Michigan Salmon Fishing on a Fly

Fly Fishing Michigan Salmon

Every fall in the Midwest, a cycle of life completes itself as Coho salmon and Chinook salmon leave the great lakes (Lake Michigan & Lake Huron) and migrate up their natal rivers to spawn.  Either via fish stocking or natural reproduction, these great game fish begin their lives in the cold water rivers and streams of Michigan and soon find themselves as the dominant resident species of their respective great lake, although Lake Michigan prevails as the dominant salmon fishery of the 5 great lakes. The Gold Coast Fishery on Michigan’s west coast is home to some of the best runs of salmon in the lower 48 states. The Manistee River, Betsie River, Platte River, Little Manistee River, Pere Marquette River, White River, Muskegon River, and Grand River comprise the largest runs of salmon from Lake Michigan.

Two of the longest rivers in Michigan, the Muskegon River and Manistee Rivers, serves the role as host to some of the largest salmon runs in the Midwest.  This “big waters” of these great fisheries start near the historic town of Grayling, Michigan and flow south before heading to the west and towards their destinations of lake Michigan. Both Rivers have many similarities, Both rivers have a number of dams, on the Muskegon river the last being the Croton hydroelectric dam nears the town of Newaygo Michigan, and the Manistee River having it’s last dam, Tippy hydroelectric dam nears the town of Wellston Michigan.  None of these dams have fish ladders or means for passage, so all of the salmons migrating reach their upstream limits in the Newaygo and Wellston areas.  Although some Coho salmon do run up the Muskegon, the Chinook salmon dominates the numbers, and can be found by the thousands in mid-late October each year. The Manistee River does see good numbers of Coho salmon in late October and into November.  These great game fish can range from 10-20 pounds (Coho salmon 6-8 lbs, and the Chinook salmon 12-20 lbs) or more, however the size of Lake Michigan salmon the last few years has gotten a little smaller as the baitfish to game fish ratio begins to correct itself in Lake Michigan.

We pursue the mighty “king & Silver salmon as known by nickname” with fly rods in the 8-10 weight range and with goodsized, large arbor reels to battle these freshwater brutes.  The pound test line used can vary, although 8-10 # will do just fine in most instances.  Techniques vary, although the most productive for fly fishing Michigan salmon in a river include bottom bounce “chuck-n-duck”, as well as floating line and indicator Nymphing. Streamer fishing for salmon has become more popular over the years.  The chuck-n-duck style of fishing can be done from either the comfort of a boat or while wade fishing, although line management can be a challenge when casting great distances while wading the river.  The floating fly line and indicator rig can also be effectively fished by both wading and boat fishing, although it’s often best to wade fish while using this technique for a number of reasons.  Utilizing very long, 2 handed rods, a.k.a. “spey rods”, is a great way to pursue salmon with the floating line and indicator technique. Streamer fishing for Michigan Salmon is best done when the fish first start to enter the rivers, as the fish are still looking to chase baitfish, and are more willing to hit a swinging fly.

The first salmon show up anywhere from late August to late September, although the primary migration doesn’t begin until water temperatures drop below the 60 degree mark, which is usually early September on the Manistee River and early October on the Muskegon.   They can be found in the river through mid to late November on both rivers; however October is the prime month for our Chinook salmon on the Muskegon River. The surface draw dams and the mild southern Michigan weather keeps the water on the warm side on the Muskegon.

Once in the river system, salmon are either “staging” or “spawning” and available during both phases of their migration to the angler.  The staging fish are those who have come up the river, but their body is simply not ready for the actual spawning process.  They can stage anywhere from a couple days to a couple weeks and do so in deep, dark pools and runs that provide them cover.  The later in the run, the shorter the staging period, as dropping water temperatures make for a quicker turnaround time from “run” to “spawn”.   Since Chinook salmon are essentially done eating as they enter the river mouths, they are in the process of dying throughout their spawn and end their lives following the completion of the reproduction process.

The Muskegon River and Manistee River are some of many to receive good salmon runs each year and we often find ourselves as Michigan Fly Fishing guides, searching out alternate rivers early in the cycle of the spawning run in late August and early September such as the Betsie River and Pere Marquette River.  This said, the Muskegon River and Manistee Rivers are the last rivers to have these migratory fish in each fall, which leads to larger numbers of Fall Steelhead which enter Michigan rivers to feed on the Salmon roe (eggs).