Summer is right around the corner in Sault Ste. Marie! enjoy the newly warm weather by fishing in the majestic Lake Superior. Get your fishing license here or at many local gas stations, and prepare for a day on the largest freshwater lake in the world! Even if you don’t catch your limit, the memories made on the largest freshwater lake in the world will make your trip to Sault Ste. Marie an extraordinary one. Here is your summer guide to shore fishing Lake Superior in and around Sault Ste. Marie!
Fishing Lake Superior in the summer is an experience to remember. No boat? No problem! Shore fishing along the lake is extremely accessible and a great way to breathe in the fresh Upper Peninsula air and grab a selfie with ‘Superior. The beauty of shore fishing in the Eastern Upper Peninsula is that there is very little gear involved! A fishing pole, fishing license, and locally acquired bait are all you really need in order to enjoy fishing off of the shores of Gitchee Gumee.
No matter the summer month you find yourself fishing, there is a checklist of items that are always recommended, no matter what time of the summer you are visiting. We recommend bug spray, sunblock, and a long-sleeved shirt or sweatshirt from one of our many local gift shops downtown to easily acclimate to the ever changing UP weather. Believe it or not, there may be a 10-degree temperature difference from the parking lot and the shore!
Get up early and start your day off fishing right with some breakfast downtown, and then head west toward Hiawatha National Forest in Brimley. Along the way, there are several day areas to stop where you are more than welcome to throw your line in. If you aren’t sure where to stop, we suggest Pendills Creek. Located along the Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway, the views of the water are breathtaking and the beach is perfect for a stroll and a cast of your fishing line. Check out this map of the area for guidance and don’t forget to take a picture and post it with the hashtag #ilovethesoo.
A favorite place to shore fish among locals, Pendills Creek feeds directly into Lake Superior and provides the perfect feeding ground for fish and the perfect fishing grounds for you! If you aren’t too distracted by the breathtaking view of the big water and sandy beaches, you might just be able to snap some pictures and catch dinner all in the same day trip.
Another great place to throw your line in is the Tahquamenon Rivermouth Boat Launch. About an hour and a half out of the Soo, take M-28 west and head towards Paradise (literally!) This secret spot located in Paradise is just minutes from Tahquamenon Falls. After trying your luck at the river mouth for some walleye, pike, perch, small mouth bass, or rock bass, take some time to sight see the falls and even catch a trout out of the Tahquamenon River! Checkout some fun facts about Tahquamenon Falls here!
(photo courtesy of Michigan DNR)
As we ease into the sunny and balmy days of a Sault Ste. Marie summer, one of the best ways to spend an afternoon is to take a trip to the kid’s fishing pond at Rotary Park.
With no fishing license required for kids under 16 and a stones throw from Clyde’s Drive-In and the Sugar Island Ferry, your family can cast a line, drink a milkshake, and watch the St. Marys River traffic, all while enjoying a beautiful UP day.
When you visit the Soo, you’ll have plenty of shore fishing in the area to choose from! Don’t forget to take some photos of your visit to Sault Ste. Marie and your fishing adventures and tag them on social media with #ilovethesoo so we can enjoy them too!
