Learn all about the 5 Great Lakes of North America from a Lake Erie Fisherman! I will cover all the information you need to visit and fish all 5 Great Lakes!
The Five Great Lakes of North America
| Lake | Surface Area (sq mi / sq km) | Maximum Depth (ft / m) | Fishing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Superior | 31,700 / 82,100 | 1,333 / 406 | Salmon, Lake Trout, Steelhead, Smallmouth, Walleye, Norther Pike, and Perch. |
| Lake Michigan | 22,400 / 58,000 | 923 / 281 | Salmon, Lake Trout, Steelhead, Smallmouth, Walleye, Norther Pike, and Perch. |
| Lake Huron | 23,000 / 59,600 | 750 / 229 | Salmon, Lake Trout, Steelhead, Smallmouth, Walleye, Norther Pike, and Perch. |
| Lake Erie | 9,910 / 25,700 | 210 / 64 | Lake Trout, Steelhead, Smallmouth, Walleye, and Perch. |
| Lake Ontario | 7,340 / 19,000 | 802 / 244 | Salmon, Lake Trout, Steelhead, Smallmouth, Walleye, Norther Pike, and Perch. |
The Start of the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes were formed approximately 14,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. Massive glaciers covered the region. As they advanced, they scraped and eroded the land beneath them, creating deep basins. When the glaciers melted and retreated, these basins filled with water, forming what are now the five Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.
Fishing the Great Lakes
A Fishing Guide to the Great Lakes
I’ve spent more years than I care to admit chasing fish across all five Great Lakes, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that each lake has its own target species and method. What works on Erie in June won’t touch a fish on Superior. Here’s my rundown of each lake, the species you can target, and when to be on the water.
Lake Superior
Superior is the deepest, coldest, and most unforgiving of the five. This is not a lake you rush. The water stays frigid well into summer, and the fish behave accordingly.
Species: Lake trout are the signature catch here, along with coho and Chinook salmon, steelhead, brook trout, splake, and whitefish. In the river mouths and harbors you’ll also find smallmouth bass and northern pike.
Best times: Ice out (typically April) through early June is prime for lake trout as they hold shallow before the thermocline sets up. Salmon and steelhead fishing picks up in the tributaries during spring and again in fall (August) when fish stage for their spawning runs. Summer trolling for lake trout and salmon in open water runs July through August.
Lake Michigan
Michigan is my go-to for variety. It’s got the salmon fishery that made the Great Lakes famous, plus incredible bass and perch fishing close to shore.
Species: Chinook and coho salmon, steelhead, lake trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, walleye, and increasingly, lake whitefish.
Best times: Spring (April–May) is prime for trolling all species. Summer (June–August) is when the salmon fishery really turns on offshore, then in close. Fall (August and September) brings the salmon runs into rivers like the Manistee and St. Joseph, which is a spectacle in itself. Yellow perch fishing is excellent in late summer through fall in the nearshore waters. Don’t forget about the outstanding walleye fishing on the lake!
Lake Huron
Huron has changed a lot over my career. Saginaw Bay remains my go to area to fish. You can find walleye, salmon, steelhead, and smallmouth all in that area.
Species: Walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, lake trout, musky, and salmon.
Best times: Walleye fishing in Saginaw Bay is outstanding in spring (April–May) during pre-spawn and spawn runs, and again in fall. Smallmouth bass season runs strong from June through September, with the bite peaking in early summer. Muskie fishing in the North Channel and Georgian Bay is best in fall (September–October) when big fish feed heavily before winter.
Lake Erie
Erie is the shallowest and warmest of the lakes, which makes it productive. The walleye population is booming in Lake Erie. This is a top walleye destination. Don’t forget about the world class smallmouth fishing!
Species: Walleye is king here, but you’ll also find excellent yellow perch, smallmouth bass, lake trout, and steelhead.
Best times: Walleye fishing kicks off in earnest in March and April during the spawning run near the reefs and river mouths, then stays strong through the open-water season into fall. Summer is good fishing for both walleye and smallmouth bass. Yellow perch fishing heats up in the late summer in the western basin. Steelhead run the tributary creeks from October through spring.
Lake Ontario
Ontario doesn’t get the attention of the other lakes, but it’s quietly one of the best salmon and trout fisheries left in the system, with deep, cold water that supports the fish.
Species: Chinook and coho salmon, lake trout, brown trout, steelhead, and Atlantic salmon (part of an active restoration effort), plus smallmouth bass and walleye in the eastern basin.
Best times: Spring (April and May) is strong for brown trout and steelhead close to shore. Summer (June and August) is the heart of the salmon trolling season in deeper, cooler water offshore. Fall (September and October) brings the Chinook and coho runs into tributaries like the Salmon River, which draws anglers from all over the country. The Bay of Quinte on the eastern end is a walleye and bass destination in its own right, best fished May through September.
A quick note: regulations, seasons, and bag limits vary by state, province, and even by specific water body, and they change from year to year. Always check current fishing regulations for the exact location you’re heading to before you head out.
