Scumlines can be found over 200 to 800 feet of water up to 25 miles offshore. Use the Coastwatch maps to pinpoint breaks. Rainbows will be cruising a few feet under the surface. Use in-line planers and divers in the top 20 feet. Orange spoons are the ticket. For information on booking a charter, contact the Ludington Area Charter Boat Association at 1-800-927-3470 or www.LudingtonCharterboats.org.

Cass Lake Largemouths

Cass Lake is one of the best largemouth lakes in the Greater Detroit area. Bucketmouths pushing 5 pounds are common. Use white spinnerbaits, jig-and-pig combos and plastic worms. Concentrate on boat docks, weedlines and other structures. Prime areas are off Marsh Park, in Mud Bay and along the area known as “The Guts.” For more information, contact KD Outdoors at (248) 666-7799.

AUGUST

Rogers City Kings

Trolling for chinooks gets hot in August off Rogers City. Hefty plants of kings at Swan Bay ensure plenty of returning salmon. Anglers intercept them one mile east of Adams Point along structure that runs out 1  1/2 miles into the lake. Concentrate on the 100-foot depths. Between Adams Point and Quarry Point is another hotspot.

Kings are taken on a variety of magnum spoons, flashers and plugs. Downriggers and divers are a mainstay, but lead-core line is gaining a following at Rogers City.

For more information, contact the Rogers City Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-622-4148 or online at www.rogerscity.com.

Au Train Lake Pike

Alger County’s Au Train Lake gives up big northerns in the 30- to 36-inch range. Try near the mouth of Buck Bay and near weed edges in 15 to 30 feet of water. The favorite forage is suckers. Soak one under a big bobber or cast muskie-sized baits for the biggest pike. For details, call (906) 293-5131.

Prickett Dam Backwater Bass

An impoundment of the Sturgeon River, Baraga County’s Prickett Dam Backwater is excellent for both smallmouths and largemouths. Dropoffs, islands, weedbeds and coves hold bass to 5 pounds. Topwater baits are excellent.

SEPTEMBER

Manistee River Chinooks

Chinooks begin moving into the river around Labor Day. Good locations are upstream from Manistee, Rainbow Bend and Bear Creek. Fresh-run fish stack up in the holes, where they can be taken on skein spawn, spinners and plugs. The best fishing is on overcast days or early and late in the day. Rains can jumpstart moody salmon. Try fishing during the week to avoid angler traffic. Glow-in-the-dark and pearl are good lure colors. Try chartreuse or green spinners as well.

For more information, call 1-888-584-9860.

Au Sable River Trout & Bass

Cool nights spur the Au Sable River’s trout and bass into a feeding frenzy in September between the Alcona and Loud dams. Floating while casting stickbaits and crankbaits takes bass to 5 pounds and browns pushing 8 pounds. Try gold- or crawdad-colored baits.

Hamlin Lake Panfish

Expect limit catches of big sunfish, bluegills and crappies during September. Use larva for the sunfish and ’gills, and minnows for the specks. Try off Partridge Point, The Narrows and Wilson Park.

OCTOBER

Muskegon Lake Walleyes

Walleyes go on a feeding binge as the waters of Muskegon Lake cool. Use a trolling motor for stealth. Anglers take ’eyes in the double-digit range. Best action is after dark. Work the 12- to 17-foot contours with body baits weighted with two or three No. 7 split shot. Keep light and noise to a minimum to prevent spooking fish.

To book a Muskegon Lake walleye charter, contact T.G.I.F. Charters at (231) 773-7447.

Lake St. Clair Muskies

Speed-trolling with Believers, T-3 Terminators and Wileys behind planer boards and with down-rods takes plenty of muskies to 30 pounds and bigger. Contact Miller’s Sport Fishing Charters at (734) 429-9551.

Platte River Cohos

Use polarized glasses to spot fish holding near cover. Cast spawn, spinners or flies to goad salmon into striking. Access can be gained at bridges near the town of Honor. Consult the fishing guide for restrictions.

NOVEMBER

Eel Lake Muskies

Gogebic County’s Eel Lake’s small size makes finding muskies easy, but catching them is difficult. Cast with big spinnerbaits and bucktails, or fish a big sucker under a bobber. Access the lake off USFS Trail 326. There is a public access on the south end of the lake. Expect to catch a lot of sub-legal muskies before a trophy. For details, call (906) 353-6651.

Singing Bridge Trout

Surf-anglers can catch a smorgasbord of trout and salmon off the mouth of the East Branch of the Au Gres River near Singing Bridge in November. Steelhead, browns and lake trout are common catches. Anglers soak spawn bags or cast spoons.

Bond Falls Flowage Muskies

An impoundment of the Ontonagon River, Bond Falls Flowage has a good population of muskies that turn on in November. Located east of Paulding, hardy anglers troll big crankbaits and body baits or cast giant bucktails for muskies that can approach 50 inches.

DECEMBER

Portage Lake Pike

First ice is best for big pike on Houghton County’s Portage Lake. Pike in the 15- to 20-pound range are common. Use medium-sized suckers and shiners over scattered weedbeds. Try off U.S. 41 north of Chassell and in Pike Bay.

For more information, contact the Keweenaw Tourism Council at (906) 482-2388 or www.keweenaw.org.

Lake Gogebic Perch

First ice produces hot action for perch up to 16 inches on Lake Gogebic. Limits are common in December. Slip-bobbers suspending wigglers or minnows are good on the 20- to 30-foot flats.

Munuscong Bay Perch

Ice-anglers put a hurtin’ on big perch on first ice on Munuscong Bay in 3 to 4 feet of water. Try jigging spoons, or dead rods with minnows. Many times just a minnow head is all you need.     l

Find more about Michigan fishing and hunting at: MichiganSportsmanMag.com