Bait-shops in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties

Grand Traverse main fishing lakes are Long Lake for walleyes and smallmouth bass. Duck and Green Lake for bass and pike., with lots of smelt being caught on Green Lake in the winter. Leelanau County main lakes are Lake Leelanau for walleye and smallmouth bass, Big Glen and Small Glen for perch and trout. One of the Greatest king salmon fisheries is off the North Manitou “crib” in July and August. Leelanau County also has the Sleeping Bear National Park which is a must see if you are in the area. Grand Traverse County has the two bays East and West which are boaters paradise, with the meeting place at Power Island on West Bay. Also a Great lake trout fishery in May and June, with the salmon showing up in late July and August.

963 Hammond Rd. Traverse City, Mi 49684
231-946-5633

Has a full line of Bait and tackle

11690 S. Lacore St.
Empire, MI 49630
231-326-5433
 

Has a full line of minnows and tackle

Havens’ Interlochen Party Store

2614 M-137, Interlochen, MI 49643

(231) 276-3351

Has a full line of bait and tackle

228 E. State St. Fife Lake, MI

(231) 879-3341 

They have crawlers and worms in the summer, they will handle minnows in the winter

5914 S. Ray Street Glen Arbor Mi 49636
231-334-3872

Handles crawlers and worms, has full line of tackle

Roadside Minnows

8041 S. Good harbor Trl. Cedar, Mi 49621

231-954-5229

Roadside minnows

 
85 W Philip St
Lake Leelanau, Michigan 49653
(231) 994-2108

minnow and tackle

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Here’s a comprehensive Michigan fishing report covering July 4–10, 2025:

🎣 July 4, 2025 – Lake Michigan (Ludington area) • Tough bite early in the day. Surface temps ~66°F and ~46°F at 60 ft depth. • Ludington charters report: landed multiple Chinook kings and steelhead using copper rigs, divers, and Dreamweaver meat rigs. 8 bites resulted in 8 fish including lake trout and kings .Mid-Week Highlights (Statewide & Great Lakes)Big Rapids area • Excellent panfish action (bluegills, sunfish) in Rogers’ Pond using cane pole, worms, and small jigs. Deep-water action via drop-shot rigs yielded ~25 fish sessions .Manistee & Ludington (Lake Michigan shoreline) • Chinook, coho salmon, and lake trout being caught offshore: • Manistee: in 120–220 ft using spoons, early morning best; bass action from piers on spinners and soft plastics . • Ludington: coho and Chinook in 120–220 ft, 70–120 ft deep fish—variety of spoons, flies, meat rigs; pier bass also productive .Onekama & Rogers City • Onekama: Chinook and lake trout trolling in 90–120 ft; • Rogers City: inconsistent but still sees lake trout, Chinook, coho, steelhead in 65–100 ft depths .July 9–10, 2025 – Inland & River ReportsIonia County (Grand River near Weber Dam) • Largemouth & smallmouth bass, plus flathead catfish are biting .Washtenaw County (South Lake) • Solid bluegill action—one group landed 31 fish .Monroe County (Lake Erie tributaries) • Walleye in 22–25 ft; crawlers effective. Bass along Pointe Mouillee and Crystal Waters using soft plastics .Southwest Lower Peninsula (South Haven, St. Joseph, Muskegon, Grand Haven) • South Haven: a few king & coho in ~100 ft offshore; pier perch in 30 ft . • St. Joseph: coho, Chinook, steelhead in 75–100 ft; catfish & drum on piers with shrimp/nightcrawler . • Muskegon: a few salmon and steelhead in 80–150 ft; pier drum on bright spoons . • Grand Haven: slight increase in salmon (50–90 ft); pier drum also noted .Northeast Lower Peninsula (Cheboygan, Tawas, Oscoda, Harrisville, Rogers City) • Cheboygan: lake trout on spin‑n‑glos at reefs; river walleye, bass, panfish on crawlers/crankbaits . • Tawas/Au Gres: walleye limits near Charity Island (10–15 ft); catfish, bass, drum mixed in . • Oscoda/Au Sable: walleye, catfish off piers; offshore lake trout, steelhead, coho, occasional salmon . • Harrisville: lake trout limits in 110–150 ft, spin‑n‑glos best; steelhead, coho, pink salmon in 70–120 ft . • Rogers City: still catching lake trout, Chinook, steelhead, Atlantic salmon; best depths around 65–100 ft .📌 Key Hot Spots Summary • Rogers’ Pond, Big Rapids – excellent panfish action. • Manistee & Ludington shorelines – salmon and lake trout in deep water; bass from piers. • Grand River near Weber Dam (Ionia) – bass & catfish. • South Lake (Washtenaw Co.) – bluegill bonanza. • Charity Island (Tawas) – great walleye fly-and-nightcrawler fishery. • Cheboygan reefs – lake trout. • Harrisville waters – lake trout and steelhead mix.Insights & Tips • Deep waters & early starts are key on Lake Michigan—salmon and trout found between 70–220 ft. • River/shore bite remains strong on bass, walleye, and panfish across inland systems. • Panfish anglers doing well across small inland lakes and ponds—worms, jigs, drop-shots are working.See MoreSee Less

