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Fishing Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore: what the data says
648,085-acre section. Manistee and Frankfort up past Sleeping Bear to Leland: a legendary salmon coast with deep water close in, plus smallmouth on the Leelanau reefs and the Manitou passage. The lake tops out around 690 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. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Chinook Salmon fishing at Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. They move out to 50 to 120 ft in summer and finish the year down in 30 to 90 ft. Manistee River mouth is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring chinook salmon. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| 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 |
Coho Salmon fishing at Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore
In spring, coho salmon run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. They move out to 30 to 70 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 60 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Manistee River mouth: a inflow / creek mouth around 10 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Small spoon, slow troll |
Steelhead fishing at Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore
Spring steelhead on Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore hold shallow, usually 3 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 45 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Manistee River mouth: a inflow / creek mouth around 10 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. 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 |
Brown Trout fishing at Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 25 to 60 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 35 ft. Manistee River mouth is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring brown trout. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Lake Trout fishing at Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore
Spring lake trout on Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore hold shallow, usually 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 39 ft, rated prime for fall lake trout. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| 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 |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore
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. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in summer. 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 |
Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore also holds lake whitefish (40 to 90 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 668 ft
- Deep hole: deep basin, around 661 ft
- Deep hole: deep basin, around 652 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 531 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 477 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 443 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 437 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 412 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 405 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 373 ft
- Deep hole: deep basin, around 354 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 350 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 346 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 318 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore?
Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore is about 690 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 - Michigan Northwest Shore?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, lake trout, brown trout, lake whitefish on Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore?
Manistee River mouth is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon 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 - Michigan Northwest Shore?
For chinook salmon, 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
Crystal Lake · Lower Herring Lake · Upper Herring Lake · Platte Lake · Little Platte Lake · Bear Lake
See how Lake Michigan - Michigan Northwest Shore stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Michigan · best chinook salmon lakes in Michigan · best coho 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.