Michigan is renowned for its epic muskie fishing. With numerous lakes and rivers, narrowing down the best muskie fishing in Michigan can be difficult, if not impossible.
That didn’t stop us from taking a good crack at it. This article is our attempt to show you the most incredible waters where an intrepid angler can bring a trophy muskie to the net.
Honestly, Michigan has some of the most renowned waters in the country for not only muskies but just about any freshwater fish you can think of. Pike, trout, steelhead, salmon, bass, and football-sized panfish all make their home here.
It’s possible to experience most or even all of them in the same lake or river, making it an adventure every time you head out. Who knows what you’ll catch!
One thing that stands out is the amazing scenery that accompanies these fisheries. From beautiful flowing rivers to serene, peaceful lakes surrounded by dense forests, there’s something for everyone here.
The Best Muskie Lakes in Michigan
The lakes in Michigan provide the perfect environment for muskellunge, a.k.a. musky or muskie.
You might be one of the few lucky enough to catch one on your first trip, though legend shows these are the fish of 10,000 casts. They don’t surrender themselves easily.
Lake St. Clair
Lake St. Clair is among the top musky fishing destinations in the state, if not the country. Anglers visit from around the world to do battle with Lake St. Clair muskies.
And it’s just a short drive from Detroit.
Lake St. Clair has a healthy population of muskies, offering anglers good chances of catching these elusive beasts. The lake’s structure, water quality, and forage base provide ideal conditions for muskies to thrive.
Muskie fishing on Lake St. Clair can be productive throughout the year, but the prime season typically starts in late spring and extends into the fall.
During this period, muskies are actively feeding and can be found in various locations around the lake. Search for them in the flats, along weed beds, above submerged structure, and near drop-offs.
Check the current regulations to ensure they’re in season.
Lake St. Clair is home to both the Great Lakes strain of muskellunge and the Northern strain of muskellunge. Both strains can reach impressive sizes and provide thrilling fishing opportunities.
Trolling, casting, and vertical jigging are standard techniques among Lake St. Clair musky anglers.
Trolling large crankbaits, bucktails, and jerkbaits along weed edges, drop-offs, and offshore structures can be effective.
Casting in shallow areas, near weed beds, and around structure is also productive.
Vertical jigging with large soft plastics or live bait can be successful, particularly during cooler months. Try tying on a duckling imitation or rat lure and see if you can coax a few bites.
If you’re new to muskie fishing or want to increase your chances of success, hiring a local muskie fishing guide can be beneficial. They have extensive knowledge of the lake, its muskie population, and effective techniques.
The area has plenty of campgrounds, RV parks, restaurants, lodges, and hotels. If you leave anything at home, you can easily find it here.
Lake Gogebic
Lake Gogebic, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is known for its fantastic muskie fishing opportunities.
The lake covers around 13,380 acres and has a maximum depth of approximately 37 feet. It’s a popular destination for anglers seeking trophy-sized muskies.
If you’re searching for a monster, Lake Gogebic might be the place to go. It has a healthy population of muskies, with specimens exceeding 50 inches and over 30 pounds.
The lake’s structure, including weed beds, rock formations, and submerged timber, provides ideal habitat for these toothy predators.
The muskie fishing season on Lake Gogebic typically opens in late May or early June and runs through November. It’s always a good idea to check the current fishing regulations and any specific rules or restrictions in effect for the lake.
Muskies are highly prized and draw a lot of pressure. That means they can become “overcaught” and become weaker. It’s best to get them to the net as quickly as possible to avoid completely tiring them out before release.
Casting large bucktail spinners, jerkbaits, topwater lures, and swimbaits are popular methods. Trolling with large crankbaits or live bait rigs is also effective, especially in locating muskies along the lake’s immense shoreline.
Experienced guides have extensive knowledge of the lake’s muskie behavior and can drastically increase your odds of hooking into a trophy-sized fish. If you’re new to muskie, this might be your best option.
