Benzie county fishing

Benzie County offers plenty of 'bank' fishing

BY KYLE KOTECKI VENTURE STAFF WRITER

The world of fishing can seem overwhelming with all of its fish finders, GPS trackers and expensive boats. That being said, one can enjoy a successful day of fishing with little more than a rod, a reel and a lot of patience.

Home to 33 inland lakes and plenty of rivers and creeks, Benzie County offers fall anglers plenty of locations where anyone can catch dinner without stepping foot off the shore.

Those in Benzie County find themselves spoiled for choice. Christine Murphy, owner of the Frankfort Tackle Box, knows just where to send people looking for a place to wet their lines. "One of the best bass fisheries is right here in Betsie Bay," she said. "There are pike — people catch some nice pike out there, too. I sell tons and tons of nightcrawlers and worms. ... That's all you need to fish there. There are also burbot and catfish."

Murphy owns the Frankfort Tackle Box along with her husband, Brian. The store is in its 45th year of existence and the Murphys have owned it for the past 22. No major overhaul was necessary as the store's goal is to offer quality gear, fair prices and a homey atmosphere. "It's this little old white building with blue awnings," Murphy said of the store. "We kept it the way it is. We paint it every couple years. ... And it's got the old table. You can sit down and have a cup of coffee and shoot the breeze.

"But we kept all that because a lot of people come in and they say, 'My grandfather used to bring me here,'" she continued. "'Now I'm bringing my kid.' We get a lot of that."

Betsie Bay — also known as Betsie Lake — has multiple points of access for those without a boat. On the Frankfort side alone there is a T-dock, the Frankfort City Boat Launch — where anglers often fish the weeds just off the shoreline — and the Frankfort Municipal Marina.

"There are a lot of places," Murphy said. "As long as you are not obstructing the people who are renting slips, you can cast off those docks, too."

Of course, the fish are on the other side of the bay, too, and Murphy knows of a great spot in Elberta.

"At the Elberta Waterfront Park, they built a long fishing platform where the boats used to sit," she said. "It's where (the SS City of Milwaukee) used to sit. When they sucked it out, it created all of this structure down there. That boat sat there for years. They built a fishing dock and platform horizontally along the shoreline. "That is some of the best fishing there is," Murphy continued. "The fish will congregate there because of that spot — because of all the structure where the ship used to be."

During the salmon run, the Frankfort and Elberta piers can be lined with anglers. Fishing the salmon run in Benzie County makes for some of the best fishing not only in Michigan, but in the nation.

"We have people come from all over the country to fish that salmon run," Murphy said. "That's the one trip of the year, the uncles and the cousins and the kids — at a certain age they're allowed to come with the boys. It's a huge

Anglers of all ages can catch fish with nothing more than a rod, a reel and a whole lot of patience. thing."

With 33 inland lakes in Benzie County, it can be difficult to hone in on which one to fish. Murphy is quick to tell anglers to try their luck at Lower Herring Lake, however. "There's an inlet there that goes out to Lake Michigan. People fish that inlet all year long," she said. "... Depending on the time of year, (one can catch) largemouth, perch, rock bass, smallmouth, walleye, sucker and pike. Salmon and steelhead will run through there because of that inlet connecting to Lake Michigan."

It is no secret that Crystal Lake Continued on page 11