Tag: Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan serves up record burbot for Indiana angler

Anthony Burke caught a 14-pound, 3.6-ounce burbot to shatter the previous record by nearly three pounds.

An Indiana angler has shattered a state record with his recent Lake Michigan catch of a 14-pound, 3.6-ounce burbot.

Anthony Burke’s catch on Jan. 6 eclipsed the previous record by nearly three pounds and marked the third time in 13 months that a new state burbot record had been established.

Burbot are native to Lake Michigan and spend most of their time in extremely deep water off Michigan and Illinois, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

They migrate into shallower Indiana waters during the fall and winter to feed and spawn.

Anthony Burke poses with record burbot. Photo: IDNR

“Unseasonably warm weather and light winds on Lake Michigan the last several winters have provided boaters with a longer open-water fishing season and more opportunities to catch fish that are usually not in our waters, like burbot,” Ben Dickinson, a biologist with the DNR, said in a news release.

Burbot are found in parts of Canada and the northern United States, and in parts of Europe. They spend most of their time at depths of nearly 700 feet.

They’re prized as table fare because their flesh cooks up firm and white.

The all-tackle world record for burbot stands at 25 pounds, 2 ounces. That fish was caught in March 2010 at Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Find a world of adventure at these spots along Lake Michigan

Discover beaches, parks, and more.

If you haven’t fallen in love with Lake Michigan yet, now is the time to do it. For outdoorsy folks, endless adventures wait on the shores of this Great Lake. Want to explore lakeside hiking trails? Or go surfing at the beach? Or visit incredible national and state parks? You can do all of that and more on the banks of this beloved landmark.

Make the most of a trip to the region with this guide on places to go and things to do there. Whether you like kayaking, hiking, or beachcombing, you’re sure to find fun times and gorgeous scenery on a trip to Lake Michigan.

A beach on Lake Michigan.
Photo by Gary Millar

Places to go

Witness some of the best lakeside views at nearby parks. Indiana Dunes State Park offers excellent beach hikes, and Harrington Beach State Park is a great place to go canoeing. Consider spending a day at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, too. Just make sure to prepare before climbing the dunes.

Lake Michigan also has plenty to offer tourists seeking more unique experiences. In Shelby, Michigan, tourists can go from the Otto Nature Preserve to the lavender labyrinth at Cherry Point Farm. About 55 miles further north, the SS City of Milwaukee provides summer boat tours and a ghost ship tour for Halloween.

Rocks and houses overlooking a lakeshore.
Photo by Kevin Dooley

Things to do

Obviously, Lake Michigan is perfect for water sports. In the summer, visitors can go swimming or surfing at local beaches. More adventurous guests can take to the water in a kayak or on a speedboat. There are also a variety of lake cruises available to take groups on a guided tour of the region.

The fun doesn’t stop on the shore, though. If you’re a rockhound or seashell enthusiast, try beachcombing at Michigan Beach Park. Eagle-eyed guests might be able to spot Petoskey stones. You can go on some fantastic hikes along Lake Michigan, too. Tackle the Empire Bluff Trail at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, or wander along Cricket Hill Loop in Chicago.

Aerial view of Chicago overlooking Lake Michigan.
Photo by R Boed

Ladder and luck contribute to Navy Pier lake trout catch

Since he was fishing for perch, Les Wooten didn’t bother bringing a net, so he was unprepared when he unexpectedly hooked a big lake trout.

Since he was fishing for perch at Navy Pier on Lake Michigan, Les Wooten didn’t bother bringing a net, so he was unprepared when he unexpectedly hooked a big lake trout.

Thankfully, he had some help from other fishermen, along with a good bit of luck.

His first challenge was reeling in the large fish on a crappie rig, as reported by the Chicago Sun Times.

Wooten told the Sun Times he walked down to the nearest ladder attached to the pier and worked his way down to the last rung.

“One fisherman had my rod, working the fish toward me, another fisherman handed me the net,” Wooten explained to the Sun Times.

The net had a short handle and was made for smaller fish.

“It took several tries to dip the fish in the net as [the laker] was so big, it kept falling out,” he said. “With one lucky lunge, I managed to get enough of the fish’s head and upper body in the net to lift it out of the water. I gave the handle to another fisherman while I grabbed the frame of the net while I ascended up the ladder to a bunch of cheers.”

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The lake trout measured 32½ inches and weighed 14½ pounds. He caught it using a shiner for bait.

Turns out, Wooten’s son had a similar experience catching a flathead catfish from Navy Pier.

Navy Pier is on the shoreline of Lake Michigan in Chicago. It opened in July 1916 and is a popular tourist attraction that draws 9 million visitors each year. NavyPier.org states that one of the hidden gems of Navy Pier is that guests can fish free, and it offers tips and tricks to catch perch, salmon, bass and trout.

Photo courtesy of Les Wooten.

Skipper raves about girl’s salmon catch, says ‘fish should fear her’

A 15-year-old girl landed a 29.6-pound Chinook salmon and had the skipper raving about her fishing skills in making the impressive catch.

A 15-year-old girl landed a 29.6-pound Chinook salmon and had the skipper of KingFin Charters raving about her fishing skills in making the impressive catch.

Olivia Bukowski caught the huge salmon while fishing Lake Michigan last weekend. She obviously knows what she’s doing.

“If you are a fish, you should definitely fear her,” Capt. Dan Wheeler of KingFin Charters told the Chicago Sun-Times.

“She would not let anyone take the rod from her or even let them touch it. She kept the rod up the whole time and worked the fish perfectly. She had already caught a few coho that morning without losing one and was ready to go when this beast hit.

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“I have seen teenage boys and some men crumble on fish half this size. Definitely a catch I will never forget and a story I will be using for many years to come to put teenage boys to shame.”

Wheeler weighed the fish on a digital scale and wished it had hit the 30-pound mark.

“I wanted it to be 30 so bad, but it is what it is,” he said.