Hessel Marina Fishing Guide: What to Catch, What to Bring, and Where to Start

You don't need a boat to fish the Les Cheneaux Islands.

Right in downtown Hessel, the public marina gives shore anglers access to Hessel Bay. And better yet, we aren't just guessing about whether people actually catch fish here.

Michigan DNR reports have documented anglers fishing from the **Hessel Marina pier, docks and outside wall**, with perch, smallmouth bass, northern pike and splake all showing up in reports over the years.

So if it's your first time here, where do you start?

I'd keep it simple.

**Bring a light spinning rod, grab some minnows and start with yellow perch.**

Yellow Perch: Start Here

If I'm fishing Hessel Marina from shore, perch are my first target.

They're easily the best-supported shore option here.

In July 2026, anglers caught perch from the marina docks using **minnows and worms**. In early September, perch of varying sizes were again being caught from the marina pier, with **minnows producing best**.

That's about as current as fishing information gets.

For a first attempt, I'd put a small minnow down close to the bottom and see what happens. A piece of nightcrawler makes an easy backup if you don't have minnows or they aren't producing.

And don't overthink the rig.

A light spinning rod, small hook and enough weight to keep your bait down is a perfectly good place to start.

If I walked into Hessel Marina tomorrow with one rod, a bucket of minnows and a couple of hours to fish, that's exactly what I'd do first.

Smallmouth Bass

If the perch aren't cooperating, you've got another option.

Smallmouth.

In September 2026, anglers were catching smallmouth around the marina on **jigs and soft plastics**.

I'd throw a few small tubes, Ned rigs or similar soft plastics in the tackle box and work them around available structure without casting into occupied slips.

The exact lure choices are our recommendation, but the important part comes straight from recent DNR reports: smallmouth are being caught here on jigs and soft plastics.

So if you've been staring at a motionless perch rig for a while, it might be time to start casting.

Northern Pike

There's also a legitimate chance at a northern pike.

And a July 2026 report gives us a pretty good clue about when and where to try.

Anglers were catching pike **early in the morning along the outside wall using chubs**. The following month, DNR reports noted good numbers of smaller pike around the marina.

That's enough to get my attention.

If you're deliberately targeting them, baitfish or typical pike lures such as spoons and spinners give you a few options.

If I'm there first thing in the morning, though, that outside wall is definitely a spot I'm going to keep an eye on.

Just make sure you check current Michigan regulations before targeting or keeping pike.

Splake Are More of a Bonus

Then we have splake.

They're the wildcard at Hessel.

Splake are a hybrid between a brook trout and lake trout, and Hessel has a documented history of splake fishing. Michigan DNR reports have recorded splake caught right from the pier, and they've also been stocked locally.

Sounds promising, right?

Well... I wouldn't plan the whole trip around catching one.

In May 2026, splake fishing from the pier was reported as extremely poor.

So I'd treat splake as a **seasonal bonus**, particularly during colder-water periods.

If you happen to hook one, great.

But if you're just showing up at Hessel Marina wondering what to fish for, perch are a much better place to start.

What Should You Bring?

You don't need to drag half the garage down to the marina.

For a first trip, I'd keep the tackle pretty simple:

* **6 to 7-foot light or medium-light spinning rod**
* **6 to 8-pound line**
* **Small hooks**
* **Light split shot**
* **Minnows or worms**
* **A few small jigs and soft plastics**

Start with a minnow near the bottom for perch.

A bobber or slip bobber can also work if you want more control over your depth. If the perch aren't interested, switch over to a jig and soft plastic and see if you can find a smallmouth.

That's enough gear to cover the two species I'd concentrate on without bringing everything you own.

Of course, we all know how tackle boxes work.

You'll probably bring everything you own anyway.

When Should You Fish Hessel?

**Spring:** Perch are a good starting point, with splake as a possible colder-water bonus. Pike and bass are also present, but check current seasons and regulations before targeting them.

**Summer:** Perch are the straightforward target. Early mornings are worth considering for pike, especially around the outside wall where anglers caught them on chubs in July 2026.

**Fall:** This might be one of the more interesting times to fish the marina. In September 2026, perch were being caught from the pier while smallmouth were hitting jigs and soft plastics around the marina.

**Winter:** Hessel Bay supports ice fishing, but that's a whole different fishing trip. This guide is about showing up with a rod and fishing the marina from shore.

Where Can You Fish?

This part takes a little common sense.

DNR reports specifically document anglers fishing from the **pier, marina docks and outside wall**, so we know people fish here from shore.

That doesn't mean every dock or boat slip is automatically fair game.

Hessel Marina is an active public marina, and it can get busy during the summer. Find an open area where you aren't getting in the way of boats or marina customers. Keep your casts away from occupied slips, keep hooks and line off walking surfaces, and give people some room.

If an area is posted against fishing, stay out.

If you're unsure about a particular dock, ask.

There's plenty of water out there. There's no reason to become *that guy* launching a perch rig between somebody's boat and the dock.

Hessel's Perch Story

There's actually a bigger story behind those perch you're trying to catch.

Yellow perch have a long history in the Les Cheneaux Islands.

The area historically supported an important perch fishery before abundance declined dramatically. Fisheries researchers have studied several possible causes, including predation associated with double-crested cormorants, and management efforts followed.

That doesn't mean the old perch fishery has completely returned.

But there is an encouraging part of the story if you're standing at Hessel Marina today with a fishing rod:

**People are catching perch at Hessel.**

As recently as September 2026, anglers were catching perch of varying sizes from the marina pier, with fish reported in good numbers.

That's the kind of fishing report I like to hear.

And if you're standing there with a minnow near the bottom, that's the information that really matters.

Before You Cast

Hessel Marina is a public Clark Township marina in Hessel, in the Les Cheneaux Islands area.

Don't assume marina operating hours automatically establish when every fishing area is accessible. Follow whatever rules are posted at the site.

You'll also need to follow current Michigan fishing regulations. Seasons, size limits and possession limits can change, so check the current Michigan Fishing Guide before heading out.

And remember, you're fishing an active marina.

Give the boats room, watch where you're casting and leave the place the way you found it.

Pretty simple.

Is Hessel Marina Worth Fishing From Shore?

I'd say yes, especially if you're looking for an easy-access fishing spot in the eastern U.P.

There's no long hike.

You don't need a boat.

And you definitely don't need a pile of expensive tackle.

More importantly, we have recent evidence that people are actually catching fish here.

If it's my first morning at Hessel Marina, I'm bringing a light spinning rod and some minnows.

**I'm starting near the bottom for perch.**

If that doesn't work, I'm tying on a jig and looking for smallmouth.

And if I'm there early?

I'm definitely keeping that outside wall in mind for pike.

Nothing is guaranteed in fishing. We've all had those days.

But if you're standing in Hessel with a fishing rod and wondering where to start, Hessel Marina gives shore anglers a pretty good place to wet a line.