With a few warm and sunny days in Lansing, one way to take advantage of the heat is to go fishing. Lansing provides bountiful of opportunities to fish, and the changing fish species through spring and fall only add to the reasons why one should cast a line in the Lansing area.

Willis Bennett, director of Ingham County Parks, endorses taking up fishing as an outdoor activity in order to “enjoy the natural surroundings in a relaxed atmosphere.”

“It is a great opportunity to share an activity with family,” Bennett said.

The largest body of water in the area is Lake Lansing, with about 450 acres of fresh water, Bennett said. Like Lake Lansing, Park Lake in Clinton County has boat access for those who want to fish in different locations across the lake.

Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry, Chuck Nelson, said all the three counties around Lansing have public access to the lakes for fishing.

“The entire lake at Motz (County) Park is public property and has free access,” Nelson said. “There is an excellent opportunity to get cool fish here.”

Jay Wesley, unit manager at Southern Lake Michigan, claimed Grand River to be one of the best places to fish in the Lansing area.

“Along Grand River, there are lakes in the area. Park Lake is one, Lake Lansing is another, Lake Interstate is one,” Wesley said.

Wesley added anyone older than 17 years of age needs a fishing license, which costs $28. Wesley pointed to recent fish placement in the Red Cedar River as an opportunity for MSU students to fish on campus.

“Students should take up the opportunity to fish at the Red Cedar now that it is open,” Wesley said.

Okemos resident Josh Hossink, who fishes regularly at Hawk Island said his favorite spots to fish are Morris Park and Lake Lansing but points to the Red Cedar River as a reliable fishing source.

“I catch a lot of Northern pike, carp, steel head in spring and then salmon runs in fall,” Hossink said.