For more information on accommodations, amenities and bait shops, contact the Monroe County Convention & Visitors Bureau online at www.thebureau@monroe.com or call (800) 772-4433.

St. Mary's River
The St. Mary's River system is one of the most diverse and beautiful walleye fisheries in Michigan. The scenery along this incredible waterway is breathtaking and always changing. The walleye habitats are equally diverse.

"You'll have walleyes that hang out in the river channel, in the flats of the lakes, along weed edges and in among the rocks," walleye pro Andy Kuffer said. "You can find fish in a lot of different locations. The key is to find where they're concentrated and that usually means finding food."

That may not be as easy as it sounds considering walleyes have thousands of acres to roam.

One predictable pattern on the St. Mary's helps anglers get pointed in the right direction. The walleyes tend to migrate from the upper portion of the river downstream to shallow bays that warm first.

"Both Raber and Munuscong bays fish best early in the season when the weeds are still growing," Kuffer said. "I've done well there because the bodies of water are so big that you can get away from the crowds and fishing pressure. The bays are relatively flat, so any kind of subtle structure you find is likely to hold fish."

Because the St. Mary's lower bays are so expansive, Kuffer said trolling bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses is a good way to cover plenty of water.

As Lake Superior's waters moderate in late summer, walleyes begin moving into the river channel and continue their migration back upstream as fall progresses. Jigging can be productive when those walleye schools concentrate near structure.

Most St. Mary's walleyes average 2 to 5 pounds, but bigger specimens raise few eyebrows.