Lake Michigan (Indiana)
Great Lake
Indiana's salmon, steelhead, and perch frontier
Indiana's 45 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline are the state's premier coldwater fishery. Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, lake trout, and brown trout are stocked annually by Indiana DNR. Yellow perch runs in fall draw thousands of shore anglers to Hammond, East Chicago, Gary, Portage, and Michigan City. Smallmouth bass cruise the rocks and breakwalls all summer. Charter captains out of Hammond, East Chicago, Gary's Buffington Harbor, Portage's Lakefront Marina, and Michigan City run trolling trips March through October — the spring brown trout / coho bite, summer king salmon, and fall mature king run are the three peak seasons. Indiana's Lake Michigan tributaries (Trail Creek, Little Calumet River, Salt Creek) host steelhead runs from October through April.
Access Points & Ramps
Public ramps, marinas, and shore-fishing access maintained by Indiana DNR, Army Corps, or local agencies.
Hammond Marina
Marina, charter port
Hammond, IN
Major charter fleet base
Buffington Harbor
Charter port
Gary, IN
Portage Lakefront Marina
Marina, ramp
Portage, IN
Michigan City Public Marina
Marina, charter port
Michigan City, IN
Trail Creek mouth — steelhead access
Whihala Beach
Shore fishing
Whiting, IN
Indiana Dunes State Park
Shore fishing, beach
Chesterton, IN
Map & Directions
Get DirectionsShowing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.
Nearby Bait & Tackle
Bass Pro Shops
Portage, IN
★ 4.5Big Lake LLC
Portage, IN
★ 4.6Cabela's
Hammond, IN
★ 4.4Captain Ralph Steiger
Hammond, IN
★ 3.7Chief's Bait Shop
Michigan City, IN
★ 4.6Country Bait & Taxidermy Shop
Valparaiso, IN
★ 4.7Double D Fireworks/Bass Lake Bait and Tackle
Knox, IN
★ 4.6Fish Man Seafood Market
Gary, IN
★ 4.4Nearby Marinas
Fish Species
Species known to inhabit Lake Michigan (Indiana). Click any species for a full fishing guide.
Recent Stocking
Fish stocking data from the Indiana DNR hatchery program.
| Species | Year | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon | 2025 | 215,000 |
| Coho Salmon | 2025 | 165,000 |
| Steelhead | 2025 | 90,000 |
| Brown Trout | 2025 | 30,000 |
Fishing Guides Near Lake Michigan (Indiana)
(219) 898-3602
(231) 206-2820
(765) 592-5484
(219) 331-5377
(574) 386-2372
Book a guided trip near Lake Michigan (Indiana). Browse verified fishing charters with instant availability on FishingBooker.
Other Lakes in Lake County
Plan Your Trip to Lake Michigan (Indiana)
- Weather forecast for Lake Michigan (Indiana) — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
- GPS: 41.7233°N, 87.3486°W — Get Directions
- Check the latest DNR fishing report for current conditions
- Review Indiana fishing regulations for season dates and limits
- An Indiana fishing license is required for ages 18+ — buy online at IN.gov
Data sourced from Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. Last verified: April 26, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.