Michigan has more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, the longest freshwater coastline in the world. There are also more than 11,000 inland lakes and thousands of miles of rivers and streams. You’ll find trout, salmon, walleye, bass, and perch in Michigan’s waters.
You can fish for muskie and smallmouth bass on Lake St. Clair near Detroit, walleye on Saginaw Bay, fall salmon below Tippy Dam, and wild brown trout in the Pere Marquette’s flies-only water. Much of the best fishing sits along one west Michigan loop, and an RV lets you camp beside the water and move from rivers to lakes while sleeping in the same bed.
Anyone 17 and older needs a valid Michigan fishing license. Be sure to check the Department of Natural Resources’ current fishing regulations before you go.
| Fishing spot | Best for | RV camping experience | Good to know |
| Lake St. Clair | Smallmouth, muskie | State park, electric sites | Charters common |
| Saginaw Bay | Walleye, perch | County park, electric sites | Ice fishing in winter |
| Lake Michigan (Ludington) | Salmon charters | State park, electric sites | No water hookups |
| Pere Marquette River | Fly fishing, steelhead | National forest, no hookups | Flies-only section |
| Manistee River | Fall salmon | Rustic state campground | Crowded in fall |
| Traverse City | Bay fishing, steelhead | State park, electric sites | Walk to town |
| Lake Leelanau | Walleye, smallmouth | Lakefront full hookups | Book early |
| Lake Charlevoix | Trout, smallmouth | State park, electric sites | Small-boat launch |
Fishing Spots in Michigan
Here are some of the best fishing spots in Michigan. You can fish for a variety of species, and you’ll enjoy Michigan’s vast differences in landscape and scenery while you’re outside.
Lake St. Clair
Located on Detroit’s northeast edge, Lake St. Clair covers 430 square miles. It’s part of the Great Lakes system, connecting Lake Huron to Lake Erie, and averages only about 10 feet deep. Yellow perch, walleye, smallmouth bass, and muskie are the lake’s four biggest draws. You’ll also find northern pike, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and sunfish.
You will find numerous fishing charters and guides to enhance your angling experience. Besides fishing, you can enjoy other outdoor activities, including swimming and water skiing.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Algonac State Park, on the St. Clair River north of the lake.
- Hookups: Two modern campgrounds with electric sites and a sanitation station.
- Fishing access: Shore fishing on the St. Clair River, known for walleye. Boat launches in Marine City and Algonac are within about 4 miles.
- Good to know: A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry.
- Best for: Charter trips and smallmouth anglers.
Saginaw Bay
Saginaw Bay is north of Detroit, on Lake Huron. The bay is known for summer walleye and perch fishing. In spring and fall, perch, bass, pike, crappie, bluegill, and catfish move into the shallows, and winter brings ice fishing.
Pinconning Park, on the bay’s western shore, is a good place to start. It has a floating fishing dock, a second fishing dock, and a boat launch, plus kayak rentals in summer.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Pinconning Park, a Bay County park minutes east of I-75.
- Hookups: Modern and semi-modern sites with 20- and 30-amp service; some have 50-amp. There’s an RV pumpout station.
- Fishing access: Fishing docks and a boat launch right in the park.
- Season: Open year-round.
- Best for: Walleye boaters and families.
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan boasts more than 185 marine species, including Chinook salmon, steelhead, and coho salmon in offshore waters. Grand Haven, Ludington, and St. Joe in western Michigan are perfect ports for that action. Ludington State Park is along the lake and has campgrounds with water and electric hookups and dump stations.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Ludington State Park, between Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake.
- Hookups: Three modern campgrounds with electric sites. There are no water hookups at sites, but there are water stations and a sanitation station.
- Fishing access: Lake Michigan beach, the Big Sable River below Hamlin Dam, and a boat launch on Hamlin Lake. Charters leave from Ludington.
- Good to know: Cedar Campground is open year-round.
- Best for: Charter salmon trips and multi-day stays.
Pere Marquette River
The Pere Marquette River, which flows to Lake Michigan at Ludington, is a renowned spot for fly fishing. Sixty-six miles of it are a designated National Wild and Scenic River, and it’s the longest undammed river system in the Lower Peninsula. It’s famous for salmon, steelhead, and brown trout. Fall is best for salmon, and spring and summer are best for trout.
The most popular stretch runs from M-37 near Baldwin to Gleason’s Landing. It’s flies-only, catch-and-release water.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Bowman Bridge Campground in Huron-Manistee National Forest, just below Gleason’s Landing near Baldwin.
- Hookups: None. It has 16 paved sites and a boat landing on the river.
- Season: Early May to mid-October.
- Second option: Ludington State Park, near the river’s lower end.
- Best for: Wading fly anglers and drift-boat trips.
