| January |
Walleye (ice), Yellow Perch (ice) |
Ice fishing — jigging and tip-ups on Erie |
Western Lake Erie ice fishing for walleye — world-class through the ice |
| February |
Walleye (ice PEAK), Yellow Perch |
Ice fishing tip-ups and jigging |
Peak ice walleye season on Lake Erie western basin |
| March |
Steelhead (tributaries), Walleye (ice-out) |
Fly fishing and drift rigs in rivers |
Steelhead running hard in Michigan and Ontario tributaries |
| April |
Walleye (post-spawn), Steelhead |
Erie trolling/jigging, river drift fishing |
Post-spawn walleye feeding binge on Erie; steelhead in tributaries |
| May |
Walleye (PEAK Erie), Smallmouth Bass |
Worm harnesses on planer boards, jigs |
Best walleye month on Lake Erie; smallmouth bass spawn beginning |
| June |
Smallmouth Bass, Offshore Salmon |
Topwater and jigs for bass, downrigger trolling |
Excellent smallmouth on St. Clair; first chinook salmon trolling |
| July |
Chinook Salmon (offshore), Musky |
Downrigger trolling, musky casting |
Offshore salmon trolling peaks; musky season underway on St. Clair |
| August |
Chinook Salmon (tributaries start), Musky |
Early river chinook, topwater musky |
First chinook enter rivers; best musky action of summer |
| September |
Chinook Salmon (PEAK rivers), Walleye |
River drift fishing for chinook, trolling Erie |
PEAK chinook salmon in Lake Michigan tributaries — Muskegon, Pere Marquette |
| October |
Coho Salmon, Walleye, Brown Trout |
River coho fishing, Erie walleye trolling |
Coho peak in October; fall walleye excellent on Erie; brown trout on Ontario |
| November |
Walleye (fall Erie), Brown Trout |
Erie trolling, Lake Ontario downrigger trolling |
Excellent fall walleye; trophy brown trout on Lake Ontario nearshore |
| December |
Steelhead (late), Ice building |
River steelhead drift fishing, early ice preparation |
Late steelhead in tributaries; first ice forming on western Erie |