RE: Great Lakes.
I fish on the East side of Lake Michigan of the West Michigan coast a little bit. I don't find it very fun. It's just me, and I'm not looking down on anyone else. I just think the heavy duty poles, heavy line, planer boards, etc just isn't like the fishing I enjoy.
I'm more of a cast and reel, or cast and flow guy. I love to catch Salmon and Steelhead in MANY tribs of the Great Lakes though!