Note that Lake Gogebic also has a very good fishery for largemouth bass, and a fair number of them are big and confident enough to take on a musky lure.
You can find everything you need at any of the various lodges and stores dotting the lake. Campgrounds, resorts, and RV camping are also available.
Lake Charlevoix
Lake Charlevoix is on the northern end of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, near Charlevoix and Boyne City. The lake covers an area of roughly 17,200 acres and has a maximum depth of around 122 feet, providing plenty of prime habitat for muskies.
Muskie fishing is generally best in the cooler months of spring and fall when water temperatures are more favorable for muskie activity. While they are not as active, you still have a chance to catch them during the summer months.
You will typically find muskies near weed beds, rocky structures, points, and drop-offs. Look for areas with submerged vegetation or areas where baitfish congregate.
Try fishing in the Ironton Cove area, where you might be able to coax a muskie with a fly rod.
The shallow flats around the area lend themselves to epic encounters with muskies. Toss a Mepps Musky Killer, or try trolling with live bait.
Horton Bay, Advance, and Oyster Bay are also worth fishing. These spots tend to fill up with bass anglers, while Ironton is more or less a pike and muskie destination.
Pay attention to size and bag limits, as well as any special restrictions on muskie fishing. Current regulations require muskie to be at least 42″ to keep the limit of 1 per day.
The lake has a state park with good camping options, along with three towns along its shore. Lodging, food, and gear are all readily available.
Houghton Lake
Houghton Lake, located in Roscommon County, is another popular destination for muskie fishing. Houghton is the largest inland water in Michigan. And it’s a great place to hunt for muskies.
Muskie fishing in Houghton Lake is most productive in the spring and fall when water temperatures are cooler. Just after ice-off can be particularly good, as well as end-of-season fishing in October and November. These seasons provide better conditions for muskellunge to be actively feeding.
Muskies are particularly susceptible to lower oxygenated waters and will go deep in the summer.
Spring will find muskie in the shallows, so search around the Houghton Point area for some great flats fishing.
During warmer months, you’ll likely find muskies in the lower lake near Spring Brook Creek and around the town of Houghton Lake. The deepest sections of the lake are between these spots.
You can find Houghton Lake muskies near weed beds, drop-offs, points, and other underwater structures, which are abundant around the Houghton Point area.
Trolling the flats near the Muskegon River outlet with crankbaits or live bait also can be exceptional.
Pay attention to the retrieval speed and action that seems to be most appealing to the muskie on a given day. Repetition is key once you catch the first fish. Experiment with different presentations and retrieve styles to find what works best.
Houghton Lake also is one of Michigan’s favorite ice fishing destinations, and hard-water muskies are possible, but yellow perch are more common.
Houghton Lake has several access points and a few marinas as well. Plenty of camping, lodging, and dining are in the area, so you should have no issues finding everything you need.
Manistee Lake
Manistee Lake, nestled in the town of Manistee, offers anglers an epic muskie fishing experience.
With its large muskie population and breathtaking natural beauty, Manistee Lake has become a go-to destination for anglers seeking the chance to catch these predators.
The lake stretches over 2,000 acres, providing plenty of space and diverse habitats for muskies to thrive. Its crystal-clear waters, surrounded by forests, create an idyllic setting for fishing enthusiasts.
The lake’s structure is well suited for muskie, with weed beds, submerged logs, and rocky structures. This combination makes Manistee Lake a perfect location for targeting trophy-sized muskies.
To increase your chances of landing a muskie in Manistee Lake, it is critical to sharpen your fishing tactics.
Early mornings and late evenings are the most productive times, as muskie are more active during low-light conditions.
Casting large lures, such as bucktail spinners, jerkbaits, or swimbaits, near weed edges, points, or drop-offs can trigger aggressive strikes.
Trolling with deep-diving crankbaits or employing live bait, like suckers or large minnows, can also yield great results.
Muskie lures should be large, noisy, and able to create a commotion in the water to attract attention.
