To book a charter with Capt. Chip Klein, contact him at (616) 677-1860 or www.hitmanfishingcharters.com. To learn more about marinas, amenities and things to see and do in Grand Haven, contact the Grand Haven-Spring Lake Visitors Bureau at 1-800-303-4092 or online at www.grandhavenchamber.org.

Ludington
Ludington was the port on the Great Lakes for chinook salmon in 2004. There's no reason to believe that it won't be again this year. Ludington has the perfect mix of structure, natural river mouths, protective points, regular plants and excellent angling amenities.

Chinooks typically show up at Ludington in mid-May. Look for schools of 5- to 15-pound kings to cluster straight out of the harbor in 50 to 100 feet of water and to the south off the Consumer's Energy Project. Beware of Indian nets off the project, because some are marked, others aren't. Spoons like Fishlanders and Pro Kings work well in the spring off divers, half-cores and shallow-set 'riggers.

Most years the kings scatter in June, giving Ludington anglers a chance to chase steelies on the offshore breaks and scumlines. Head northwest to 300 feet of water and head west. The steelhead are normally within a fathom of the surface, and in-line planers and divers trailing orange spoons are hard to beat.

The structure known as "The Ledge" off the Bath House at Ludington State Park is some of the finest chinook-attracting structure on the Great Lakes. Big schools of kings move in by mid-July, and their numbers build through early September. Best fishing is before light and at dark. Flashers and flies take the most fish.

For more information on booking a charter, lodging and amenities at Ludington, contact the Ludington Area Charter Boat Association at 1-800-927-3470 or online at www.LudingtonCharterBoats.org.

LAKE SUPERIOR
Think of Lake Superior and you automatically think of lake trout. If you do, you might be making a big mistake.

"I really didn't do anything different than I would fishing out of any other port," said Mike Lehto when I asked him about fishing out of Marquette last summer. "We put out some lead-core line, divers and downriggers, and never really put anything down deep for lake trout. About half the fish we caught during the two days were still lake trout, but we caught a bunch of kings, cohos and steelhead, too. It was fun fishing."

Anglers will find they don't have to go far at Marquette to find fish. A popular and productive spot is just off Presque Isle where anglers work the area referred to as "The Banks" for a hodgepodge of lakers, salmon and steelhead. Another proven hotspot is called the Sand Hole and is located in 90 to 150 feet of water between the Lower Harbor and Shot Point. Rivers like the Chocolay and Little Garlic attract spawning kings and cohos in the late summer.

For more information on launch facilities, bait shops and amenities in the Marquette area, contact the Marquette County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-544-4321 or at www.marquettecountry.org.

Angling on the Great Lakes is constantly changing. To be successful, anglers need to change, too. Anglers poised with the boat on the trailer or ready to jump on a charter boat with little notice are sure to find some great action on Michigan's Great Lakes this season.