Here’s a comprehensive Michigan fishing report covering July 4–10, 2025:
⸻
🎣 July 4, 2025 – Lake Michigan (Ludington area)
•   Tough bite early in the day. Surface temps ~66°F and ~46°F at 60 ft depth.
•   Ludington charters report: landed multiple Chinook kings and steelhead using copper rigs, divers, and Dreamweaver meat rigs. 8 bites resulted in 8 fish including lake trout and kings  .
⸻
Mid-Week Highlights (Statewide & Great Lakes)
Big Rapids area
•   Excellent panfish action (bluegills, sunfish) in Rogers’ Pond using cane pole, worms, and small jigs. Deep-water action via drop-shot rigs yielded ~25 fish sessions  .
Manistee & Ludington (Lake Michigan shoreline)
•   Chinook, coho salmon, and lake trout being caught offshore:
•   Manistee: in 120–220 ft using spoons, early morning best; bass action from piers on spinners and soft plastics  .
•   Ludington: coho and Chinook in 120–220 ft, 70–120 ft deep fish—variety of spoons, flies, meat rigs; pier bass also productive  .
Onekama & Rogers City
•   Onekama: Chinook and lake trout trolling in 90–120 ft;
•   Rogers City: inconsistent but still sees lake trout, Chinook, coho, steelhead in 65–100 ft depths  .
⸻
July 9–10, 2025 – Inland & River Reports
Ionia County (Grand River near Weber Dam)
•   Largemouth & smallmouth bass, plus flathead catfish are biting  .
Washtenaw County (South Lake)
•   Solid bluegill action—one group landed 31 fish  .
Monroe County (Lake Erie tributaries)
•   Walleye in 22–25 ft; crawlers effective. Bass along Pointe Mouillee and Crystal Waters using soft plastics  .
Southwest Lower Peninsula (South Haven, St. Joseph, Muskegon, Grand Haven)
•   South Haven: a few king & coho in ~100 ft offshore; pier perch in 30 ft  .
•   St. Joseph: coho, Chinook, steelhead in 75–100 ft; catfish & drum on piers with shrimp/nightcrawler  .
•   Muskegon: a few salmon and steelhead in 80–150 ft; pier drum on bright spoons  .
•   Grand Haven: slight increase in salmon (50–90 ft); pier drum also noted  .
Northeast Lower Peninsula (Cheboygan, Tawas, Oscoda, Harrisville, Rogers City)
•   Cheboygan: lake trout on spin‑n‑glos at reefs; river walleye, bass, panfish on crawlers/crankbaits  .
•   Tawas/Au Gres: walleye limits near Charity Island (10–15 ft); catfish, bass, drum mixed in  .
•   Oscoda/Au Sable: walleye, catfish off piers; offshore lake trout, steelhead, coho, occasional salmon  .
•   Harrisville: lake trout limits in 110–150 ft, spin‑n‑glos best; steelhead, coho, pink salmon in 70–120 ft  .
•   Rogers City: still catching lake trout, Chinook, steelhead, Atlantic salmon; best depths around 65–100 ft  .
⸻
📌 Key Hot Spots Summary
•   Rogers’ Pond, Big Rapids – excellent panfish action.
•   Manistee & Ludington shorelines – salmon and lake trout in deep water; bass from piers.
•   Grand River near Weber Dam (Ionia) – bass & catfish.
•   South Lake (Washtenaw Co.) – bluegill bonanza.
•   Charity Island (Tawas) – great walleye fly-and-nightcrawler fishery.
•   Cheboygan reefs – lake trout.
•   Harrisville waters – lake trout and steelhead mix.
⸻
Insights & Tips
•   Deep waters & early starts are key on Lake Michigan—salmon and trout found between 70–220 ft.
•   River/shore bite remains strong on bass, walleye, and panfish across inland systems.
•   Panfish anglers doing well across small inland lakes and ponds—worms, jigs, drop-shots are working.
⸻

This Saturday! Come on out! See MoreSee Less

Photos from NWMI Fishing Club’s post See MoreSee Less

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Happy Father’s Day take your son or daughter Fishing See MoreSee Less

Happy Father’s Day take your son or  daughter Fishing
Happy Flag Day

Photos from NWMI Fishing Club’s post See MoreSee Less

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