Use a figure-eight maneuver near the boat during retrieval to coax muskie strikes from the following fish. You can often see the fish chasing the lure, so covering more water before reeling into the boat can catch more fish than a simple cast/retrieve.
Spring and fall are typically the best times, but you can also catch muskies during the summer months.
Pay attention to water temperatures and adjust your techniques accordingly. Warmer water will push them deeper, making them prime targets for trolling.
Manistee Lake has an excellent all-around variety of angling options. For example, it’s also on our list of best walleye fishing lakes in Michigan.
Manistee has lodging, food, tackle, and enough local knowledge to make your trip successful.
Lake Huron
Lake Huron, one of the Great Lakes, offers anglers the ultimate muskie fishing experience.
With its vast size, diverse underwater structure, and thriving fish populations, Lake Huron provides the perfect backdrop for a thrilling encounter with these toothy predators.
Stretching over 23,000 square miles, Lake Huron is the second largest of the Great Lakes.
It offers a diverse range of underwater structures, including reefs, drop-offs, weed beds, and rocky areas, which provide muskies the perfect cover to ambush their prey.
Lake Huron experiences peak muskie fishing during the cooler months of spring and fall. As water temperatures begin to rise in the early season, muskies move closer to shorelines and shallow areas to feed and spawn.
Cast large, noisy lures, such as bucktail spinners, jerkbaits, and topwater plugs.
Another popular lure is the Mepps Musky Killer. These lures create enticing vibrations and disturbances that trigger muskie strikes.
Trolling is another popular technique in Lake Huron. Using large crankbaits or live bait, anglers can cover larger areas and test out different depths to locate active fish.
Adjusting trolling speeds and varying lure depths can help bring strikes from muskies throughout the water column.
Lake Huron presents too many spots to list them all, though hotspots around Saginaw Bay and the Straits of Mackinac are favorite muskie locations on the U.S. side of Huron. These areas provide a variety of structures and access to deeper waters where muskies often hold.
Lake Huron is massive, so finding the perfect spot may take some time. Whether through the straits or in Saginaw Bay, you’ll have no issues finding lodging, gear, and food.
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is among the largest freshwater lakes in the world. Salmon, steelhead, and northern pike share this massive water body with giant muskie.
You can find access points along the entirety of the western coast, so pick your base camp, and you will find somewhere to get on the water.
Lake Michigan’s topography ranges from extensive shallow flats to deep waterways full of salmon and steelhead.
Target the shallows and weed beds, submerged timber, drop-offs, rocky outcroppings, and the riprap that covers a good portion of the shore. Toss a big lure that makes a lot of noise.
Spring is the prime time to target muskies in Lake Michigan. As the ice melts and water temperatures rise, hungry muskies move into the shallows to fatten up after a slow winter.
You’ll find success along weed beds or lily pads, as these spots attract baitfish and offer the perfect cover for ambushing. Casting spoons, spinners, or swimbaits along these areas can bring on epic strikes from big, aggressive muskies.
Trolling is another popular technique in Lake Michigan. You can cover a larger area and increase your chances of finding active fish. Trolling along drop-offs, rocky points, or near river mouths can be particularly productive.
Using crankbaits, jerkbaits, or large spinnerbaits will imitate the muskie’s prey and can trigger aggressive strikes.
Fall is another must-fish for epic muskie action. They feed voraciously before winter to build up reserves so the bite can be fast and furious.
Since the lake is so massive, you’ll want to target one small portion. A popular spot to limit the lake’s size is Grand Traverse Bay, an inlet of the lake. The bay itself is huge, so we’ll highlight it in more detail in the next section.
You can find everything you need along the western coast of Michigan. Narrow down your destination, and you’ll be ready for some fast, aggressive action.
Grand Traverse Bay
Grand Traverse Bay offers anglers an epic adventure. Located in Upper Michigan, Grand Traverse Bay is a massive water renowned for its pristine waters and abundant muskie population.
The bay’s ecosystem creates the perfect habitat for muskies, attracting anglers from around the world to test their skills and land these fierce monsters.
