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Fishing
The Cisco Chain of Lakes is a fisherman’s paradise – offering a wide
variety of fish.
A fish cleaning house and freezing facilities are available at North
Shore. We also have access to excellent guide services, but a
reservation well in advance is advised.
Fishing Regulations and License
It is important to understand and follow all applicable state
regulations for fishing on the Chain. We can provide our visitors
with a current copy of the fishing regulations published by the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
All sports fishing requires the proper license. A license can be
obtained at North Shore Resort. Please inquire with us upon
check-in.
If you'd like to obtain a license in advance, licenses can be
purchased online from the Michigan DNR using their
Online Services.
Fish Species
A few of the fish species found in
the Cisco Chain include;
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Walleye |
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Walleye are considered to be one of the best table fish. They
are strong fighters and bite best around dusk, dawn, at night or
on cloudy days – due to their light sensitive eyes. Baits and
lures include minnows, nightcrawlers, leeches, jigs, spinners
and plugs.
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Muskellunge |
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Muskies have white, flaky meat that is good eating, but catch
and release is a wide spread practice. They prefer shallow,
weedy areas. Techniques include large plugs with heavy rods and
40 pound line as they fight extremely hard for a short period of
time.
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Northern Pike |
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Northerns have white, flaky meat with good flavor, but each
fillet has a row of Y-bones that can be easily removed by
cutting around them. Their predatory nature make them one of the
easiest game fish to catch. Techniques include big spoons,
spinners and jerk baits. One of the most effective baits is a
large minnow below a float. Steel leaders are best due to their
sharp teeth and powerful jaws. They prefer weed beds.
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Largemouth Bass |
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Largemouth Bass have white, flaky meat that is low in fat. They
are known for strong and fast fighting in heavy cover and
surface jumping. Most are taken on plastic worms and spinner
baits. Crank baits and jigs are also a good bet. They prefer
submerged vegetation, timber, brush and other heavy cover.
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Smallmouth Bass |
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The Smallmouth Bass has white, flaky meat with excellent flavor
- without the grassy taste sometimes found in Largemouth Bass.
They are known for their fighting stamina and leaping ability.
They will take almost any kind of lure or bait, but generally
prefer smaller sizes of jigs, cranks, spinners, minnows and
nightcrawlers. They are partial to clear water.
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Crappie |
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The meat of the Crappie is white and tasty, but soft. They are
not strong fighters and are often found suspended in mid-water
schools. The best live baits are small minnows and insect
larvae. They will also hit on small spinners, jigs and tiny
crank bait. They prefer shallow, clear water and are found in
numerous locations.
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Bluegill |
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Bluegills have superb white, flaky meat that is firm and sweet.
They are strong fighters for their size and they strike on
poppers, tiny jigs, spinners, rubber spiders and a variety of
live bait. They prefer moderate weed beds.
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