Spinners
Mepps Aglia Inline Spinner
A classic spinner for trout, bass, and salmon in moving water.
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Lakes & Reservoirs
Spin, Cast & Bait
Lake Michigan (Frankfort) Fishing Guide
Michigan
Lake Michigan off Frankfort, where the DNR lists browns, lake trout, and steelhead in winter and spring and salmon from summer into fall.
Trip at a Glance
Anglers come to Lake Michigan (Frankfort) for brown trout, lake trout, steelhead, chinook salmon and coho salmon. In October, steelhead, chinook salmon and coho salmon are in season, and Suspending Jerkbait, Paddle-Tail Swimbait and Casting Spoon are a good place to start. There are 5 shops within 25 miles (1 fly, 4 bait and tackle); the closest is Frankfort Tackle Box in Frankfort, about 1 mi away. Manistee River is also nearby if you want to make a trip of it.
Season at a Glance
Brown Trout
Lake Trout
Steelhead
Chinook Salmon
Coho Salmon
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What You'll Catch
Lake Michigan (Frankfort) Species
Brown Trout
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best: Jan to May
Lake Trout
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best: Jan to Aug
Steelhead
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best: Jan to May, Sep to Oct
Chinook Salmon
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best: Jun to Oct
Coho Salmon
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best: Jun to Oct
Images: USFWS; Timothy Knepp, USFWS; Michael Humling, USFWS. Public domain.
Plan by Month
What to Use
Month
Fish
3 picks for October. marks species in season in October.
Suspending Jerkbait 4 to 5 in
LureHard Bait · Brown Trout
Shop This LurePaddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in
LureSoft Plastic · Lake Trout · Jigged deep.
Shop This LureCasting Spoon 1/4 to 1 oz
LureSpoon · Lake Trout · Shallow after ice-out.
Shop This Lure
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Rod & Reel
Recommended Setups
Brown Trout
Fly 9 ft 5 or 6 wt rod, floating line for dries and nymphs, sink-tip with 0X to 2X for streamers.
Spin / Cast 6.5 to 7 ft light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 6 to 8 lb line. Jerkbaits and inline spinners.
Lake Trout
Fly 8 to 9 wt rod with a full-sink line when fish are shallow after ice-out.
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-heavy spinning or baitcasting rod, 20 to 30 lb braid with a fluorocarbon leader, or downrigger trolling gear.
Steelhead
Fly 11 to 13 ft 7 or 8 wt spey or switch rod with a Skagit head and sink tips, or a 10 ft 8 wt single hand rod with an indicator rig.
Spin / Cast 8.5 to 10.5 ft medium-light rod, 3000 spinning reel, 8 to 12 lb line. Float and jig or drift rigs.
Chinook Salmon
Fly 10 ft 9 or 10 wt rod, sink-tip line, 15 to 20 lb leader.
Spin / Cast 9 to 10.5 ft medium-heavy casting rod, line-counter or levelwind reel, 20 to 30 lb line.
Matched to These Species
Gear for Lake Michigan (Frankfort)
Rods
Ugly Stik Bigwater Trolling Rod
A long, forgiving trolling rod for downriggers and planer boards.
Check PriceNets & Tools
Frabill Rubber Mesh Landing Net
A fish-friendly rubber net that does not tangle hooks.
Check PriceHard Baits
Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait
A suspending jerkbait that shines in cold, clear water.
Check PriceSpoons
Acme Kastmaster Spoon
A dense spoon that casts a mile and flutters on the fall.
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Within 25 Miles
Shops Near Lake Michigan (Frankfort)
Within 25 Miles
Guides and Charters Near Lake Michigan (Frankfort)
Charter
Chromeseekers Sportfishing
Frankfort, Michigan· 1 mi
912 Main St 248-229-7226
Per their website: Half-Day Trips, Full-Day Trips, Lake Trips, River Trips
GuideFly Fishing
Fresh Coast Fly
Interlochen, Michigan· 22 mi
1636 Round Lake Rd 231-313-4948
Per their website: Half-Day Trips, Full-Day Trips
Make It a Trip
Nearby Water
Rivers & Streams · Michigan
Manistee River
A big river below Tippy Dam with heavy salmon and steelhead runs.
Steelhead · Chinook Salmon · Brown Trout
Lakes & Reservoirs · Michigan · About 39 mi
Grand Traverse Bay
A large bay of northern Lake Michigan where the DNR lists lake trout, Chinook and coho salmon, and smallmouth bass as summer targets.
Lake Trout · Chinook Salmon · Coho Salmon
Rivers & Streams · Michigan
Pere Marquette River
A wild, free-flowing river with salmon in fall, steelhead in winter and spring, and resident browns.
Steelhead · Chinook Salmon · Brown Trout
Lakes & Reservoirs · Wisconsin · About 57 mi
Lake Michigan (Algoma)
Lake Michigan off Algoma in Kewaunee County, where state creel surveys counted more than 42,000 Chinook salmon kept in 2023, plus rainbows and coho.
Chinook Salmon · Rainbow Trout · Coho Salmon
Lakes & Reservoirs · Wisconsin · About 75 mi
Lake Michigan (Manitowoc)
Lake Michigan off Manitowoc and Two Rivers, where state creel surveys counted more than 17,000 Chinook salmon kept in 2023, plus rainbows, coho, and lake trout.
Chinook Salmon · Rainbow Trout · Coho Salmon
Rivers & Streams · Michigan
Au Sable River
Birthplace of Trout Unlimited. Holy Water dries and night-time Hex hatches.
Brown Trout · Brook Trout