Indian Fishing Historical Marker & roadside park

This spot offers a sweeping view, a sandy beach, and the interesting story of the 1981 Supreme Court case brought by "Big Abe' LeBlanc of Bay Mills. The nation's highest court confirmed his contention that in an 1836 treaty Michigan Indians gave up their land but not their rights to fish and gather. As a result, Indian commercial fishermen can continue to fish, even after Michigan state policy otherwise severely limited commercial fishing in favor of sport fishing.

Fewer Bay Mills tribal members are fishing these days, now that the casinos offer local employment to tribal members. Some of commercial fishing boats can still be seen in this area, around the mouth of Pendills Creek near the hatchery.

There's good fishing for lake trout and salmon at the mouths of the many rivers and creeks in this area that are bridged by Lake Shore Drive.

On Lake Shore Drive at "the narrows," where the road almost touches the lake, a little west of the Pendills Creek Hatchery and Rexford Rd.

Return to Bay Mills

BAY MILLS
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Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery. See the hundreds of thousands of lake trout growing to 5" to 8" when they are released in Lake Michigan and Huron ... more

Indian Fishing Historical Marker & roadside park. On a site with a sweeping Lake Superior beach, a marker tells the story of a Bay Mills fishing case ruling on the the U.S. Supreme Court decided that Indians never signed away their right to fish for a living. ... more

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