Fish: They’re just like us! Some prefer warm water, some prefer cool, and they are drawn to places with the most food and the perfect temperature. For those who fish, this means knowing exactly where to look to find the kind of fish that they want, including in Lake Michigan.
Here’s what to know about the lives of some of Lake Michigan’s most common fish.
Lake trout
10 to 30 feet down
Lake trout prefer water temperatures of around 40 to 55 degrees and may stay in shallower areas during the spring, fall and winter.
Largemouth bass
Less than 20 feet down
Largemouth bass enjoy warm waters of up to 85 degrees. They prefer clear waters with no current but stay at the bottom of the lake during the winter.
Lake sturgeon
15 to 30 feet down
Lake sturgeon prefer to stay near to the shore and feed along the lake bottom, picking up snails, crustaceans, aquatic insects and mussels. Sturgeon are one of the oldest species in the Great Lakes and can live up to 100 years.
Perch
20 to 50 feet down
Perch move to shallower water after spawning.
Brown trout
More than 70 feet down
Brown trout are tough to catch as their depth habits are not well understood by fishermen. It is believed that they look for colder water temperatures.
Chinook salmon
Less than 100 feet down
Chinook spend most of their lives in the open water.
Whitefish
Up to 200 feet
Whitefish prefer cooler water temperatures and stick to deeper sections of the lake, especially in the summer.
Rainbow trout
More than 200 feet
When in Lake Michigan, rainbow trout feed on small insects, fish and crayfish.
Feature photo by Jonás Tijerino