If you enjoy the meditative qualities of fishing but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on a charter boat trip or lakeside cabin waaaay up north, try some of these local fishing spots — within a short drive, walk or bicycle trip from Metro GR.
Please note: Anyone 17 years of age or older must purchase a license when fishing in Michigan.
Where to go and what you’ll catch (in alphabetical order)
Big Pine Island Lake (Grattan Township, Mich.)
Black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass
Camp Lake (Sparta, Mich.)
Black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch
Flat River (Ionia County, Kent County, Montcalm County)
Small-mouth bass
Grand River below Sixth Street Dam (Grand Rapids)
Channel catfish, salmon (fall), smallmouth bass, steelhead (fall, winter and spring), walleye
Murray Lake (Near Lowell)
Muskellunge
Reeds Lake (East Grand Rapids)
Black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch
Rogue River (downstream of Rockford Dam)
Brown trout, rainbow trout (mixture of resident fish and steelhead), salmon (fall)
Rogue River (upstream of Rockford Dam)
Brown trout and rainbow trout
There are many other nearby fishing holes. Go here for more info.
