The Great Lakes are full of big fish. Have you ever wondered what big fish lurk in the Great Lakes? In this article, I highlight to the top big fish in the Great Lakes for you!
Big Fish in the Great Lakes
| Fish Species | Description | Best Fishing Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Sturgeon | Ancient fish that can exceed 7 feet and 200 pounds. They prefer deep, rocky water and river mouths. | Heavy tackle with nightcrawlers, crawfish, or cut bait. |
| Chinook Salmon | Also called King Salmon, these powerful fish can exceed 30 pounds and are popular in all the great lakes. | Troll spoons or plugs in deep water using downriggers. In the rivers, use salmon roe. |
| Lake Trout | Native Great Lakes trout that can live for decades. They prefer cold, deep, well-oxygenated water. | Deep-water jigging, fish-imitating lures, live bait, and ice fishing. Jerkbaits in the spring. |
| Walleye | One of the Great Lakes’ most popular game fish. Walleye are found in all five Great Lakes and are excellent table fare. | Night fishing, jigging with live bait, and trolling crankbaits are proven methods. |
Lake Sturgeon
First up on my list is the lake sturgeon. They’ve been around for over 100 million years! They are found throughout the great lakes and pack a punch when fishing for them.
Characteristics and Size
Lake sturgeon are absolute units. They can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh over 200 pounds. To put that in perspective, that’s about the size of a grizzly bear! These prehistoric fish have a unique appearance with armored scales.
Where to Find Them
Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. They tend to hang out in deep, rocky areas and near river mouths. I remember this one time on Lake Michigan, I was fishing near a river outlet and caught one! I thought I’d snagged the bottom, but nope. It was a sturgeon!
Fishing Tips
Now, if you’re planning on trying your luck with sturgeon, listen up. These aren’t your average fish, so you’ll need to gear up accordingly:
- Use heavy tackle and strong line – trust me, you don’t want to lose your gear to one of these behemoths.
- For bait, nightcrawlers, crawfish, or cut bait work best. I’ve had the most luck with big, juicy nightcrawlers.
- Here’s the most important tip: practice catch-and-release. Sturgeon are a threatened species, so conservation is essential.
Chinook Salmon
Next up, we’ve got the Chinook salmon, also known as King Salmon. These are hard fighting fish that deserve to be on the big fish in the Great Lakes list! I have spent a lot of time on the rivers and trolling in my boat for king salmon. They pack a hard fight and taste great for dinner!
Characteristics and Size
These beauties can weigh over 30 pounds. They’re silver with black spots and a blue/green back. I’ll never forget the first King I caught in a Lake Ontario tributary. What a rush!
Prime Locations
If you’re after Chinook, you’ll want to focus on Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario. These lakes are hotspots for some seriously big Kings. During the summer months, they tend to hang out in deep, open waters. I’ve had some of my best luck trolling the deep basins of Lake Ontario in late July. These fish move around with the water temperature. Running a fish hawk is a must.
Fishing Techniques
Here’s how to up your chances of landing one of these beauties:
- Trolling with spoons or plugs is highly effective. I prefer bright colors like chartreuse or orange – they seem to get the Kings attention.
- Downriggers are your friend here. They’ll help you reach those deep-dwelling fish that are often in cooler water. If you don’t have downriggers, magnum dipsy divers work just as well. You just have to deal with lot’s of line out of the back.
- Time your trips right. The best fishing times are usually early morning or late evening. I’ve had some incredible catches just as the sun was coming up over the lake.
Lake Trout
Alright, moving on to the lake trout. These guys are the true natives of the Great Lakes, and they’re tough as nails.
Characteristics and Size
Lake trout can live up to 40 years and grow to 4 feet long. They’re usually dark green to a grayish color with light spots. I once caught a 20-pounder that was easily older than me.
Habitat Preferences
These fish like it cold and deep. You’ll find them in the deepest parts of all five Great Lakes, where the water is cold and oxygenated. I remember this one trip to Lake Superior where we were fishing in nearly 200 feet of water. It felt like we were trying to catch fish from another planet!
Angling Strategies
Here’s how to target these deep giants:
- Jigging in deep water can be very productive. I like to use heavy jigs tipped with cut bait. With forward facing sonar being popular now, that’s the way to go.
- Lures or live bait work well too. Cisco or smelt are lake trout favorites. Use lures that mimic those.
- Don’t forget about ice fishing! Some of my biggest lake trout have come through the ice in the dead of winter. Lake Superior is known for this.
Walleye
Walleye are the most fished for on the Great Lakes. Mainly because of their abundance and they are tasty. If you are after walleye, look no further than Saginaw Bay or Lake Erie.
Characteristics and Size
Your average walleye runs about 2-3 pounds. However, there are walleye out there in the 10 plus range. They’ve got this beautiful golden and olive color and large eyes that seem to glow in low light. The eyes give them excellent night vision.
Walleye Fishing Locations
All 5 Great Lakes have walleye. Anglers chase them all over the North. Saginaw Bay and Lake Erie stand out as the top fisherman destinations around the Great Lakes. There are a few techniques to catch walleye that stand out above the rest.
Fishing Methods
- Night fishing can be incredibly productive. I’ve had some of my best catches under a full moon. Trolling or casting from shore both work. If you are casting from shore, do it in the fall.
- Jigs tipped with shiners or nightcrawlers are my go-to. There’s something about that slow, bouncing action that walleyes just can’t resist.
- When fishing open water, try trolling with crankbaits. I like to use deep diving lures that mimic local baitfish. Bandits, Reef Runners, and Perfect 10’s are great lures to troll with.
