DIY Lake Michigan Fishing

Northwest Indiana has a thriving charter fishing industry on Lake Michigan, many of which are affiliated with Indiana’s North Coast Charter Association – charterfish.org. Where do these anglers originate? An informal survey of the captains in INCCA reports that more than half of their customers are not local - “local” defined as people who live near enough to Lake Michigan to commute to the marina to meet their captain the morning of their fishing trip. 

That definition leaves lots of gray area. Some groups leave their home in the wee hours of the night to be at the marina on time, while others living an hour’s drive or less from the lake elect to get a hotel room near the marina, rather than just commute in the morning.

Is reserving a charter boat the only way for “non-local” anglers to experience Northwest Indiana’s world-class, big-water fish and fishing opportunities? Not if they have their own boat and gear. 
In fact, most of the fish caught in Indiana’s portion of Lake Michigan are NOT caught by anglers fishing from chartered boats. Nor are they caught from boats moored in one of the many private or public marinas. 

Most of the fish – especially at certain times of the year - are caught by anglers fishing out of privately owned boats that are trailered to the lake on a daily basis, launched from publicly-owned access ramps for the day and then loaded back on their trailer and hauled back home at the end of the trip. 

While many local recreational anglers invest in boats that enable them to fish all season long with the same gear Indiana charter operators use, many more successfully fish with more modest boats and much of the same equipment they use on Midwestern inland lakes.  

Though limit catches are possible, remember, the number of fish caught is only one measure of success for an angler. Learning new waters, mastering new techniques and planning the strategies that get fish on the line are equally satisfying for many, and that doesn’t matter if the angler lives two miles from the lake or two hundred. 

Northwest Indiana’s part of Lake Michigan is a perfect destination for anglers willing to bring their own boat and tackle. 
 

What Fish You Can Catch on Lake Michigan

Coho salmon are the most popular target species. In March, April and May special gear isn’t required to get them on the line. Standard crankbaits used to catch bass and walleye on inland lakes are effective.

More challenging, but well worth the effort, are Skamania steelhead, the strain of steelhead “engineered” to come close to shore – especially in Porter and LaPorte County – during the summer months. Crankbaits and large spoons in vibrant colors will produce plenty of strikes. 

In September and October, the coho and king salmon Indiana’s DNR stocked as tiny fingerlings a few years earlier are now fully grown trophies and available nearshore at East Chicago, Portage and Michigan City. Trolling with crankbaits and large spoons will attract strikes, with the best action often occurring at dawn and dusk.    

Learn more about what fish you can catch in the region and when here.

Where to Launch a Boat on Lake Michigan

Lake County

• Hammond Marina
  701 Casino Center Drive, Hammond, IN
  Accessible via surface streets or Exit 0 on I-90.
• East Chicago Marina
  Located just off State Road 912 (Cline Avenue), with easy access from I-80/94.
  Convenient for anglers traveling from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio.

Porter County

• Sammie Maletta Marina
  1200 Marina Way, Portage, IN
  Just north of I-94 via Exit 19. After launching, follow the river downstream (right) to reach the lake.

LaPorte County

• Washington Park
  200 Heisman Harbor Rd., Michigan City, IN
  Closest access to the lake, though sand can make launching boats over 20 feet difficult.
• Sprague Point Marina
  200 E Street, Michigan City, IN
  Located upstream in Trail Creek with well-maintained ramps.

Northwest Indiana offers dozens of hotels, along with plenty of restaurants, fuel stops, and tackle shops, including Bass Pro Shops in Portage and Cabela’s in Hammond.

To plan your trip to the area, visit alongthesouthshore.com and request a visitor guide. Short-term rentals are also widely available through Airbnb and VRBO within easy driving distance of Lake Michigan access points.