Fishing the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes covers the lakes and their tributaries. The water people actually fish here is open lake, harbor mouths and the tributary runs.

5 species below, each with the baits that work, how to work them, where the fish hold, and the months they're worth targeting. October has the most species at peak (5).

What’s biting, month by month

The months each species is worth planning a trip around in the Great Lakes.

Which species are at their peak each month in the Great Lakes.
MonthAt their peak
JanuaryLake Trout · Steelhead
FebruaryLake Trout · Steelhead
MarchBrown Trout · Lake Trout · Steelhead
AprilBrown Trout · Steelhead
MayBrown Trout
JuneMuskie · Salmon
JulyMuskie · Salmon
AugustMuskie · Salmon
SeptemberBrown Trout · Lake Trout · Muskie · Salmon
OctoberBrown Trout · Lake Trout · Muskie · Salmon · Steelhead
NovemberBrown Trout · Lake Trout · Steelhead
DecemberLake Trout · Steelhead

Every species in the Great Lakes

5 species, each with what to throw, how to work it, where they hold and when they peak.

← All regions and freshwater guides