Manistee River
Flowing into Lake Michigan, the Manistee River is one of Michigan’s top salmon and steelhead rivers. Tippy Dam, near Wellston, might be the best spot on the river to land trout and salmon. Anglers line the banks below the dam each fall for Chinook salmon, and spring brings steelhead. You can catch resident trout, too.
The Tippy Dam Recreation Area has an accessible fishing pier, two boat launches, and a fish-cleaning station.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Tippy Dam Recreation Area, a state-run campground below the dam.
- Hookups: None. It’s a rustic campground, open year-round.
- Second option: Tippy Dam Campground and Cabins, a private campground nearby with some electric sites, showers, and a dump station.
- Good to know: Fall salmon season draws big crowds. Arrive early for a spot on the bank.
- Best for: Salmon and steelhead anglers.
Traverse City and Grand Traverse Bay
Traverse City lies along the shore of Grand Traverse Bay, a deep arm of Lake Michigan. The Boardman River flows through downtown into West Grand Traverse Bay. The bay holds salmon, lake trout, and smallmouth bass, and the lower Boardman gets steelhead in spring and salmon in fall.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Traverse City State Park, on East Grand Traverse Bay just outside downtown.
- Hookups: About 350 sites, all with electric, including some 50-amp. There’s a dump and fill station.
- Fishing access: The mouth of Mitchell Creek, across the highway from the campground. Charters run from Traverse City marinas.
- Good to know: A paved trail connects the park to downtown.
- Best for: Families who want fishing and a town nearby.
Lake Leelanau
Lake Leelanau is on the Leelanau Peninsula northwest of Traverse City. At about 1 1/2 miles wide and 21 miles long, it covers roughly 8,600 acres across a north and a south basin. The DNR rates South Lake Leelanau’s walleye fishery as good to excellent. The lake also holds smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, and rock bass, and North Lake Leelanau has been stocked with brown and rainbow trout.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Lake Leelanau RV Park, on the lake’s shore.
- Hookups: All sites have full hookups with up to 50-amp service, plus free cable TV. Wi-Fi is available for purchase.
- Fishing access: Boat launch on site, with dock and boat rentals.
- Season: May through October.
- Best for: Walleye boaters who want full hookups.
Lake Charlevoix
Lake Charlevoix is another great option for fishing in Michigan. At more than 17,000 acres, it’s the state’s third-largest inland lake, stretching from Charlevoix to Boyne City with a south arm to East Jordan. You will find numerous access points around the lake. You can land smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, and rock bass, and the lake is stocked with lake trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Young State Park, on the lake’s eastern shore just outside Boyne City.
- Hookups: Three modern campgrounds with electric sites.
- Fishing access: A boat launch in the park, plus Mirror Pond for kids.
- Good to know: The in-park launch is for small boats. Use a public launch elsewhere on the lake for larger boats.
- Best for: Families and trout trollers.
How to Plan an RV Fishing Trip in Michigan
Here are some tips to plan an RV fishing trip in Michigan.
Choose an RV-Friendly Base Camp
- Get a Recreation Passport: It’s required for vehicle entry at state parks and state boat launches.
- Plan for electric-only sites: Most state park sites in this guide have electric but no water or sewer. Fill your tank at water stations.
- Book early: Popular state parks like Ludington and Young fill fast in summer.
- Pick a loop: Ludington, the Pere Marquette, Tippy Dam, and Traverse City sit close together along the west side of the state.
- Match camp to season: Rustic river campgrounds are best in fall salmon season; full-hookup lake resorts are great in summer.
Pack Your RV for a Fishing Trip
Here’s what to pack in your RV for a Michigan fishing trip.
- River gear: Waders and a fly rod for the Pere Marquette and Manistee.
- Big-lake gear: Heavier rods for salmon and trout trolling.
- Ice-fishing gear: For winter trips to Saginaw Bay.
- Cooler with ice: For getting your catch home for dinner.
- Water hose: For filling up at electric-only sites.
Know Before You Go
- Licenses: Anglers 17 and older need a license. One all-species license covers inland and Great Lakes waters.
- Gear-restricted water: Flies-only sections, like the Pere Marquette from M-37 to Gleason’s Landing, have special rules.
- Seasons: Trout, salmon, and other species have different seasons on different waters.
Check the Michigan Fishing Regulations before you go.
Find an RV for Your Michigan Fishing Trip
Michigan’s best fishing runs from Detroit’s big lake to the rivers of the west coast, and an RV keeps it all in reach. You can stay right on the shores of several fishing spots, so you can get out on the water first thing in the morning. Your RV is also a great way to carry bulky gear like waders, fishing rods, and coolers. You can fish several areas of the state, all in one trip, while sleeping in the same bed each night, and you can cook your fresh-caught fish the very same night you land it. Finally, RVing allows you to travel with a group, even if not everyone in the group is into fishing. Anglers can get out on the water while your fellow travelers head to the beaches, the dunes, or to explore Traverse City.
Find your RV for a Michigan fishing trip with RVshare.
