Sizeable Steelheads in Lake Michigan

About Me

As the captain of  Red Beard Guide Service, I take my guests to phenomenal fishing escapades in the prolific waters of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Booking with us means getting to experience what the area has to offer, along with its unlimited fishing opportunities. You have nothing to worry about being with me — I'm a well-versed guide and someone who has plenty of tricks up in his sleeves. With my years of experience on the water and familiarity with the locale, there’s a huge possibility that you’ll go home with a catch of a lifetime.

I am not only the captain of my guide service, but I'm also a captain for the United States Coast Guard, which adds to my amazing rep. Being an outdoor enthusiast, I welcomed experienced and novice anglers alike to share their love for basking in the beauty of nature through fishing. One of my favorite targets is steelhead trout, one of the most sought-after game fish in the ‘Great Lake State.'

Experiencing the Catch of a Lifetime in Lake Michigan

As anglers, when we talk about Lake Michigan, we think about its fantastic fishery that is home to several species of freshwater fish. This Great Lake has been nominated as the place for steelhead trout in the state because of the quantity and record fish found and caught from its vast waters. Steelhead trout residing in or migrating to Lake Michigan can reach up to 36 inches in length and up to 20 pounds. The average weight of adult steelhead you can find here is around 6 to 7 pounds. It is the lake to go to if you want to fish for Great Lakes steelhead. Not to say that Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, or Michigan rivers aren’t amazing, but Lake Michigan is just my favorite.

Steelhead fishing has become one of the most popular types of angling in Michigan. This lake trout species has also developed a reputation for being one of the most sought-after game fish in the state, rivaled only in popularity by chinook salmon or king salmon by local anglers and fly fishing enthusiasts. I love targeting these ferocious fish as well. Any angler would be proud to say they’ve caught steelhead from this lake.

Steelhead trout has an interesting history in Michigan. The genealogy of the fish we have today is a mix of many different species (including salmon, brown trout, and rainbow trout) that make up what we now recognize as the ‘Michigan steelhead.’ You can differentiate rainbow trout from steelhead trout by being aware of the latter’s migratory nature. Because steelhead trout migrate to massive bodies of water from the rivers where they were born (meaning they’re anadromous fish), they grow into amazing sizes because their forage base would have been richer in larger lakes. It is why there have been so many noteworthy steelhead trout caught from Lake Michigan. 

Steelhead trout can be caught almost any time in Michigan, especially in West Michigan. You’re in for a treat when you head to Lake Michigan in May, June, and early July. These are some of the most exciting months to fish in the lake for steelhead as they take to the surface to feed, and they grow at an incredible rate compared to their river trout brethren and hatchery fish. It’s been said that spring steelhead is the ‘Crown Jewel of the Great Lakes.’ It’s common to see some pretty hefty steelhead because they have a selection of main forage from minnows, alewives, and terrestrial insects to emerging aquatic life found in the Great Lake. Fall fishing is also excellent and produces tons of catches. You’ll find that the fish are in prime condition as they migrate back to spawning grounds. You may get some exciting jumps, drag-burning runs, and excellent table fare, especially when you fish late fall. Winter allows for an arguably easier time to target steelhead as they load up on food. Some of Michigan’s largest bodies of water don’t freeze, too, so you can cast your line freely. 

Lake Michigan has been progressing in terms of lake trout planting and restoration goals — another reason steelhead fishing here is top-notch. All but one of the major planting locations in Lake Michigan has witnessed significant natural reproduction. There have also been reports that vast numbers of lake trout caught by anglers on Lake Michigan’s west shore have been natural or were wild fish. It’s a good sign that means a sustainable population of lake trout is being re-established in Lake Michigan. That’s great news for us keen lake trout and steelhead anglers too.

I love fishing in Lake Michigan because the lake and its adjacent rivers have swelled due to these restoration efforts. It provides outstanding fishing opportunities for anglers fishing from the shore and streams. It also helps me and my charter service because there’s less need to dredge harbors and marinas. 

With all of these opportune conditions and factors that make Lake Michigan an excellent steelhead fishing spot, let me tell you about how I experienced a catch of a lifetime just recently. Early this April, I caught a 40-inch long by 23.25-inch wide steelhead in the lake near a bridge. It weighed in at 24 lbs — not that bad compared to the current state record, which I believe is a fish that was around 31 lbs. I felt immense excitement when I spotted and then successfully caught that mega beauty. I shared a photo of myself with it on my Instagram and thanked my friend who helped me net it. As you can see, my smile could not get any wider. 

Since that unforgettable bag, setting out to fish for steelhead and other species in Lake Michigan has excited me more. That experience truly reminded me why I’m lucky I get to fish in such an abundant body of water in my hometown. It has also rejuvenated my determination to get guests out there in the water along with my guide service and let them have the chance to experience their own catch of a lifetime. Next time you’re looking for some monster steelhead, set out to Lake Michigan and hit me up.

If you want to try out the prolific fishing in Michigan, book with Red Beard Guide Service to get the chance to reel in your own trophy fish! Visit our website and my Instagram for updates and more information.