Lake Michigan - Indiana Shore
Indiana's Great Lakes salmon and steelhead fishery, fished from piers, ports and charter boats.
Depth & Structure
Southern Lake Michigan nearshore fishery at Michigan City/Portage/East Chicago — pier, harbor and breakwall water inshore, with spring boat fishing concentrated in a roughly two-mile band along the shoreline (Indiana DNR) before salmon move deeper/offshore in summer. Tributaries (Trail Creek, Little Calumet, Salt Creek) add shallow stream pools for steelhead/salmon runs.
Best Lures
Glow spoons and rattling deep-diving crankbaits cast at night/low light from piers for salmon; spinners and wobbling crankbaits in lower tributaries; small spoons and spinners for steelhead; trolled spoons/body baits from boats in the nearshore band.
Best Baits
Skein (salmon eggs) under a bobber/float is a documented pier and stream tactic; Indiana DNR warmwater-discharge guidance also lists small alewives, nightcrawlers, spawn bags and shrimp among the best baits for the shore fishery.
Gear to Bring
Longer pier casting tackle with 10-12 lb line for salmon/steelhead (heavier rod recommended for winter fish and swift current); two-to-three-rod shore setups and a long-handled net (8-12 ft) for elevated discharge/pier fishing per DNR guidance.
Local Tips
['Indiana DNR report (Oct 15, 2026): bulk of pier salmon action winds down in fall — fish low light/night with glow spoons or crankbaits, or skein under a bobber; lake trout move nearshore once water drops below ~55°F.', 'Season calendar (DNR): coho pier/boat…
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Related Water
Fish photos: Chinook salmon — Wikimedia Commons · steelhead — Wikimedia Commons · yellow perch — Wikimedia Commons
Fishing regulations, seasons and limits change — always check the current rules for this water before you fish. Spot pins are approximate area markers, not launch or access coordinates.