Little and Big Bay de Noc

Why go

The Bays de Noc are Lake Michigan’s two northern bays in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: Little Bay de Noc between Escanaba, Gladstone and Rapid River, and Big Bay de Noc to the east, bounded by the Garden Peninsula. Walleye are the reason most people come, and winter is when the area is busiest on the water. Escanaba bills itself as the Walleye Capital of the Upper Peninsula.

Once the bays freeze, shanty villages go up on both, and anglers fish for walleye, yellow perch and northern pike through the ice. In open water the same bays hold walleye, lightly fished smallmouth bass and a summer salmon run off the Lake Michigan shore.

It suits Midwest anglers who want a drive-to ice trip on Great Lakes water, groups who rent a heated shanty for the weekend, and families who want perch for the kids. If you want Lower Peninsula ice instead, compare it with Saginaw Bay or Houghton Lake.

The fishing

Ice walleye. Walleye draw most winter anglers, and the Michigan DNR stocks fingerling walleye in Little Bay de Noc to support the fishery. In recent winters, DNR reports describe walleye from Gladstone into the outer bay, caught on shallow flats at first light and dusk and along the bottom of drop-offs. Set lines with shiners or sucker minnows are common, along with jigging spoons and glide baits. The bite can be slow with short windows, and some of the better days come before a weather front or under cloudy skies.

Ice perch and pike. Yellow perch are the easier fish and the better choice for beginners and kids. DNR reports often put the best perch fishing in the upper end of Little Bay de Noc, with wigglers, wax worms and minnows fished near bottom. Pike show up through the ice as well.

Open-water walleye. Walleye are fished from the spring opener through fall. Named spots include Little Bay de Noc’s north end from Gladstone to Rapid River, the outer bay toward Escanaba, Big Bay de Noc’s north end near the Fishdam River, and Round Island. In summer, anglers troll crawler harnesses on bottom bouncers along the base of drop-offs and near weed beds. In fall, fish school up on shoreline points and steep breaks: shallow in low light, deeper at midday.

Smallmouth bass. Most bass here are smallmouth, and few anglers target them, so they see little pressure. Fish rocky areas near steep drop-offs and flats next to deep water. Most anglers release their bass. The early bass season has its own rules, so check them first.

Salmon. Salmon usually turn on around the end of June and run into early September as mature fish head toward their home rivers. Most of that fishing happens from Escanaba south to the Ford River and off Fairport, southeast of Big Bay de Noc.

Rivers. Walleye spawn in the Escanaba, Rapid, Tacoosh and Whitefish rivers in spring. The Ford and Days rivers hold trout, and the Rapid River sees a fall salmon run.

Where to fish

Little Bay de Noc

The main walleye and perch water, and the busiest ice. Visit Escanaba lists ice access at the Escanaba Municipal Marina, No See-Um Creek south of Escanaba on M-35, the Gladstone Marina, Terrace Bay Resort south of Gladstone, the Days River sites north of Gladstone, Kipling a mile north of Gladstone, and several spots on the Stonington Peninsula south of Rapid River. The boat landing at Kipling has a large weed bed that draws walleye, and the “black bottom” area to its south is a known spot. Boat launches include Rapid River, the Gladstone harbor, Kipling, Escanaba’s Ludington Park and North Shore, and Ford River.

Big Bay de Noc

Quieter, and known for perch and walleye, with fewer but larger walleye. Ice access points include Fayette State Park on the Garden Peninsula, the Little Fishdam River east of Isabella on US 2, Nahma south of US 2, and Ogontz Bay. Portage Bay State Forest Campground east of Fayette gives access to Lake Michigan itself. There is a DNR boat launch at Garden.

Where to start the ice season

Ice forms first in the northern ends of the two bays, so early-season fishing starts there. Local advice is to fish the same structure that holds fish in open water, and to be on the ice at first and last light.

Charters and guides

Visit Escanaba keeps a list of local ice guides and bait shops. Among them, Blade’s Bait & Tackle in Gladstone runs a shuttle to fishing spots on Little Bay de Noc and rents an overnight shack that sleeps up to four, and it books up early. Hook Set Fishing offers half and full day ice packages with gear for up to three people and will fillet your catch. RTH Fishing, run by a Coast Guard licensed captain, guides on Little Bay de Noc and nearby Lake Michigan all year.

For open water, the same site lists several walleye and salmon charters. Ask what is included, how many anglers the boat takes, and what happens if wind keeps you in. A guide’s shanty may come with propane heat, windows, a fish finder and benches, but the floor is often bare ice, so bring warm boots and thick socks.

Where to stay

Escanaba and Gladstone put you closest to the Little Bay de Noc access sites, bait shops and guides. Rapid River sits at the head of the bay. For Big Bay de Noc, the Garden Peninsula and Nahma are quieter bases. Visit Escanaba notes that some area lodgings will cook your catch, and Terrace Bay Resort south of Gladstone has fish-cleaning facilities. Fayette Historic State Park has a modern campground for the warmer months.

Beyond fishing

Fayette Historic State Park on Big Bay de Noc preserves a 19th-century iron-smelting townsite between Snail Shell Harbor and Sand Bay, with trails along 90-foot limestone cliffs, a swim area and, in winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Palms Book State Park is nearby. In summer, area beaches, lighthouses and paddling round out a family trip.

Trip costs

This is a drive-to trip with plenty of public ice and boat access, so a do-it-yourself weekend costs little beyond lodging, gas, bait and a Michigan license. A guided ice day or an overnight shack rental is the main added cost; ask each operator for current rates. Shanty rentals and overnight shacks book early in good ice years. See our budget trips guide.

Getting there and around

Most visitors drive. US 2 runs along the north end of both bays, linking Escanaba, Gladstone and Rapid River with Nahma and the Garden Peninsula. Delta County Airport in Escanaba has limited commercial service, with Delta Connection flights to Detroit and Minneapolis; check current schedules before you plan around a flight.

You will want a car or truck to move between access sites. Check the weather before you go, since conditions on big water change quickly.

Ice safety

The Michigan DNR says there is no reliable thickness that guarantees safe ice. Test it with a spud, needle bar or auger as you go, stay off slushy or snow-covered ice, and carry a life jacket, ice picks and a way to call for help. Local guidance on the bays adds: never fish alone, avoid river mouths and current, watch for pressure ridges, and heed warnings late in the season, when icebreakers and ore boats return. The Delta County Sheriff’s marine patrol can answer questions about conditions. Read our ice safety guide and the ice fishing checklist before you go.

Source: Michigan DNR: Ice Safety, checked October 24, 2026.

Licenses and rules

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources sells licenses and sets the rules, including walleye and bass seasons and the rules for leaving a shanty on the ice, such as owner identification and removal dates. Those rules change, so check the current Michigan fishing regulations and license information before each trip. Our fishing licenses guide and Michigan ice fishing guide cover the basics, and our shanties and shelters guide explains the gear.

Source: Michigan DNR: Ice fishing, checked October 24, 2026.