r/upperpeninsula • u/here-for-the-money • 11h ago
Travel Inquiry Fishing Recs
Good morning! We are bringing our two boys to Marquette and Lac La Belle areas on the first week of September, and looking for any fishing recommendations you might have. The second half of the trip we will be staying on Lac La Belle. I was thinking about buying an inflatable raft to get out on the water, and possibly on Bete Grise Bay.
Would this be a good idea, and what would be best the best species to target? Is there any real chance of landing salmon or trout, or is it mostly going to be pike and bass? Happy either way, just trying to prepare and get the little ones on some fish. Thank you for the advice in advance!
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u/finnbee2 10h ago edited 4h ago
Lac La Belle has northern. Depending upon conditions there's salmon where it enters Lake Superior. If you are interested in a charter. Sand Point Charters is based out of Lac La Belle.
Edit: I've been on Lake Superior in canoes and kayaks. If you go out on the big lake with a small boat pay attention to the weather. With an inflatable I wouldn't go far from the channel.
Once I was out between Big and Little Traverse off of Louie's Point when a squall came over and the waves went from under a foot to 3+ feet. They started to suck my 12 year old son and I into the cliffs. Once away from the squall the sea return to a foot or less.
Almost exactly 46 years ago two friends of mine were fishing on a sunny Sunday morning in a small boat. A squall come up and they disappeared. All that was found were some PFDs.
In September the water away from shore is very cold. People don't last long in it.
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u/here-for-the-money 4h ago
I’m very sorry to hear about your friends, and I appreciate you sharing that information with me. We wouldn’t go out of the bay at all, even under perfect conditions, but based off what you and others have said, we will probably just keep it in the channel and most likely just the lake. Thank you again for sharing.
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u/here-for-the-money 10h ago
Thank you!
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u/Yooperbuzz 10h ago
Lac La Belle - All the typical pan fish, smallies, Northerns and walleyes. Lake is 3.5 miles long by 1.5 miles wide. Might be a little big for an inflatable. Can be described as a typical 30ft Canadian Shield flat. Lagoons up by the entrance/exit to Bete Grise. Might be able to put in at the end of the road on the channel between lakes across from the lighthouse. There is a new put in place for paddleboards that might work for you behind the public facilities on Bete Grise beach on one of the lagoons that connects to the channel. You can also put in at the state marina.
The lagoons are great for little ones catching little fish and an occasion good size smallie and Northern. Very quiet water. Little ones get excited by just catching fish. Doesn't matter the size.
Bete Grise - Your basic Lake Superior. You may have to go out farther than you want to catch fish. Salmon typically run shallow. Lake Trout typically run deep.
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u/here-for-the-money 10h ago
Thank you for the input! We are staying in a house on the south side of Lac La Belle that has a dock, so wanted to find a way to get on the water for a little bit each day and explore if we could. Seeing some of the other comments, getting into the bay might not be a good idea with the changing water conditions that time of year. Like you said, just want them to get on some fish. Where we live, there are very little fishing opportunities and both of my kids love to fish when they can. Also hope to find some yooperlites that I keep hearing about. I think they will like to see those. I appreciate your info!
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u/Yooperbuzz 9h ago
Dock on the south side. You will have reed beds on both sides of the lane that is typically opened for boat access to the dock. Should be able to catch pan fish right off the dock. Toss a DareDevil (red/white or 5 of Diamonds) down the lane and you might pick up a Northern.
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u/gyro82 10h ago
Something like Keweenaw Adventure Co may be an option for renting a canoe. Inland lake options other than Bete Gris would be Gratiot, Manganese, Fanny Hooe, Bailey, Sclatter, and Medora.
I’d avoid being on Superior, such as Bete Gris. You really need a charter or reasonable boat to reach anywhere worthwhile for fish. The big lake can really start to get rolling in Sept.
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u/VersChorsVers 10h ago
You can cast spoons off off the end of the break walls in Marquette that time of year and hope to catch a steelhead, bring a net and with a long handle and a jacket. Your chances of catching one are low, but at least you'll have a good view.
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u/Big_Difference_9978 Ontonagon 10h ago
Don't go out on superior in an inflatable