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As we continue to push into August here in Michigan, it’s a particularly interesting time for our fisheries. Water is low and warm, and most of our trout and even bass fishing has slowed quite a bit compared to our spring and early summer standards. However, August offers a great little reset as migratory fish begin to push their way into our rivers. By Labor Day, many of the tributaries of the Great Lakes become increasingly full of Chinook (or King) Salmon, and tons of anglers in pursuit trying to land a true river giant.
Salmon were introduced to Michigan back in 1966 to combat the high numbers of invasive alewives. After a few years, the salmon established themselves very well into the ecosystem and with that, helped establish a fantastic sport fishery throughout the state. It’s hard telling how many tens of thousands of anglers target salmon, whether it be out in the lake or once they begin to run upstream. Now, nearly every tributary in most of the Great Lakes receives good numbers of large fish every year. With that, anglers taking to the rivers have become every bit the pastime as deer camp or trout opener.
Seasons of Salmon
If you want a better chance of actively fishing for big Kings, the earlier days of the run (August/September) are a great time to do it. Fresh fish coming out of the lake will still be motivated to eat a fly or lure, which can make for some exciting fishing. Whether you prefer swinging, stripping or nymphing, many of these will be effective techniques for catching salmon early on. Fish won’t quite be in their spawning habits, but also won’t be in the rivers quite as thick yet. Target that deep, dark water to rip your streamers through and hang on!
September-October is when the Kings will begin to settle in to their spawning behavior and will be much more predictable. Peak spawn will be on and you will see plenty of fish on gravel. Indicator-style fishing will become the name of the game. Eggs, stones and indicator-style streamers will be your ticket to catching salmon. Many anglers will resort to “chuck n’ duck” style tactics, as you can use this to heavily weight your rig and quickly present flies to fish.
The King fishing will begin to subside once you move through October. However, the migratory fishery is far from done. Cohos, steelhead, and migratory brown trout begin entering the rivers in greater numbers. This is where fishing can become much more active and exciting again. Coho, steelhead and browns are much more willing to eat big streamers. Eggs are plentiful in the rivers so egg/nymph rigs also work extremely well. However you like to fish during this time of the season, there will surely be fish that will oblige your fly presentation. Pro tip, this is an great time to get out as well because the decreasing amount of Kings, will also mean decreasing crowds on the rivers. If you prefer some more solitude, this time of the salmon season is for you!
Gear
Like any fishing scenario, you gotta get out there with the proper gear. When talking about the potential of 30lb fish, big rods and strong reels are a must. Fast, deep water will force you to dial in your fly and terminal tackle as well. See our recommendations for some salmon gear below!
Rods - For salmon fishing here in Michigan, we’d normally recommend that you hit the water with a 9wt or a 10wt fly rod. I think we are a bit more partial to the 10wts here at SO, however, a 9wt should suffice for most of your salmon fishing scenarios. You might be wondering, if I need a new salmon rod, what rod should I buy? We always recommend going with more of a budget rod since Kings are known for being VERY hard on gear. Something in the sub $350 range will be where you want to put your attention. One of the best fly rods for Great Lakes salmon is the Echo Ion XL. At $299, this is a great bang-for-your-buck type of rod that should be able to get the job done for you. Echo also has a fantastic warranty, should those big Kings thrash through your gear. Some of the best rod options for salmon are:
Reels - A good fly reel is probably where I would recommend investing a few dollars into your salmon setup. Definitely get the best that you can afford. Salmon are known for going on big, powerful runs and you will need a good, strong reel to be able to tame them. If you happen to be a saltwater angler already, recycling your 9wt/10wt size reel like a Nautilus CCF-X2 or an Orvis Ratio will be totally fine for salmon water. If you are looking for a new reel but don’t really want to break the bank, the Lamson Liquid Max is an absolute beast of a reel for the price point. Some excellent reels for salmon are:
Lines - Lines are where things can vary a little bit. How you are fishing will dictate what kind of line you want to throw. If you’re stripping up some early-season fish, a good sink tip streamer line is a great tool to start with. Something like an SA SONAR Titan Sink Tip or a Rio Predator will get the job done if you’re throwing big junk. If you’re going the nymph/egg route, the SA Anadro Indicator is the tool of choice. If you’re going the Chuck n’ Duck route, mono running line like OPST Lazar Line or SA Absolute Flat Mono in 30lb - 40lb.
Flies - When it comes to salmon fishing, fly selection is pretty basic. If you’re going the streamer route for fresh fish, think big, flashy, and colorful. Circus Peanut variants, Drunk & Disorderlys, Double Deceivers, really just anything big and shiny. Color-wise, think purple, pink, blue, orange, etc. If fishing with an indicator or chuck n’ duck rig, flies are even simpler. Eggs/beads, stones, and small indicator-style streamers like an egg sucking leech. Have a nice smorgasbord of each to choose from and you’ll have what you need!
Here are some flies that I wouldn’t hit the river without.
Terminal Tackle - Terminal Tackle is very important when it comes to spending time in salmon water. First things first, you need some WEIGHT! Whether you’re running heavy split shot, pencil weights, or anything in between, you need some heavy weights to get your flies down into the runs. A lot of anglers seem to be partial to pencil lead, but using something like split shot can give you a little bit more adaptability when you are working different drifts with different depths. Like many things in fly fishing, there’s no right answer. Just rock with what works best for you!
For your leader/tippet material, keep it pretty simple. Carrying a range of Maxima Ultragreen, or your other favorite material from 30lb down to 12lb should be sufficient. You can use fluorocarbon for your line-to-fly connections, but some decent stiff mono will usually do the trick. A float/indicator of choice and some snaps/swivels are also often crucial to a good rig.
This is a magical time here in Michigan and is an excellent time to get out on the river! Be sure to familiarize yourself with local regulations. As always, be safe and enjoy your time out on the water!
