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Fishing Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays: what the data says
169,870-acre section. The East and West arms out of Traverse City: gin-clear water, world-class smallmouth on the drops and lake trout year round. The lake tops out around 603 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 45 ft. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 26 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Lake Trout fishing at Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 50 to 120 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 80 ft. Rock reef is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 26 ft, rated prime for fall lake trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays
Spring chinook salmon on Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays hold shallow, usually 5 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 50 to 120 ft, and by winter most fish are in 30 to 90 ft. Boardman River mouth is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for spring chinook salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Steelhead fishing at Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays
Start shallow in spring: steelhead sit in 3 to 20 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 5 to 45 ft, and by winter most fish are in 4 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Boardman River mouth, a inflow / creek mouth in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 5 to 45 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Yellow Perch fishing at Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Weed flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Best bite is early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 15 to 45 ft that time of year. They move out to 40 to 90 ft in summer and finish the year down in 25 to 70 ft. Rock reef is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 26 ft, rated prime for fall lake whitefish. Best bite is early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 40 to 90 ft | dawn | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 25 to 70 ft | midday & dawn | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays also holds rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 599 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 325 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 290 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 271 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 260 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 163 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 150 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 133 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 91 ft
- Deep break: drop-off, around 87 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 84 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 49 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 46 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 30 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays?
Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays is about 603 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, yellow perch, chinook salmon, steelhead, lake trout, lake whitefish, rock bass on Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays?
Rock reef is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 26 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays?
For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Birch Lake · Elk Lake · Torch Lake · Cedar Lake · Leelanau, Lake · Boardman Lake
See how Lake Michigan - Grand Traverse Bays stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best yellow perch lakes in Michigan · best chinook salmon lakes in Michigan · best steelhead lakes in Michigan
Browse all Michigan fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.