Grand Traverse Bay’s topography adds to the thriving muskie population with its varied underwater structure. Rocky shoals, submerged vegetation, weed beds, and drop-offs make ideal hiding spots for muskies.
One of the biggest reasons to fish Grand Traverse Bay is the sheer size and power of these fish.
When targeting muskies, it’s all about sturdy fishing gear. Medium to heavy-action rods, reels, a 40-pound plus braided line, and a steel leader should match up well against these toothy monsters.
When musky fishing, you’re likely to find out why Grand Traverse Bay is also among Michigan’s best northern pike fisheries, because they will hit anything you put in the water for muskies. A trophy-sized pike can make short work of weak lines and fragile rods.
In early spring, muskies become more active during ice off and move closer to shore. This is the perfect time to target shallow flats and weed beds.
As the water warms up during summer, muskies head deeper, where you can target them by trolling lures and live bait.
Fall is possibly the best time to fish for muskies as they become more active before winter. These fish eat anything in their way, making the fishing action fast and furious.
Targeting shallow bays and nearshore areas with weed cover can produce trophy-sized muskies as well as massive pike. Casting jerkbaits, spoons, or topwater lures can be particularly effective in these areas.
Smallmouth bass, walleye, salmon, and trout also call the bay their home.
Traverse City is nearby and offers everything you need for your trip. There are several campgrounds around the lake as well.
The Best Muskie Rivers in Michigan
There are more rivers and streams in Michigan than almost anywhere else. They can all provide good fishing, though we’ll stick to the two top-tier musky-fishing rivers in the state.
Detroit River
The Detroit River is an excellent all-around fishery. Located in the heart of the Great Lakes, it is renowned for its abundant population of muskies, making it a must-fish destination for anglers seeking the fish of 10,000 casts.
Stretching for about 32 miles, the Detroit River provides a fantastic habitat for muskies. Its clear waters, submerged vegetation, timber, and rocky structures create the perfect habitat for these beasts to thrive.
Experienced muskie anglers come here throughout the year, particularly during the spring and fall when muskies are most active and feeding aggressively.
Casting with large spoons, crankbaits, or spinnerbaits is popular and should bring on strikes. Trolling along the river using diving plugs or live bait can also be a good option, allowing you to cover more water.
Early mornings and late evenings are the prime times. Muskies love to feed actively in low-light situations. Use that to your advantage and be on the water when the sun is on the horizon.
The Detroit River runs along urban areas with everything you’ll need for a successful trip, and it’s also a top spot for other types of fishing, including an excellent smallmouth bass population that transitions between the river and Lake Erie.
Muskegon River
The Muskegon River, located in central Michigan, is a storied muskie fishery. The river stretches for over 200 miles and offers an epic fishing experience for both beginners and experienced anglers alike.
The Muskegon River provides the perfect habitat for these predatory fish. Deep pools, submerged logs, and abundant vegetation offer the muskie plenty of hiding places to ambush their prey.
The river is easily navigable, allowing you to explore several stretches and find the perfect fishing spots. Whether you’re a bank angler or fishing from a boat, the Muskegon River offers plenty of opportunities for success.
Spring and early summer bring muskies into the shallower areas, where they aggressively attack their prey. This is the best time for muskie fishing in the Muskegon River.
Casting large lures, trolling with flashy spoons, or presenting live bait should lead to catching big fish.
Fish just upstream of Muskegon Lake and hit the many lily pads and weed beds. You’re sure to find a muskie or two amongst the pike also hiding in there.
A quick note on the Muskegon: Practicing catch-and-release is highly encouraged to sustain the fishery. Handling muskies with care, including using proper landing nets and unhooking tools, helps minimize stress and maximize their chances of survival upon release.
Speaking of big fish, the Muskegon also has some of Michigan’s best salmon runs.
Muskegon offers everything you need for a great trip. Camping along the river is available in select areas. Plan ahead as the spots fill up fast.