April The big lake season begins in April at the port of Ludington. Football shaped brown trout cruise the inshore waters where river mouths attract baitfish. This early action demands lighter line and shallow running baits which imitiate the smelt and alewives the ravenous browns are feeding on.

May is a prime smorgasbord month. Browns still patrol the thin water near shore. Lake trout become legal targets on May 1 and add variety to the spring catch. Lean, mean spring chinooks averaging 6 to 20 pounds can make a May charter a day you'll never forget.

June is a great time to sample the fantastic lake trout fishing Ludington has to offer. Consistent weather and fishing for lakers averaging 6 to 15 pounds make June the perfect time to plan a family outing. And a fresh lake trout on the grill is some of the best eating to be had. Exciting off-shore fishing for acrobatic steelhead is available in June. These fresh-water tarpon frequent deep-water scumlines and thermal barriers and provide the ultimate in top-water action.

July is another month in which variety is the name of the game. Chinook salmon are the prime targets and fishing for lake trout remains excellent during July. Brown trout are regular catches and outstanding steelhead action is waiting offshore.

August is salmon time. Husky chinooks, at their best in terms of fighting ability and weight after a summer of heavy feeding, offer super angling action. These behemoths begin staging on the deep structure the Ludington area is famous for. Dodger fly/squid combos account for many fish in the 20 to 30 pound range at this time of year. Acrobatic silver or coho salmon also show up in good numbers in the August catch.

September, huge numbers of mature king salmon begin massing off their natal river mouths preparing for their upstream migration. Action can be fast and furious as these trophies prepare to return to the rivers in which many of them were spawned. Some of the biggest fish of the year landed during September.

October means Indian summer, fall colors and fantastic steelhead action. The summer tourist season has ended, but the fishing can be better than ever. Steelhead, commonly referred to as "jumpers" by the charter fleet, are suckers for shallow-set dipsey divers and surface spoons and crankbaits at this time of the year. Boat traffic is at a minimum and you might have the whole lakes-and the steelhead- to yourself.

Members of the Ludington Area Charterboat Association (LACA) represent some of the most knowledgeable and professional charter captains on Lake Michigan. LACA captains are on the cutting edge of new techniques and innovation which can make the difference at the end of the day. More than that, LACA captains will do their best to make your charter a memorable one.