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Fishing Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc: what the data says
426,902-acre section. Upper Green Bay with Little and Big Bay de Noc out of Escanaba: trophy walleye water and some of the best smallmouth fishing in the country. The lake tops out around 129 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.
Walleye fishing at Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc
Spring walleye on Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 35 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Menominee River mouth, a inflow / creek mouth in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Best bite is the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| 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 |
Northern Pike fishing at Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc
In spring, northern pike run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Weed flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for northern pike in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Yellow Perch fishing at Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc
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. If you only fish one area, make it Weed flat: a weed flat around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm and you're in the game.
| 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) |
Muskellunge fishing at Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc
Spring muskellunge on Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for muskellunge in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a double-10 bucktail or a topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Smaller bucktail (#8 blades), 6" glide bait |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dusk & dawn | Double-10 bucktail, Topwater (walk-the-dog / creeper) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), 10"+ glide bait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Large rubber, crawled slow |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc
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. Deep hole is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 71 ft, rated prime for summer lake whitefish. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon and you're in the game.
| 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 - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc 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 121 ft
- Deep hole: deep basin, around 116 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 90 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 89 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 74 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 73 ft
- Deep hole: deep basin, around 71 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 70 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 69 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 68 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 61 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 59 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 57 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 55 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc?
Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc is about 129 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 - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, yellow perch, lake whitefish, rock bass on Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc?
Menominee River mouth is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc?
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
North Lake · Hayward Lake · Escanaba River · Chicago Lake · Round Lake · Stella, Lake
See how Lake Michigan - Green Bay North and Bays de Noc stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best walleye lakes in Michigan · best northern pike lakes in Michigan · best muskellunge lakes in Michigan
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