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CHARLEVOIX
North Breakwater
Description
The 1,200-foot-long breakwater contains two sections featuring pipe railing on both sides. The first portion is 700 to 800 feet long with riprap on both sides. The outer, 400-foot-long section is constructed of steel sheet piling.
Access
Paved Pine River Ln. has parking for about 70 vehicles. Because anglers must descend steps leading from a 25-foot-high hill, the site is not accessible to the disabled.
Amenities
Anglers can fish on either side of the breakwater and along the channel, which is also protected by a wall of sheet steel piling, a quarter-mile upriver to the US-31 Bridge. This channel area has pipe railing, a 4- to 6-foot-wide cement walkway, and City-installed streetlights.
South Breakwater
Description
This structure is 450 to 500 feet long. The first half is box-shaped, with the lake side containing riprap and the river side featuring a pier-style deck supported by steel piling. The center is open. The outer half is a conventional breakwater of steel sheet piling with a railing around it and a lighthouse at the end.
Access
Anglers park in a gravel lot, which can accommodate 75 vehicles. A ramp leads to the cement walkway along the Pine River Channel seawall. This walkway is 8 to 20 feet wide and is barrier-free.
Amenities
Free, City-owned Michigan Beach Park has about 2,200 feet of frontage and is open from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. Anglers can fish the surf, and a summer concession sells food. A paved parking lot accommodates 65 vehicles; parallel parking along area streets can handle another 30 cars. Chemical toilets serve the public here and at the breakwater. Anglers can also fish upriver along the channel to the US-31 Bridge. The cement walkway is 6 feet wide, and the City has installed streetlights. Ferry Beach Park, on the northwest shore of Lake Charlevoix, has a modern boat launch and facilities.
What's Hot?
- Brown Trout
- Chinook Salmon
- Coho Salmon
- Smallmouth Bass
- Steelhead
- Walleye
Spring anglers catch an occasional brown trout, steelhead, or salmon but the channel area is best noted for good walleye fishing at dawn, dusk, and all night long until mid June. From then until late August, night anglers also take smallmouth bass. Chinook salmon return from mid August to mid September, and a few steelhead show up in November and December.
Tactics
For walleye, smallmouth, and the occasional jumbo perch, bounce a crawler-tipped jig along drowned riprap and in the channel. Chartreuse or lime-green are hot colors. For salmon, toss spoons sporting glow-tape, especially after dark when big kings gather off the breakwaters and move through the channel. Fresh salmon eggs, tied into a small bag and fished off bottom, will catch steelhead. For limited bait and tackle, contact the Holiday filling station, 1408 Bridge St. in Charlevoix (231-547-2821). For fishing information, call the DNR Great Lakes Fishery Station (231-547-2914), or drop by the office next to the park at the south breakwater. The Charlevoix Chamber of Commerce is at 408 Bridge St., (231-547-2101).
Stocking
The DNR annually stocks nearby Medusa Creek with about 300,000 chinook fingerlings. Each year managers release thousands of walleye fry and fingerlings to Lake Charlevoix, and area sites also receive brown and lake trout yearlings.
Additional Information
Area Accommodations
Camping is available at Fishermans Island State Park on Bells Bay Rd. about 3 miles west (231-547-6641).
Map of Access Area & Driving Directions
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North Breakwater
Turn west off US-31 on Park Ave. and drive 2 blocks to Grant St. Turn north to Michigan Beach Park.
Paved Pine River Ln. has parking for about 70 vehicles. Because anglers must descend steps leading from a 25-foot-high hill, the site is not accessible to the disabled.
South Breakwater
Take US-31 (Bridge St.) to Pine River Ln., turn west and drive to the end.
Anglers park in a gravel lot, which can accommodate 75 vehicles. A ramp leads to the cement walkway along the Pine River Channel seawall. This walkway is 8 to 20 feet wide and is barrier-free.
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