When in the UP and with kids that's where I take them to be sure to get action. We always had multiple fish days though we never broke 45". I had the kids using Topraiders and floating cranks (7.5" Grannies) to avoid hook-ups, I usually tossed a single blade Raddawg behind the kids so I could crawl it over wood near shore. Access to remote parts of the river was always important to us.

Locals fish it for walleye, they say the river is full of them. If I were to try that I would troll cranks to find bigger fish then stop and drift back over those areas bouncing jigs/leachs on the bottom.

Watch out for the paddle boat.