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Hey I'm new into the big lake fishing. I'm huge river king salmon and steelhead fisherman. I've hit Saint Joe pier twice trying for coho and any other trout or salmon and nothing both times and only a couple other fisherman were there also and really had no luck. Wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction as what pier right now would be best to fish. I live in Grand Rapids but that wouldn't stop me from traveling to where the fish could possibly be. Thanks

The St. Joe pier can be excellent, usually in the spring. As can New Buffalo.

Mid-february thru mid-April is the general time frame for coho there. It can be hit or miss. And usually by the time you hear of a hot bite, it's done. So unfortunately the best solution is going to fish a bunch, and eventually you'll catch the good bites in between the slow days.

Right now it's getting late fast for pier fishing cohos. They are mostly moving offshore a bit. I don't have a ton of experience fishing South Haven, Holland, etc but those farther north ports would probably be better than farther south. Indiana piers and New Buffalo/St Joe are winding down for coho action. The best was February to mid-March this year.

Right now, if there's bait near the pier there could be browns and kings around, but that is even more hit or miss than the spring coho.


As it gets a bit later into May, a stray king or two and some early summer steelhead will show up. And then during the summer, northern piers (say Holland north to Ludington as a reaaaally general rule) can be great for salmon from shore when the water flips and there is 45-55 degree water right up on shore. Same for St. Joe and South Haven but for skamania steelhead

Thank u for the info. Really appreciate it.

When fishing piers in the summer this is the type of upwelling your looking for. This picture was for the day we trolled the pier heads in st Joe and caught every species except a brown right out front in July.

I don’t think any of the piers are currently open.

You are probably correct SouthShore.

not sure what signs might be posted at St Joe and South Haven piers but cameras showing those locations with people sure look like fishing today.

slack57 wrote:

not sure what signs might be posted at St Joe and South Haven piers but cameras showing those locations with people sure look like fishing today.

+1

To my knowledge, both St. Joe and South Haven are open

Holland is closed, as is Michigan City. Not sure about others