The focal point of the Ludington fishery is Big Point Sable. Structure stretching north to Manistee and south almost to the harbor attracts schools of naturally spawned kings and salmon to “the Shelf,” a dropoff that plunges from 60 to 120 feet. The problem is, boats collect there, too, resulting in horrendous traffic in July and August.

Fishermen are faced with making a choice -- either leave very early and deal with the crowds or head in the opposite direction to an area near the Consumer’s Energy Project.

The saying at Ludington about kings is “If it don’t glow, it don’t go.”

The hottest fishing for kings occurs in low-light conditions and glow lures excel then. Hot baits include Dreamweaver glow-in-the-dark spoons, Pro King, Moonshine, Fishlander and Silver Streak. Glow flashers mated to mirage, blue bubble and pearl flies took limits of kings all season. Plugs were productive later in the season.

To sample Ludington’s fantastic salmon fishing, contact Capt. Bill Warner at (810) 730-3818 or at his Web site, www.wonka@tir.com . For information on lodging, camping and other amenities, contact the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 542-4600 or online at www.ludingtoncvb.com .

MUSKEGON
Muskegon doesn’t receive much notoriety for its excellent big-lake fishing, but it should. Muskegon offers great boat launch facilities, easy access to the lake and few anglers.

“I’d say overall last year was better than 2006,” claimed charter captain Scott Shelagowski who runs his 35-foot Viking Wound Up out of Muskegon. “We didn’t get as many fish over 20 pounds as we did the previous year, but the fishing was tremendous, especially for kings. July was really hot. August slowed down a hair, but we still had great fishing.”

Shelagowski said that the kings ran smaller, with most in the 5- to 15-pound range, but there was no shortage of spunky salmon.

Like most Lake Michigan ports, Shelagowski said the great fishing started early.

“The end of May was good and June was solid,” he said. “The spring fishing was mainly for kings and lake trout. I don’t ever target lakers, but they were there.”

When the fishing really turned on in July, Shelagowski said they were catching a nice mixed bag.

“There were lots of nice cohos around in July along with a few browns and steelheads,” he said.

Shelagowski said wherever you fish around Muskegon you must deal with nets. Anglers have the option of running south to fish near Mona Lake or north to Duck Lake, but in either direction, you must deal with nets.

“There’s more physical structure to the north, so many times we’ll head that way,” Shelagowski said.

Many of the same baits that produce at Grand Haven or Ludington work at Muskegon.

“I’ve got to say that one of the hottest baits for me last year was Yeck Lure’s new holographic colors in the blue and green Dolphin in the magnum-sized spoon,” Shelagowski said. “Day in and day out, those were my bread and butter.”

For more information, contact Captain Scott Shelagowski at (616) 890-3468 or online at www.sscharters.com .

GRAND HAVEN
“Last year was the best July fishing that I’ve ever seen in Grand Haven,” said Captain Willis Kerridge, who runs his 36-foot Tiara charter boat Thunder Duck Too out of the port. “We had prevailing winds that kept the water cool and the fish stayed around. Usually, fishing slows from mid-June through mid-July, but we took limits of kings.”