12 Month West Michigan Fishing Calendar - March

March - In years with good ice, this is burbot time if I can make a trip. Locally I’m following the Lake Michigan perch back to the west end of Muskegon Lake. Trolling is still going on but the depths targeted are trending shallower. Browns are more of the target and I spend most of my time in less than 20 feet. It can be a lot of fun and you never know what you might catch. The bass boat usually hops out of hibernation for some of the best trips of the season. Fish that are schooled up and in winter pattern can account for huge number days. This is also one of my favorite times to use jigging tactics for lakers, ciscoes, and burbot on the big water either locally or to the north. It might still be cold but we have had some epic March trips. Also if you can get to a West Michigan pier…you never know what you are going to catch in that cold water. All around March is one of my favorite months to fish out of the year.