Fishing

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The Bays de Noc are noted throughout the state for their excellent walleye fishing but that isn't all the fruitful waters of the bays yield for anglers. Northern pike, perch, whitefish, burbot, bluegill, bass and splake are also to be found in addition to the walleye.

In the spring, smallmouth bass are abundant among the shoals and dropoffs in both bays, but especially in Big Bay de Noc. Many anglers enjoy the challenge of seeking smallmouths in the shallow waters around the edges of the bays, particularly near rock outcroppings and weed beds.

Walleye continues to be the chief drawing card for many anglers, however, and Little Bay de Noc will once again be the site of a variety of walleye tournaments, including the 2009 BASS Federation Northern Divisional Tournament slated for Aug. 12-15.

Fishing for trophy walleye takes place in the bays during the fall. Prime walleye fishing is available via a few specially placed boat launches across the bay area.

The area's inland lakes, rivers and streams are rich sources for various fish as well.

The Days River, arising from a lowland swamp in northwest Delta County and flowing southeast on a winding 40-mile journey before emptying in Little Bay de Noc just north of Gladstone, is noted for its coaster brook trout, brown trout, steelhead and chinook salmon. Steelhead, trout and salmon runs occur in the spring and fall.

The Whitefish River, one of the U.P.'s largest, also flows into Little Bay de Noc after a 50-mile southward journey through central Delta County. The river boasts excellent brook and rainbow trout fishing in its east and west branches in addition to runs of brook and brown trout, steelhead and chinook salmon along with splake. The west branch, originating out of Alger County before meeting with the east branch in central Delta County, is a good source for wild steelhead and the various streams emanating from both branches of the river are noted for their rainbow and brook trout.

The rivers and streams near Bark River in western Delta County and Rapid River near U.S. 41 in the central part of the county are also noted for excellent brook and brown trout fishing.

The Escanaba River has beckoned anglers for generations and with good reason. The river is particularly fruitful in the stretch between Cornell and Boney Falls.

The Corner Lake Chain in eastern Delta County contains northern pike, walleye, bass, crappie, pike and panfish and nearby Chicago Lake is noted for its northern, perch and panfish.

Lyman Lake in Garden Township is a destination for bluegill and bass fishing while Gooseneck Lake is known for yielding walleye and Camp Seven Lake is popular for perch and bass.

Indian Lake in Schoolcraft County, just north of Thompson, offers a wide variety for anglers, including muskellunge, rock bass, smallmouth bass, brown trout, perch, walleye, northern pike, bluegill and sturgeon.

The Manistique River, which empties into Lake Michigan at the city of Manistique, is a haven for brook trout, salmon and steelhead. The stretch below the upper dam contains rapids and is a good source for chinook salmon and steelhead when their spawning.

The open waters of Lake Michigan off the Bays de Noc and Manistique draw adventurous anglers each year in search of salmon.

Wells, Nahma and Gladstone have boat launches available and the boat launch in Manistique also offers a public fish cleaning station.

If everything goes according to plan, the renovation of the Stonington Peninsula boat launch site at the west end of Swede Road will be completed by mid-July.

A newly constructed channel will permit larger boats to have access the dock.

A guide to shoreline fishing and other information about fishing the central Upper Peninsula is available at the DNR Regional Office, 6833 Highway U.S. 2 and 41 in Gladstone near the Escanaba River Bridge. The office number is (906) 786-2351.

The DNR also compiles a "better fishing waters" list for the entire southern U.P.