Nestled between an abundance of water, two of the Great Lakes, Sault Ste. Marie is your optimal fishing destination. There is an abundance of places to cast your reel and let to fish catch your hook. The first inhabitants of Sault Ste. Marie even settled upon the shores of the St. Marys River due to the proximity to prime fishing spots. Since then, fishing has become a large part of the Soo’s culture. Here are six hidden places to catch fish for all ages and skill levels that the area offers.

A favorite place to shore fish among local fishermen due to its ideal feeding ground for fish. Pendills Creek feeds directly into Lake Superior which brings a large variety of fish into these waters. The creek itself produces more than one million lake trout a year that spring into Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The best time to cast your reel for optimal fishing is around dusk. It’s also the perfect spot to bring the kids. Fishing is not the only thing that will take your breath away here. Indulge in these breathtaking views of the water and sandy beaches.

About a 90-minute drive from the Soo heading towards Paradise lies an easy-to-access fishing haven. This secret spot located is just minutes from Tahquamenon Falls. Expect to catch some walleye, pike, perch, small mouth bass or rock bass during your fishing excursion here throughout the year, but especially in late summer and fall. When you’re done casting your reel, take some time to sightsee the falls and maybe even try your luck by catching a trout out of the Tahquamenon River.

You can’t forget about the beginning angler when looking for a great spot to fish. The Kids Fishing Pond located, about five minutes from downtown Sault Ste. Marie, was established over 10 years ago and has been a staple of the community ever since. This is the perfect place to bring the whole family for a day filled of fun fishing family time!

It’s located near Clyde’s Drive-In and Rotary Park, and is normally stocked with trout a few times each summer. Young anglers under 16 can fish to their hearts content at this special gated off pond.

Just a short ferry ride from Sault Ste. Marie, near Clyde’s Drive-In and Rotary Park, is Sugar Island. The island offers a handful of honey holes, such as Duck Lake. These are the best places to catch fish on the island. The causeway connecting the island to the ferry docking area has recently been renovated to include a fishing area off the side of the road. Just a short walk from the ferry dock and you can be casting for walleye or salmon depending on the time of year.

Upstream of the Soo Locks and International Bridge, anglers often target whitefish. Walleye season opens May 15 on the St. Marys. Hard-fighting fish, averaging one to three pounds, may be caught throughout the river. Blue Heron Fishing Charter’s Harold Bailey recommends using waxworms on ice-fishing teardrops near the shipping channel’s bottom edges.

Local fisherman recommended to troll nightcrawlers and spinner rigs in Brimley Bay. “Crankbaits like Salmons are hot, too,” notes Dave Atkinson, owner of Wild Bill’s Bait and Tackle. “Anglers troll with and without planer boards, and some drift or cast jigs. Lake George and Munuscong Bay are perennial producers.”
As the season progresses, walleyes tend to move deeper.

“The shipping channel edges turn on toward the end of June,” Atkinson says. “A slow death-style spinner rig with half a ‘crawler is my favorite bait in depths down to 28 feet.” The action continues throughout the summer.

Looking for more fishing information? Check out our other great blogs on fishing. We have you covered for fishing along Lake Superior, angling along the St. Marys River, ice fishing and stay tuned for more fishing content!

Where’s your favorite spot to fish in the Eastern Upper Peninsula? Share it (or somewhere near it) with us by tagging your photos on social media with #ilovethesoo. Make sure to follow us on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.