World Class Fishing on Lake Michigan
Take a stroll along the Black River in downtown South Haven and you’re likely to encounter the serious fishing boats.
If you’re already a fisherman (or fisherwoman), you may know what fishing on the big lake is all about. But if you’re like me, lake fishing invites curiosity and a certain mystique.
I’m not a complete fishing novice. I have experienced the occasional casting from a rowboat or canoe on camping trips, once tried fly fishing in Wyoming and had the distinct pleasure of salmon fishing in Alaska on a rare sunny day where, with a lot of help from a seasoned guide, I caught a 25 pound King Salmon.
![](https://southhaven.imgix.net/images/blogs/20190606_101354.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=e3f97063725a099c23b5226bc98f6165 320w, https://southhaven.imgix.net/images/blogs/20190606_101354.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2f8bab0b854c94f9ce0cef3b84033a76 336w)
Fishing on Lake Michigan, however, is a different experience and fishing with die-hard sports fishermen opens up a whole new world. Chuck Moore and his crew, experienced friends Bill and Kevin, graciously offered to take me out and glimpse their unique world. Moore’s boat is a 33-ft. craft called the Merry More, which he bought 4 years ago and retrofitted for optimum fishing.
![](https://southhaven.imgix.net/images/blogs/IMG_03551.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=33ad21d2fba6ecdeda015cf7f572947a 320w, https://southhaven.imgix.net/images/blogs/IMG_03551.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=7632bd648a716046b644bf7db738cdd2 332w)
We started out at 6:30 am and I was sure to take my Dramamine, though I wasn’t sure I needed it (I did). We headed out of the harbor into open water. It was a cloudy, close to foggy morning, but the lake was smooth. At about 3 miles out, the crew put trolling bags over the side to help with steering and to slow the boat while trolling. One by one, while Chuck steered the boat, Bill and Kevin put fishing lures onto the lines and cast them out, using boards to keep the lures away from the boat until 18 lines were out.
I confess, despite the Dramamine, I still became a bit queasy. I was told not to go below deck, to stand in the middle of the boat and look at the horizon. It helped. So did being called to land a fish. We hooked one and I was brought to the stern to bring it in. I began reeling it in and then a yellow devise called a rod butt cushion was placed on the butt of the fishing pole so that I could position it in my belly button and give myself some leverage without severely bruising myself. It took a bit of arm strength and I didn’t embarrass myself. The guys were good at giving instruction and I managed to bring the fish in so that they could net it and land it on board. It was a beautiful lake trout.
Only in South Haven
![](https://southhaven.imgix.net/images/blogs/blue-coast-Header.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=b151811d60bb5e01d0b169bfcf26fefd 320w, https://southhaven.imgix.net/images/blogs/blue-coast-Header.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=6b7a672597bf97c1ce43fecf9ce6a3dc 500w)
Artistic Effusion along the Blue Coast
Boating, fishing, golf, dining, shopping, hiking, sightseeing: You might be drawn to South Haven for any number of reasons.
![](https://southhaven.imgix.net/images/blogs/Farm-Market-Blog.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=a37497e31c53ca335ccaeee7c1ef9aa0 320w, https://southhaven.imgix.net/images/blogs/Farm-Market-Blog.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=0f4841682abbf2bcf6301a906b83f926 500w)
Find Your Sensory Feast at the South Haven Farm Market
Farm-to-table produce and meat. Freshly picked berries and nuts. All-natural Amish cheese.
![](https://southhaven.imgix.net/images/733183d7e51e9138edbe70e0a7512c755bdcf91125d6d9383de46827741c46a1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=870ee20e2c213d540910ef84288e4e59 320w, https://southhaven.imgix.net/images/733183d7e51e9138edbe70e0a7512c755bdcf91125d6d9383de46827741c46a1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=9e1aa5ec2ae80af54184f8ea9cd2d941 540w, https://southhaven.imgix.net/images/733183d7e51e9138edbe70e0a7512c755bdcf91125d6d9383de46827741c46a1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=768&s=21d3d896344ddb538a8821a22c6b8020 672w)
20 Affordable & Fun Things to Do with Kids in South Haven
South Haven during the summer is a wonderful place to explore and have fun with kids.