UTERBrown trout fishing in Lake Michigan
In Lake Michigan, brown trout peak March–May and October–November and are around year-round, spawning in October–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. March: Michigan City, Portage and the Chicago harbors — spawn and nightcrawlers under a float. Fox River walleye run.
Tail of the run; browns and steelhead follow; Green Bay muskie. Steelhead behind the salmon; big browns in the harbors; Green Bay's trophy muskie season.
Brown trout in Lake Michigan, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchPeakSpring coho on the southern shore; steelhead run the rivers. Michigan City, Portage and the Chicago harbors — spawn and nightcrawlers under a float. Fox River walleye run.
- AprilPeakCoho and browns nearshore; peak steelhead run. Troll shallow along the Illinois and Indiana shore; drift spawn in the Michigan rivers.
- MayPeakKings show in the south; smallmouth stack in Door County. Troll the spring kings off St. Joseph and Grand Haven; Sturgeon Bay smallies pre-spawn — catch-and-release early season.
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberSpawningTail of the run; browns and steelhead follow; Green Bay muskie. Steelhead behind the salmon; big browns in the harbors; Green Bay's trophy muskie season.
- NovemberSpawningFall steelhead, browns on the piers, whitefish run. Spawn bags in the river pools; whitefish into the Menominee and the harbors.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish brown trout 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 brown trout hold on.
What to use for brown trout
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- 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.
- CrayfishHooked through the tail on a #2 to 2/0 hook and dragged slowly along rock and gravel — the smallmouth bait, and good for catfish and walleye.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 36–72°F water, best at 50–64°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch brown trout in Lake Michigan?
Peak season is March–May and October–November, with fish spawning in October–November (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Brown trout are here year-round.
Where do brown trout hold in Lake Michigan?
Look on river, creek / stream, lake — around Chicago, Michigan City, St. Joseph, Ludington, Manistee, Milwaukee.
What is the best bait for brown trout in Lake Michigan?
Live bait: minnows (fatheads, shiners), nightcrawlers, crayfish. Minnows (fatheads, shiners): Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores brown trout for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about brown trout · Lake Michigan, the whole year