I decided to write this guide because a couple of years ago I was the “newbie”. I don’t claim to be a master at it, but I have lost a fair amount of fish and put some in the freezer every year. Let me start by saying that, to the best of my knowledge, Michigan has the best salmon fishery in the United States, except for Alaska and the Pacific Northwest (which is where our salmon originally sourced from). I also have to say that once you hook one, you will be “hooked” on the experience. I have divided this article into several parts to keep it organized, and will update the article from time to time as I learn more about it. This year I am going to try salmon fly fishing as well as bait fishing.
about the fish
Salmon stocking began in Michigan in 1967 to combat the excessive population of Alewife. The first species to be planted was the Coho. As time went on, the Chinook was added to the mix. They have since taken off, and between the natural reproduction that occurs and the DNR population, we now have one of the best salmon fisheries in the world. For pictures of the fish, consult the Michigan Fishing Regulation book for the current year. In addition to Coho and Chinook salmon, you may also occasionally catch a Pink Salmon or Atlantic Salmon, but to my knowledge, it doesn’t happen often. Maybe someone reading this can correct me if I’m wrong.
where to go
We are fortunate to have access to a state that has such a diverse fishery. Very few states have as many lakes and rivers as we do, or have the variety of fish that live there. For our particular purposes, we need rivers that drain into the Great Lakes, since that is where salmon spend their adult lives. If you search the internet, you will find many rivers that have salmon, such as the Muskegon, Big Manistee, Little Manistee, Pere Marquette, and Betsie, just to name a few. Some of these rivers have naturally reproducing salmon populations, while others are stocked by the DNR. There are also several rivers in the upper peninsula that are home to salmon in the fall. In all rivers, you must pay close attention to fishing regulations because certain sections of the rivers may be closed to fishing to protect spawning fish or have limitations on the equipment with which you can fish.
When to go
The main salmon run occurs every fall. There is no set start date, but you can generally start seeing fish in the river in early September and expect the run to be mostly over by the end of October. Much of this depends on the weather. Lack of rain and/or warm weather can cause the race to start later, and additional rain with cooler temperatures can cause the race to start a little earlier. I guess it all depends on when the fall rains and cooler temperatures hit the area. If you go to the rivers during September and October you will eventually find fish, it’s just a matter of time to catch the big run.
How to fish them
This article will only cover techniques for the wading angler. Most anglers use a spinning rod or fly rod and use the Chuck-and-Duck method. I believe this method of fishing was named after the fly fisherman because of the extra weight involved and the problem of getting hit in the head (Been There-Done That). You can also cast flies, like Wooly Buggers, Egg Skippers, Streamers, Nymphs, and probably others I don’t know about yet. Yet another method is to suspend eggs, flies, or hooks below a float of some kind. Whichever rig you choose, you’ll need wellies, a net of some kind, a headlamp or other light source for night fishing, waterproof gear, and some warm clothing.
The Chuck-n-Duck method usually involves a three-way pivot, some kind of weight, and a hook with salmon eggs or balls of yarn. I have also seen anglers use flies or plugs instead of the hook and spawn. A diagram can be seen in Figure 1 which is listed at the end of the article.
I personally prefer to use about a 3′ leader when fishing this method, but you will have to experiment and modify it to fit the conditions. If the fish are creepy, you may need to lengthen the leader a bit more. You can also do a modified version of this without the three-way twist by using rubber cored sinkers for weight. To do this, tie the hook directly to your main line and then attach a rubber cored sinker above the hook about 18″ in weight. This will get your lure into the current but not necessarily bounce off the bottom. Again You will have to experiment with the length of the line between the weight and the hook, but I would keep it at least 12″ from the hook. A diagram of this equipment can be seen in Figure 2 at the end of the article.
Fly fishing for salmon is gaining in popularity. Haven’t tried it yet, but plan on this year as well. I understand that the usual flies are egg skippers, prawn variations, large streamers, and egg sucking leeches. I’m going to try them all to see if I can get it right. The good thing about fly fishing is that you also have the possibility of fishing for other species of trout while searching for salmon. If you want more professional salmon fly fishing instruction, there are several providers offering the service now. Do an internet search and you should have little difficulty finding one.