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PENTWATER
The Army Corps of Engineers recently replaced both the North and South Breakwaters and respective seawalls. Funding support provided by the Great Lakes Fishery Trust has improved facilities, which are now barrier-free, at these locations.
North Breakwater
Description
The seawall is 1,150 feet long with a 10-foot-wide cement deck and 42-inch-high safety railings. A straight section of breakwater, which features heavy riprap, is 192 feet long and 23 feet wide. It connects to a bend that is 330 feet long and 43 feet wide. Riprap flanks the lake-side steel structure, which has a stretch of inaccessible rubble mound at the end.
Access
A 10-foot-wide cement walkway leads 1 block from Mears State Park. Anglers can also reach the breakwater by accessing the seawall from Channel Park or Channel Lane Park, both of which were built with funding support provided by the Great Lakes Fishery Trust.
Amenities
The state park has parking for nearly 200 vehicles, including two barrier-free spaces. It is open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and features a food concession. Visitors must have a valid sticker attached to their vehicle windshield. Channel Park has parking for four vehicles, including one handicap-only space, but there are no restrooms. Channel Lane Park provides parking for 18 vehicles, with two barrier-free spaces. It is open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and has barrier-free restrooms.
South Breakwater
Description
The steel seawall is 1,280 feet long with railings that flank a 9-foot-wide cement walk. At the Lake Michigan shoreline, the walk widens to 11 feet, and the structure, which contains heavy riprap, bends for 120 feet. The steel breakwater is 250 feet long and 30 feet wide, except for the final 90 feet, which is 40 feet wide. There is no riprap.
Access
The seawall lies next to Chester Street Park. A cement walk that is 8 feet wide and 110 feet long leads to a 24-foot-wide fishing deck with safety rails and benches. From this location, anglers can fish the channel between Lake Michigan and Pentwater Lake.
Amenities
The park has two barrier-free vault toilets and paved parking for 15 vehicles including one barrier-free slot.
What's Hot?
- Brown Trout
- Chinook Salmon
- Northern Pike
- Yellow Perch
Brown trout fishing is good to excellent from ice out to mid May and again in October. Anglers take occasional yellow perch and northern pike in summer along with some chinook salmon in late summer/early fall.
Tactics
Use fresh steelhead spawn, either in a treated chunk or small bag, and fish it near bottom. Browns also hit wigglers, small minnows, and night crawlers. Spincasters throw Countdown Rapalas, small Shadlings, Locos, Krocodiles, and Mepps spinners. Pearl or silver alone or in combination with orange, red, chartreuse, green, or blue are the rated colors. Perch and pike take a jigged minnow. They, along with most salmon, are taken incidentally. For live bait, contact The Pentwater Market, 40 W. Sixth St. (231-869-5339). The Pentwater Area Chamber of Commerce is at 324 S. Hancock St. (231-869-4150).
Stocking
The DNR annually stocks the Pentwater River with 20,000 to 25,000 brown trout yearlings. Occasionally, the South Branch gets 3,500 steelhead yearlings.
Additional Information
The Army Corps of Engineers recently replaced both the North and South Breakwaters and respective seawalls. Funding support provided by the Great Lakes Fishery Trust has improved facilities, which are now barrier-free, at these locations.
Area Accommodations
Camping is available at Mears State Park on Lowell St. (231-869-2051); Hill and Hollow Campground, 8915 N. Business US-31 (N. Ridge Rd.) (231-869-5811); and River Farm Campground off Longbridge Rd. (231-869-8127).
Map of Access Area & Driving Directions
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North Breakwater
From US-31, take the Pentwater Exit (Business US-31) west 3 1/2 miles to Lowell Rd. Turn west 0.2 miles to Mears State Park. An option is to continue west on Lowell Rd. 0.1 mile to Bridge St., then continue to Channel Park or turn south to Channel Ln., then west to Channel Lane Park.
A 10-foot-wide cement walkway leads 1 block from Mears State Park. Anglers can also reach the breakwater by accessing the seawall from Channel Park or Channel Lane Park, both of which were built with funding support provided by the Great Lakes Fishery Trust.
South Breakwater
From US-31, take the Monroe Rd. (Business US-31) exit and drive 1 mile west to Longbridge Rd. Turn south and go 2.2 miles to Chester St., and then turn north 0.7 mile to Chester Street Park.
The seawall lies next to Chester Street Park. A cement walk that is 8 feet wide and 110 feet long leads to a 24-foot-wide fishing deck with safety rails and benches. From this location, anglers can fish the channel between Lake Michigan and Pentwater Lake.
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