MICHIGAN · PORT GUIDE
Plan the fishing. Make a trip of it.
Lake Michigan pierheads, Pere Marquette Lake launches, and local places that make a day—or a weekend—on the water easier.
Check fishing conditionsLocal information checked September 16, 2026
PLAN YOUR NEXT WINDOW
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Chinook / king salmon · Harbor-mouth model · Catching is never guaranteed. These scores do not describe every part of Pere Marquette Lake.
One port, different waters. The harbor-mouth forecast is a starting point for the pierheads and nearby water. Conditions inside Pere Marquette Lake can differ. Open the forecast map for depth temperatures, wind conditions and the Pere Marquette River flow symbol.
The north breakwater is the main Lake Michigan pier destination. Inland fishing access offers a different setting.
Approach Ludington’s North Breakwater Light from the Stearns Park waterfront. Michigan tourism identifies Ludington Pier as a fishing pier.
Check posted closures and conditions before walking out. Waves can make an otherwise open pier unsafe.
DNR identifies a small fishing pier just upstream of Hamlin Dam. This is inland access, separate from the Lake Michigan pierheads.
Loomis and Copeyon serve the harbor and Lake Michigan. City launch parking requires payment and does not allow overnight parking.
Near Lake Michigan, with four docks and eight launching ramps, restrooms, parking and a fish-cleaning station.
Pay at the kiosk and display the receipt on your tow vehicle. Check the city page for current fees.
Launch on Pere Marquette Lake beyond the Washington Avenue Bridge. The city lists restrooms, a fish-cleaning station and pump-out facilities.
Reach Lake Michigan through the harbor channel; remain alert to commercial vessel traffic.
Vehicle/trailer parking and a separate accessible canoe/kayak launch. Choose this for a Hamlin Lake outing.
There is no navigable connection through Hamlin Dam to Lake Michigan.
Both city marinas publish an April 15–October 15 season. Confirm hours and slip availability directly. Marina lots do not allow trailers.
Transient slips, 90-octane non-ethanol gasoline, diesel, pump-out, fresh water, ice and a fish-cleaning station.
City-operated transient dockage, fuel pier and fish-cleaning station.
Call for current fuel availability and operating hours.
Local stops for fishing gear and help with a boat or trailer. Call ahead for specific inventory and service availability.
Great Lakes fishing tackle including rods, reels, spoons, plugs, attractors, flies and boat gear.
Engine maintenance and diagnostics, repowers, electronics installation, trailer repair, fiberglass work and winterization.
A waterfront stay or a US-10 base: confirm space for your complete boat-and-trailer rig before booking.
Beach and harbor setting at the west end of Ludington Avenue, with a seasonal outdoor pool. Convenient for companions spending time at the waterfront.
Boat-trailer parking and charging have not been verified.
Full breakfast, indoor pool and hot tub. The hotel explicitly lists truck/RV parking.
Confirm that your boat-and-trailer combination is accepted; boat charging is not verified.
Hot breakfast, indoor heated pool and hot tub. The official listing includes truck parking.
Ask directly about boat-trailer parking, storage and charging.
Reserve for your trip dates and confirm that the site can accommodate your camper, tow vehicle and boat.
Full-hookup options, showers and restrooms. Published season: May 1–October 15. A small-boat launch serves Lincoln Lake.
This is not a Lake Michigan launch. Site rules limit the number of objects, including boats, and require everything to fit on the site.
Water, sewer and 30/50-amp hookups, plus rental accommodations. Published season: April 1–October 31.
The stocked catch-and-release pond is separate from the salmon fishery. Confirm extra boat-trailer parking when reserving.
Shaded modern campsites near Hamlin Lake, showers and electric service. The park’s Hamlin Lake launch has vehicle/trailer parking.
Hamlin Lake is not a boating route to Lake Michigan. DNR advises large vehicles to use the main M-116 entrance rather than Piney Ridge Road.
Options for a spouse, friends or family while others fish—and places to enjoy together afterward.
A sandy Lake Michigan beach with a playground, miniature golf, shuffleboard and skate park along the waterfront.
Three floors of interactive exhibits about shipwrecks, car ferries and Great Lakes history in the former Coast Guard station. Free onsite parking.
Check the current visiting calendar before planning your day.
A family option with more than 30 hands-on displays, including a play pizzeria and music studio.
Explore the dunes and beaches, or walk to Big Sable Point Lighthouse: 1.8 miles each way on sand and gravel, with limited shade.
DNR lists Skyline Trail, intersecting paths and amphitheater closures beginning September 2026 into mid-2027. Check current trail notices.
Confirm seasonal hours, access, trailer space and reservations directly. Check the marine forecast; a favorable fishing score is not a safety rating. Follow posted pier closures and DNR pier-safety guidance.
Sources are linked beside each listing. These are independently selected listings, not paid placements. Prices and live availability are not tracked.
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