing lakes in Michigan, featuring world-class trout and salmon fishing. You can also catch walleye, whitefish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and lake sturgeon. If you’re looking to find some prize-worthy trout, fish the lake from May through September. Lake Huron can get pretty busy and loud during the summer, but there are plenty of places to spread out. 

2. Lake St. Clair

This freshwater lake is another body of water that lies between Michigan and Ontario. While it is smaller and shallow than the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair is one of the best sport fisheries in the world. This lake is renowned for its smallmouth bass, walleye, and yellow perch. But you can also catch muskellunge, rainbow trout, bluegill, and northern pike. The lake has a year-round open season due to its diverse fish population. However, the best time to fish Lake St. Clair is from March to September, when you can count on bass, channel catfish, bluegill, perch, and crappie.  

3. Black Lake

Located in Northern Lower Michigan near Lake Huron, Black Lake has a surface area of over 10,000 acres, making it the seventh-largest inland lake in Michigan. It is well known for its walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge. But anglers also fish for perch, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass. Black Lake also has a limited season for lake sturgeon ice fishing. And winter is actually one of the best times to fish on this lake.   

4. Lake Erie

Lake Erie is the fourth largest of the Great Lakes, and Michigan borders it to the west. This lake is famous for its extensive walleye fishery, smallmouth bass, and ice fishing. But you can also catch yellow perch, bigmouth buffalo, lake sturgeon, rainbow trout, alewife, common carp, white perch, and brown trout. But walleye is above and beyond the most popular. They are easy to target, taste delicious, and can grow more than 30 inches.   

5. Hubbard Lake

Known for its excellent water clarity, Hubbard Lake is one of the biggest inland lakes in Michigan, covering 8,850 acres. Like many other lakes on this list, Hubbard Lake is a popular spot for summer fishing and winter ice fishing. There are three boat launch ramps and plenty of space to fish from the shore. Hubbard Lake is excellent for smallmouth bass and walleye. But you can also find abundant largemouth bass, bluegill, rock bass, muskie, yellow perch, northern pike, and sunfish.

6. Houghton Lake

Houghton Lake is 22,000 acres and is Michigan’s largest inland lake. Not surprisingly, it is also one of the best fishing lakes in Michigan, featuring seven access sites around its shores. While swimming yields abundant catches, winter also offers opportunities for ice fishing and winter sports. Houghton Lake is known for its mixed-bag fishing, meaning there are many excellent species. Some of the most popular fish include northern pike, black bass, bluegill, and walleye. You can also find largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass, yellow perch, black crappie, and bowfin.  

7. Burt Lake

Burt Lake features over 17,000 acres in Northern Michigan and is a popular spot for all kinds of recreation, such as boating, swimming, and year-round fishing, with miles of trails and sandy beaches. This lake has plenty to keep you busy. It is a favorite during the summer and yields a diverse lineup of fish. Some of the more popular species include walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and perch. But you can also find muskies, trout, black crappie, and bowfins.

8. Lake Superior

As the largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Superior is obviously going to be on the top lake lists for pretty much everything, including fishing. With a scenic shoreline and abundant wildlife, this lake is one of the most famous lakes in the country for all types of recreation. Lake Superior is known for its coho salmon, lake trout, king salmon, walleye, and muskies. You can also find just about every kind of lake fish here, including smallmouth bass, northern pike, whitefish, and lake sturgeon.

9. Gun Lake

Gun Lake is in Southwest Michigan and features 2,600 acres of water, perfect for boating, water sports, tubing, swimming, and fishing. In fact, Gun Lake is extremely popular for bass anglers looking to catch smallmouth and largemouth. Some other fish include bluegill, perch, walleye, pike, and muskie. Don’t be surprised if you have to compete with other recreational boaters and fishers; this lake can get pretty busy. Gun Lake can also be difficult to navigate due to weeds and boat traffic. But that doesn’t stop people from reeling in an excellent catch!

10. Muskegon Lake

Muskegon Lake is in Michigan’s lower peninsula at the mouth of the Muskegon River, and it forms a harbor along Lake Michigan’s eastern shoreline. This lake is popular for festivals, concerts, and recreation. Visitors enjoy boating, sailing, fishing, camping, picnicking, camping, and ice boating in its waters. It has excellent opportunities for catching walleye, catfish, pike, and trout. You can also find king salmon, steelhead, coho salmon, and perch.  

11. Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is one of the Great Lakes and is the second largest by volume and third largest by surface area. It is located entirely in the United States and covers the west coast of Michigan’s lower peninsula. This lake offers endless recreational fun, including fishing. Some of the most sought-after and best fish on Lake Michigan include brook trout, coho salmon, Chinook salmon, steelhead, lake trout, and brown trout. However, you can also find smallmouth bass, bowfin, largemouth bass, and yellow perch.

12. Coldwater Lake

Located in Southern Michigan near the Indiana border, Coldwater Lake features 1,600 acres of cold, clean water. This lake has gained popularity over the years and gets pretty crowded during the summer. But there is a reason: coldwater Lake is excellent for recreation, such as boating and fishing. This premier fishing lake features walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, panfish, and largemouth bass. You can also find catfish, crappie, sunfish, rock bass, and bluegill.

The Best Fishing Lakes in Michigan: A Recap of the Top 12