Great Lakes Trip Next Year-Any suggestions?

[Irving-NorCal]

A buddy and I are considering a fishing trip to the Great Lakes. I'm thinking Michigan. Long drive from California trailering a boat so we would appreciate any and all input. We understand a great Smallmouth bite awaits us. We're very concerned about the weather and the wind, best time of year to fish safely. We thought hiring a guide for the first few days might be a good idea for a week of fishing. Lodging also a concern with boat security. Thanks

[Mechanic Bob]

For Small Mouth, you would be better off on the East Side of MI, or Ohio.

I lived in New Buffalo MI, and found two things with reference to the weather:
1) Being on the West side of MI, the Weather Always came from the West. (Never say Always.)
2) Lake Michigan was either you can go in a canoe or you Don't Go.
Salmon fishing out of Holland MI is a good option.

But a lot depends on what time of year you want to go and what type of fish do you want to target?

[jasonG]

Traverse Bay Area is about as good as it gets.

[Bleed Blue]

St Clair, and get with TKO (Tom Keifer Outdoors) for a couple of days of guide time. You will not be disappointed.

[Fishshooter]

Time of year & how far you are willing to travel by boat on the Great Lakes are serious considerations. Are you happy with numbers or wanting a chance at a dirty 30 bag ? Windfinder or a similar app is a must have in my opinion. Once you decide on a destination, more specific help can be given. Hard to miss with St. Clair for smallies, but St. Clair & Erie are my favorites. Canadian waters are usually in play for me depending on time of year as well. I usually don't fish for largemouth there unless wind doesn't let me go where I want for smallies, but have caught the occasional good largemouth offshore. West side of Erie has rivers & embayments that hold largemouth year round from Toledo, Ohio to Trenton, Michigan as does the Ohio shorline & largemouth as well as smallies can be caught in the Detroit & St.Clair Rivers as well.

[bigbass201]

Time of year is key for lot of the area. Traverse City area will give you options for big water Traverse Bay's and if the wind blows there are plenty of inland lakes with great smallmouth and largemouth fishing. If you would like to fish Lake Erie. Ohio has the islands that always hold smallmouth year round. You can have the back up harbors for largemouth if the wind blows bad. One thing of note it's wash machine out there with all the big yachts during the summer. Big waves going every direction. You can't go wrong, but be sure to stay in a safe area. Detroit has it good and bad areas. You definitely don't want to go in the bad areas or stay near them. St. Clair has wonderful smallmouth fishing, and there are some back channels you can catch largemouth in, but if the wind blows it's a longer ride to find good inland lakes to fish near it. Good luck, and I'm sure the trip will be worth the fun and experience.

[Irving-NorCal]

Thank you so much for all the info. We will research our options and hopefully get on some fish.

[gehol]

St Clair, and get with TKO (Tom Keifer Outdoors) for a couple of days of guide time. You will not be disappointed.

100% agree. Tom is a great guide and a great person. Last week of May, first two weeks of June. You won't be disappointed. You will need to reserve a guide 4-6 months ahead of the desired date.

[Junk Fisherman]

As someone who has fished Grand Traverse Bay a lot for nearly 15 years (family vacations), I'd go either to Green Bay/Door Co or Lake St Clair.

[bassnpro1]

St. Clair is the easiest to show up and catch some fish. Erie has some good fish, but they are more scattered/spot specific IMO.

[tommoorehouse]

Consider Gladstone in the u.p. of Michigan, both little and big bay de noc. Some great smallmouth fishing and just all around beautiful area.

[rangered]

Go to St Clair and fish the westside of the lake called the Mile Roads. Fish between 9 Mile Road and
13 Mile Road. Go the first week of May and fish 4' to 10'. You'll see dozens of other boats doing the
same thing. Fish Tubes, Drop Shot, Ned Rigs and Jerk Baits. Good Luck

[txbass1]

A buddy of mine and I just got back from a Montana trip that was phenomenal smallie fishing. 3046 miles round trip and worth every single mile of it for us. A whole lot shorter trip for you. I have been to St Clair as well as Mille Lacs for great trips in the past few years and this trip blew them both out of the water- by a lot. PM me for lake and details. I'm not worried about blowing the lake up as it is so remote, but I plan to post a thread on our trip in the next couple of days and do not have time to do it justice yet.

[Mackl]

St. Clair is the easiest to show up and catch some fish. Erie has some good fish, but they are more scattered/spot specific IMO.

This totally depends on time of year. Finding fish on St Clair in the summer and staying on them can be difficult. Same with the fall out there. It is definitely not always easy or guaranteed to just go out there and catch a bunch of fish. So just keep this in mind. Guys come up and only go out in May when it is obvious where they are, and think the fishing is always amazing.

[bassnpro1]

This totally depends on time of year. Finding fish on St Clair in the summer and staying on them can be difficult. Same with the fall out there. It is definitely not always easy or guaranteed to just go out there and catch a bunch of fish. So just keep this in mind. Guys come up and only go out in May when it is obvious where they are, and think the fishing is always amazing.

For sure it gets more difficult as the year progresses, but I still claim it is the easiest, albeit not always easy.

[Imavol]

Pelee Island was alot of fun the couple of times I have went there on Erie. It is in Canada so you need a passport

[Aruss1984]

The fall bite (October and November) on Erie in my opinion, is one of the best you will ever have for trophy smallmouth with numbers. The issue is the wind is very unpredictable. Ive had days where its 50 fish days and nothing under 4.5 lbs. If you can tolerate the temps and chance for gusty days, I would fish Erie 100/100 days.

That being said, you will have a great time no matter which lake and time of year you choose. Enjoy!

[rb]

Always take cold weather gear regardless of the time of the year.

[Mcfish]

Does scenery play a factor in your decision?

[Irving-NorCal]

My daughter graduated from MSU and she loved the U.P. We never had the opportunity to get up there on our visits. She did research up there with the local tribes regarding forestry management. I will research Gladstone.