Gear & Tackle

Species / Chinook Salmon / Michigan

Trout & Salmon

Chinook Salmon Fishing in Michigan

The largest Pacific salmon, called king salmon, running Pacific and Great Lakes tributaries. Kings are targeted by trolling in big water and by drifting and back-trolling in rivers.

Best Months: May to Oct

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Plan by Month

Best Flies, Lures & Bait for Chinook Salmon

Month

4 picks for October.

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Rod & Reel

Chinook Salmon Setup

Chinook Salmon

Fly 10 ft 9 or 10 wt rod, sink-tip line, 15 to 20 lb leader.

Spin / Cast 9 to 10.5 ft medium-heavy casting rod, line-counter or levelwind reel, 20 to 30 lb line.

Michigan

Where to Catch Chinook Salmon

Rivers & Streams · Michigan

Manistee River

A big river below Tippy Dam with heavy salmon and steelhead runs.

Steelhead · Chinook Salmon · Brown Trout

Rivers & Streams · Michigan

Pere Marquette River

A wild, free-flowing river with salmon in fall, steelhead in winter and spring, and resident browns.

Steelhead · Chinook Salmon · Brown Trout

Michigan

Shops to Stock Up

Recommended

Gear for Chinook Salmon

Fly Rods

Echo Spey Rod

A two-handed rod for swinging flies across big steelhead and salmon runs.

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Rods

Ugly Stik Bigwater Trolling Rod

A long, forgiving trolling rod for downriggers and planer boards.

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Chinook Salmon Fishing by State

New York (2)Michigan (2)California (2)Indiana (1)North Dakota (1)Oregon (1)South Dakota (1)Washington (1)Wisconsin (1)Idaho (1)Illinois (1)