UTERCommon carp fishing in Lake Michigan
In Lake Michigan, common carp peak May–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Grand Traverse Bay and Door County flats — sight-casting carp in clear water.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Common carp in Lake Michigan, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayPeak
- JunePeakGrand Traverse Bay and Door County flats — sight-casting carp in clear water.
- JulyPeakPeak flats carp.
- AugustPeakKings staging off the pier heads. Ludington, Manistee, Frankfort — glow spoons at first light near the mouths.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberAround
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish common carp near Chicago, Michigan City, St. Joseph
The salmon lake: open water to 900 feet with kings and coho over the thermocline, the river mouths and pier heads of Michigan's west coast where the runs stage, the shallow southern end where the spring coho come in, and Green Bay — a walleye, pike, muskie, perch and whitefish fishery all its own.
Fish Scouter charts 434 lake, 75 reservoir spots in the Lake Michigan map area — the kinds common carp hold on.
What to use for common carp
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 45–90°F water, best at 62–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch common carp in Lake Michigan?
Peak season is May–September. Common carp are in Lake Michigan May–October. June: Grand Traverse Bay and Door County flats — sight-casting carp in clear water.
Where do common carp hold in Lake Michigan?
Look on lake, river — around Chicago, Michigan City, St. Joseph, Ludington, Manistee, Milwaukee.
What is the best bait for common carp in Lake Michigan?
Live bait: nightcrawlers. Nightcrawlers: Whole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
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All about common carp · Lake Michigan, the whole year