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ELK RAPIDS
Northwest Breakwater
Description
The rubble-mound/filled-earth structure is about 350 feet long and features a barrier-free cement walkway down its center. The outflowing Elk River shoreline has light riprap upstream and heavy riprap to a bend where the breakwater begins.
Note: The southwest breakwater is not connected to land.
Access
A hard-surface parking lot accommodates 45 vehicles. An 8-foot-wide cement walk leads from the lot to the breakwater, a distance of 1,000 feet.
Amenities
At 300-foot intervals along the walkway are three fishing platforms, each of which is 37 feet wide and 15 feet deep. They extend over the riprap shoreline and are barrier-free, with benches along three sides. The river-side edges of these structures feature a 4-inch-high ridge but no railings. The nearest toilets, which are barrier-free, are located in the municipal marina on the south side of the river.
What's Hot?
- Brown Trout
- Channel Catfish
- Chinook Salmon
- Coho Salmon
- Smallmouth Bass
- Steelhead
The breakwater and Elk River mouth serve up brown trout and steelhead in spring, smallmouth bass beginning in June, channel catfish starting in mid July, and coho and chinook salmon from late August to mid September. Browns show up again in September and October, and steelhead make a final run in mid November.
Tactics
For trout, pin small spawn bags or wigglers to egg-style hooks and fish with a bobber just off the rock-strewn bottom. Smallmouth hit spinnerbaits in white, chartreuse, yellow, or blue and white, along with Roostertail spinners and jigged leeches and crawlers. For catfish, spot a night crawler along bottom, or soak a chunk of shredded wheat in cod oil and thread it to a treble hook. Salmon sock fluorescent spoons and plugs, fall browns like borax-treated skein, and late-fall steelhead take small spawn bags. For bait, tackle, and updated fishing information, contact Elk Rapids Hardware, 126 River St., (231-264-8475). The Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is at 305 US-31 North (800-626-7328).
Stocking
The DNR annually releases an average of 14,000 brown trout yearlings and 10,000 steelhead yearlings to the Elk River.
Additional Information
Area Accommodations
Camping is available 2 miles northeast at Honcho Rest RV-Otel and Campground, 8988 Cairn Hwy. (231-264-8548), and at nearby Vacation Village Waterfront Campground, 509 Lake St., (231-264-8636).
Map of Access Area & Driving Directions
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Northwest Breakwater
From US-31, turn west on Dexter St. and drive 2 blocks to the parking lot.
A hard-surface parking lot accommodates 45 vehicles. An 8-foot-wide cement walk leads from the lot to the breakwater, a distance of 1,000 feet.
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