With a large number of public access sites available to shore anglers, a popular and successful fishing opportunity is growing across southern Lake Michigan from Waukegan, Ill., through Chicago, across the lake counties of Indiana and up to South Haven, Mich. Although this is the most densely populated shoreline of Lake Michigan, it offers a great abundance of harbors, breakwaters, piers, power plants, city and state parks, marinas and beaches that provide easy access to good big-lake fishing.

These shoreline hotspots along the lake’s southern shore offer a variety of fishing year-round. During summer, most anglers target warm-water game fish such as bass, perch and walleyes. Some big salmon and trout are caught this time of year, mostly at night or at first light. Surf fisherman targeting big brown trout head to beaches at sunset and cast lures spring through fall. Shore anglers land big salmon and trout in September and October when spawning runs attract thousands of fishermen and fish to river-mouth harbors and breakwaters. In early spring, many shore anglers find big browns, steelhead and coho salmon just a cast away. And even winter offers good perch and walleye fishing in open water and through harbor ice just a short hike from metro parking lots.

Gear required for shore fishing is simple. A bucket to carry tackle and to sit on, a long-handled telescopic net for grabbing fish from high breakwaters and a couple rods will suffice. Anglers targeting big salmon and trout generally throw heavy flashy casting spoons and spinners like Krocodiles and Mepps. Very long rods and very light lines down to 4- and 6-pound-test make for long casts and cover a lot of water.

Long rods and light lines also are preferred by salmon and trout anglers soaking spawn sacs and eggs in spring and fall when these baits are most effective. Trout and salmon can be line shy. Thinner lines are less visible, and long rods can take the strain of a heavy fish.

Anglers targeting perch, bass and walleye close to piers, riprap and breakwaters generally use standard rods and reels with braided line to prevent line breakage on rocks and pilings. Live bait usually catches most perch and walleyes, and big smallmouths come in on tube jigs and plastic worms cast along riprap and breakwater edges.

The shore fishing along southern Lake Michigan’s urban coast is a remarkably good, diverse and easily accessible fishery and includes many sites designed with handicapped access. Because wind direction and duration have much to do with the quality and type of fishing available, having updated fishing information is important. An excellent source for finding hotspots near you from Waukegan to South Haven, what’s biting and what you’ll need for gear and bait can be found online at www.lakemichiganangler.com where directions to sites, fishing reports, forums and links to DNR publications will reveal good fishing for anyone from serious anglers to families on a summer outing.