Stuck in the U.P.

[yellowdog]

Help. I'm stuck in Big Bay near Marquette visiting the wifes side of the family. Were is the best place to find some some of these fine U.P. walleye
I keep hearing about. I have tried Lake Independence with no luck, not sure were or how to fish it.Any suggestions within an hour or so of Big Bay would be greatly appreciated.

[ManxFishing]

Hit the local bait shop
There friendly in the UP

[Hi-Tech Redneck]

Back in my college days, I always did well at Goose lake - southwest of Marquette off of 35, for eating size walleye, perch and hammer-handle pike. Tossing jigs and minnows off the rocks next to the railroad.

[Zib]

Hit the local bait shop
There friendly in the UP

They're always friendly when taking your money. :D

[itchn2fish]

Independance can be tough because it's so big and the schooling walleye keep moving around, but it is good at times if you're in the right place. We usually do good on leeches or jig/minnows. Keep trying and stop at Crane's General Store and ask around, they're very helpful.
If you have time take Red Road or drive around to Ishpeming and fish Deer Lake off of Deer Lake Road for great walleye & pike fishing, it has the look and feel of an Ontario lake with lots of rocky shore/islands. I think it's still catch-and-release there with artificials only (ILLEGAL to possess live bait).
The kids & I are on our way to Perkins Park in Big Bay off of Independance and usually camp at site #53 if you are still around, swing by!

[shametamer]

along m-28 you have parent..small weedy shallow but produces decent eyes and perch (100 acres)..worm/vermillac along m-28 400 or so acres most fish will be eaters.....dead river storage basin(hoist dam 2500 acres)..back at marquette lots eater size eyes smallies and pike..greenwood resevoir...south of ishpeming..no wake lots eyes,pike,bass, crappie... a little larger...michigamme lake or resevoir both huge and fishing is running slow(we just came back)....deer lake basin..artificials only catch n release only due to mercury contamination..but catching a 100 eyes in a day is reward enough:D...bond falls south of m-28 by paulding..no good reports but plenty of eyes...victoria dam.. ditto but a manageable 500 or so acres....genes pond near felch 500 acres good eyes ..best at river inlet.....all of these are roughly within 1 hour drive of lake independence./.....east end of independence stumpy and pike laden...the drops at west end weed bed produce perch and bass..i like the northern end along 12 to 20 foot breakline for eyes..

[anon3292009]

Walleyes on Independence are well known for late evening feeding. The last hour before dark is best. If you want to fish daytime, try the north shore in 10 fow near weedbeds for jumbo perch. If you find them you'll soon forget about walleyes.

[IncredibleHook]

We used to drift with the wind and use lead head jigs in black tipped with locally trapped shiners and bounce off the bottom.

And if you find them there really are some JUMBO perch there the largest I have ever caught in my time in Michigan. For those i would fish the bottom with the largest shiners you can get once again local shiners work best.

Man i wish I were there, you have brought back some happy memories, thanks for that!

Good luck