fishing and camping help

[FishinJoe]

Me and my girlfriend are going to the UP next week for some fishing and camping. Can someone point me in the right direction on where to go I have heard good things about the Two Hearted River. Is there any state campgrounds there? Anyother suggestions would be appriciated, rivers for pike ect... I have no idea where I am going to go there just hoping to stay on a river or lake and was hoping someone can help me out. Thanks

[Roober]

A few years back, I was talking to the guy that rents the rowboats at the falls. He told me that the lagoon to the right of the take off spot is great for pike. Second hand report and I never got back to try it but I still want to. Its not a lot of water but if your checking out the falls anyways, bring a rod and give it a shot. IF you go and IF you try it, send me a pm.

Also, a friend of mine pulled a 48 inch tiger out of the river near the State Park. It hit on the biggest sucker he had under a bobber.

Good luck

Steve

[Eastern Yooper]

Yes, there is a campground on the Two-Hearted, its near the Reed-Green bridge.

Muskallonge Lake has camping and decent fishing for pike.

The Taquamahnon river mouth in Paradise has walleye & muskie.

Garnet Lake on H-40 has a small campgound and regularly coughs up a pike or two.

Trout Lake has camping and a variety of good fishing.

South Manistique Lake has camping and a solid reputation for walleye & pike.

Monacle Lake campgound west of Brimley on Lakeshore Drive has smallmouth, walleye, and pike.

Soldiers Lake campgound on M-28 west of Raco has panfish and a few bass.

The Carp river has a campground on Mackinac Trail if you're interested in trout.

WARNING!!!!!!!!! Mosquitoes & blackflies are the absolute worst that I can ever remember.... so be prepared to suffer, even when the sun is shining at high noon.

[Swamp Monster]

Heed EY's warning. Just had some friends return from their cabin up near the falls. They said the same thing, they can't remember it ever being this bad. The locals are all saying the same thing.

[goggleye57]

There is a nice state forest campground on the mouth of the big two heart where it goes into Lake Superior :)

[chromaniac]

Nice information guys.

I plan on going up to the UP next month. Do the Fox rivers have "blue ribbon" status like I have read? Also, are there trout lakes in the headwaters of these rivers?

Anyone?

[Eastern Yooper]

I'm not a trout fisherman, and I don't know squat about it, so I'm afraid I'm of no use to you on this one.

[FishinJoe]

Have not fished the Fox in years but when I used to the trout were plentiful, me and my dad always rented a canoe from some outfitter in Seny.

[WILDCATWICK]

Yes it is blue ribbon classified. There are many trout lakes in the Upper Penninsula. I'm not sure of ones right around Seney but there are alot of them in Gwinn.

[Eastern Yooper]

FishinJoe,

Give us the scoop on where you decided to go, if you caught any fish, and how the trip went in general......

[Whit1]

EY,
Thanks for your informative rundown of fishing opportunities as given in your first post, as well as your warning about black flies and skeeters. You have been very helpful to the lad.

My two cents worth:
The Two Hearted R. is mainly a steelhead fishery. While it does harbor some brook trout, it really isn't known for its resident stream trout fishing.

The Fox river, both branches, do offer some fine brook trout fishing. You can run into a lot of smaller fish and keepers, if you so choose, can be tough to come by. The larger fish are there however. I'd suggest using large spinners, Rapalas, and minnows....salted and sewn on, fished downstream, works well.

For trout lakes I'd suggest that you visit the DNR's website and locate the pages where fish planting information is available to search out lakes that have received yearly plants of fish. Keep in mind they will be deep at this time of year.

[FishinJoe]

We stayed on a little lake with no fish in it, forget the name right now. Did a whole lot of relaxing, wasn't there long enough to do all I wanted. But the good news is she wants to go back next month so that time I will definatly be doing some fishing. The skeetos and flies wernt that bad, at least I didnt think so but I am kinda used to them anyways. Thanks all.

[perca]

Both the Fox River and the East Branch of the Fox River get LOTS and LOTS of fishing pressure. There are no rivers at their headwaters either. A short distance farther(7 miles) west will put you at the Driggs River. It crosses M-28 and a sand road parallels it for miles. It has a rather large lake at it's headwaters AND plenty of brookies. The fishing pressure is MUCH less than on the Fox, and you'll likely get more fish there. A worm or minnow behind a gold Hildebrandt spinner is an excellent lure for brookies. Good luck..eh?