| The diverse number of species Michigan fishing has to | | | | it twice, once on the Lower Peninsula then follow it on |
| offer is way beyond the scope of one article. So I will | | | | up to the Upper Peninsula |
| divide and conquer by writing about four areas of | | | | Michigan has some outstanding lakes for largemouth |
| angling, trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and | | | | bass but the place to start is Fletcher's Pond. There |
| walleye, and finally the Great Lakes. | | | | you can cast for some real lunkers. Try a Mepps, a |
| To write about trout in Michigan one has to start with | | | | Rapala, or my favorite a Red Devil spoon. The water |
| the Au Sable River in the central-east of the state. | | | | in Fletcher's pond is not deep so deep-running lures will |
| One of the finest trout streams in the country it has | | | | snag often. You should fish around the stumps of |
| been designated a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream by the | | | | dead trees for the best chance of catching a scale |
| Department of Natural Resources. With 146 miles of | | | | tipper. Other good lakes you should fish largemouth |
| water counting its eminently fishable branches the Au | | | | are Black Lake, Houghton Lake, Long Lake, Elk Lake |
| Sable offers easy wading, major hatches, and | | | | and Manistique Lake. |
| adequate access. Every fly fisherman should fish the | | | | An excellent place to fish for smallmouth bass and |
| Au Sable at least once in his life. Other notable | | | | walleye is the headwater of the Au Sable River. |
| streams are Bear Creek, Manistee River, Pere | | | | Especially in the spring when they are on the move to |
| Marquette River, and Pine River on the Lower | | | | spawning grounds is good. You should use a |
| Peninsula. On the Upper Peninsula some great rivers to | | | | crawdad-imitating lure for walleye and a small black jig |
| fish are Ontonagon River both the East and Middle | | | | for smallmouth. Fish in slower, deeper pools and on the |
| Branch, Paint River, West Branch of the Sturgeon | | | | bottom. Traditional lake fishing for both species is |
| River, and the East Branch of the Tahquamenon. | | | | numerous in Michigan. Some excellent lakes are Mullet |
| Hatches start about 1 to 2 weeks later on the Upper | | | | Lake, Stanford Lake, Lake Michigamme, Lake Gogebic, |
| Peninsula. So if you have a favorite hatch you can fish | | | | Grand Lake and Brevoort Lake. |