Lake Herring in Michigan A school of lake herring swim underwater. © Paul Vescei

Stories in Michigan

Fantastic Michigan Fishing

With four Great Lakes, more than 11,000 inland lakes and more than 51,000 river miles, it's easy to find a place to wet a line.

July 06, 2026

The sun is shining, the lake is a deep blue and a light breeze rustles dune grass. A footstep falls on a forest trail. A warbler sings from a hemlock branch. A brook trout swims away into a cold stream after a gentle release. A child shines through an ice cream smile. We all have a vision of the perfect Michigan summer, and outdoor recreation is at the heart of much of what we envision, because it’s at the heart of the experiences we share.

Nature Grows Economic Prosperity

Perhaps money does grow on trees! Discover how protecting nature boosts our economy.

Outdoor recreation contributes $13.9 billion annually to Michigan’s economy, supporting 118,000 jobs across more than 7,000 outdoor recreation industry companies. However, without conservation of the woods, waters, wetlands and wildlife that support recreational opportunities, that economy would not exist.

In Part 3 of our Field Guide to Michigan Summer, we share some of our favorite places to fish, along with some of the ways that we work to conserve the natural systems that make fishing in Michigan so abundant and beautiful.

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Pike for Breakfast A common loon with a small northern pike and seaweed in its beak. © Jenifer Selwa/TNC Photo Contest 2022

1. Black River

The Black River is a native brook trout stream flowing through the Pigeon River Country State Forest. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently added 8,844 acres to the forest containing 14 miles of the Black River with help from TNC, Little Traverse Conservancy and the Rocky Mountain Foundation.

Two Hearted River Two Hearted River winds through the forests of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. © Ron Leonetti

2. Two Hearted River

Inspiring the name of Ernest Hemingway’s famous short story, the real Two Hearted River is a stellar trout stream winding through beautiful, wild Upper Peninsula forests to Lake Superior. In 2005, TNC closed on “The Big U.P. Deal” to conserve 271,338 acres including most of the Two Hearted River’s watershed.

Aerial view of a river snaking through a sparse conifer forest. — Aerial River Aerial view of Michigan's Two Hearted River. © Drew Kelly

Conservation Partnerships

Conservation projects—like the Black River, Big U.P. Deal and others—often require collaboration between multiple organizations and agencies.

Our work with Michigan’s foundation community, the DNR and two governors helped secure the Big U.P. Deal in 2005 to protect 271,338 acres of the Two Hearted River watershed, and our partnership with the U.S. Forest Service has planted hundreds of thousands of trees along trout river corridors in the Ottawa National Forest.

TNC helped a local group secure the Skegemog Lake Wildlife Area in 1972, which was transferred to the care of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, maintaining a protected natural lake shoreline important for muskellunge spawning.

Northwoods Brook Trout Brook trout thrive in northern Michigan's cold waters. © Jason Whalen/Fauna Creative

3. Ottowa National Forest

Spectacular trout streams including the East Branch of the Ontonagon River flow through the shaded understory of the Ottawa National Forest in the Upper Peninsula. Over the past decade, TNC and the U.S. Forest Service have planted more than 500,000 trees in the Ottawa National Forest to keep the forest resilient.

Watch Northwoods Work in Action

Resilient Forests in a Changing World (3:48) The Northwoods covers a huge swath of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, providing much needed habitat, water filtration and climate benefits to people and nature. The Nature Conservancy is working hard to ensure that despite disease, pests and other tree stresses, the northwoods will remain strong.

Grand Traverse Bay A fishing boat out in Grand Traverse Bay, part of the Elk Rapids Chain of Lakes watershed. © Jason Whalen/Fauna Creative

4. Elk River Chain of Lakes

Entering Grand Traverse Bay at the mouth of Elk River, this Chain of Lakes boasts native populations of muskellunge and smallmouth bass throughout Elk Lake, Lake Skegemog, Torch Lake and connected waters. In Lake Michigan, TNC and agency partners restored a priority Elk Rapids whitefish spawning reef.

Sunrise in Saginaw Bay A golden sunrise reflects on the water in Saginaw Bay. © Jason Whalen/Fauna Creative

5. Saginaw Bay

Saginaw Bay hosts one of the nation’s best walleye fisheries, where the Flint, Cass, Shiawassee and Tittabawassee Rivers and their tributaries flowing through the Saginaw Basin provide important spawning habitat. Trolling is a popular method on the bay, where anglers can also catch yellow perch, northern pike and bass.

A young boy stands at the edge of a pier with a fishing rod in hand. — Child Fishing Saginaw Bay A child stands on a dock with a fishing pole at the Saginaw Bay Watershed. © Michael David-Lorne Jordan/David-Lorne Photographic

Farming & Fishing

Great Lakes waterways are impacted by the lands around them, including the Saginaw Bay walleye fishery. TNC works strategically to improve the Saginaw Basin's waters with farmers and agri-businesses, removing barriers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices that improve soil health and reduce harmful runoff.

One program, Saginaw Bay Watershed Accessing Subsidized Strip-Till Equipment Trial (ASSET), offers reduced-cost equipment rentals, technical assistance and financial incentives to offset transition costs through collaboration with Michigan Sugar Company, Environmental Tillage Systems and Blue Water Conservation District, as a pilot through the Farm Bill’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Next time you’re fishing Saginaw Bay, thank the farmers adopting these practices.

Discover More Conservation Stories

Explore more work to preserve Michigan's natural wonders.

Returning Whitefish to the River

On the banks of the Jordan River, scientists and conservationists work to revive river-spawning lake whitefish, aiming to restore the Great Lakes ecosystem and support local communities.

Resilient Forests in Michigan

The northern forests of Michigan offer critical habitat for a variety of plants and animals, provide clean air, absorb carbon, filter water and provide year-round recreation and tourism opportunities.

Eyes to the Skies

Michigan’s most magnificent birding opportunities rely on spectacular habitat