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Fishery Profile: Lake
Michigan and tributaries
Michigan and tributaries
The fall is finally upon us! This is a time of year I
look forward to all year. Almost as soon as the
previous one ends! The kings are coming in
soon!! If you haven't made it over to the other
side of the state for the Lake Michigan fall
salmon or steelhead runs, you are really missing
something great!!
look forward to all year. Almost as soon as the
previous one ends! The kings are coming in
soon!! If you haven't made it over to the other
side of the state for the Lake Michigan fall
salmon or steelhead runs, you are really missing
something great!!
Hit the rivers flowing into Lake
Michigan in late September and early
October for the time of your life!
Michigan in late September and early
October for the time of your life!
Most people I know from around here don't make the 3-4
hour journey until October. Not so with me! I'm over
there some time in the middle of August! I get a lot of
funny looks from people every year when I make such an
early journey. But I am not going to fish in the rivers. I'm
targeting those pre-spawn kings off of the piers, or
breakwaters. Now, in my humble opinion, this is the most
fun you can have when chasing kings. You will also get
the better tasting kings, those whose meat is still pink! A
medium action spinning rod, lined with 12 lb mono. Toss
heavy gear such as 3/4 oz spoons like Little Cleos,
Kastmasters, or Krockodiles, and be ready for the battle
of your life!! Bring along a couple of heavy duty rods to
set out on bottom. Fish with either spawn or mini colored
marshmallows about 10" of the bottom, but leave your bail
open, and set out just enough line to set a pop can with a
little bit of water in it on top of the line. When you hear
that pop can hit the pier, check your rod. Many are
caught this way every year! Also make sure you have a
long handled net, you will need it! A little word of advice
before making the trip for the piers, though, is to keep
checking your online fishing reports, or have some kind of
information source on whether or not it would be a good
idea to make such a trip. Gas aint cheap anymore! It all
depends on the year. If the water is cool enough, salmon
will be in close. It can begin as early as July. Some years,
such as this year, the fun gets a little bit delayed. One
sure fire way to know while you are on the piers is to give
your bait a feel. After a few casts into a cold Lake
Michigan, you bait is, well, cold! If not, you just burned a
lot of gas!
hour journey until October. Not so with me! I'm over
there some time in the middle of August! I get a lot of
funny looks from people every year when I make such an
early journey. But I am not going to fish in the rivers. I'm
targeting those pre-spawn kings off of the piers, or
breakwaters. Now, in my humble opinion, this is the most
fun you can have when chasing kings. You will also get
the better tasting kings, those whose meat is still pink! A
medium action spinning rod, lined with 12 lb mono. Toss
heavy gear such as 3/4 oz spoons like Little Cleos,
Kastmasters, or Krockodiles, and be ready for the battle
of your life!! Bring along a couple of heavy duty rods to
set out on bottom. Fish with either spawn or mini colored
marshmallows about 10" of the bottom, but leave your bail
open, and set out just enough line to set a pop can with a
little bit of water in it on top of the line. When you hear
that pop can hit the pier, check your rod. Many are
caught this way every year! Also make sure you have a
long handled net, you will need it! A little word of advice
before making the trip for the piers, though, is to keep
checking your online fishing reports, or have some kind of
information source on whether or not it would be a good
idea to make such a trip. Gas aint cheap anymore! It all
depends on the year. If the water is cool enough, salmon
will be in close. It can begin as early as July. Some years,
such as this year, the fun gets a little bit delayed. One
sure fire way to know while you are on the piers is to give
your bait a feel. After a few casts into a cold Lake
Michigan, you bait is, well, cold! If not, you just burned a
lot of gas!
Algoma is a popular destination
The biggest draw of the year for small towns all
over Wisconsin's "East Coast" is when the chinooks
(kings) finally make their big run into the rivers in
late September to early October. Even if you don't
like to fish that much, this is something to see! The
water literally comes alive and goes completely
nuts! I wish I was just talking about the fish, but the
fishermen are a sight as well! You will meet local
folks, as well as people who have made the drive
from Minnesota and Iowa. This is why I prefer to
make it up there during the week. Yep, even we
here in Wisconsin get our own form of "Combat
Fishing" in the fall. Rivers such as the Root in
Racine, can be especially over-run by fishermen.
Unfortunately, there are no secret spots on the
Lake Michigan tribs. It's just in way to populous of
an area. Try heading north and hit the East or
West Twin Rivers, which get really nice runs. Or
the Ahnapee between Algoma and Forrestville.
over Wisconsin's "East Coast" is when the chinooks
(kings) finally make their big run into the rivers in
late September to early October. Even if you don't
like to fish that much, this is something to see! The
water literally comes alive and goes completely
nuts! I wish I was just talking about the fish, but the
fishermen are a sight as well! You will meet local
folks, as well as people who have made the drive
from Minnesota and Iowa. This is why I prefer to
make it up there during the week. Yep, even we
here in Wisconsin get our own form of "Combat
Fishing" in the fall. Rivers such as the Root in
Racine, can be especially over-run by fishermen.
Unfortunately, there are no secret spots on the
Lake Michigan tribs. It's just in way to populous of
an area. Try heading north and hit the East or
West Twin Rivers, which get really nice runs. Or
the Ahnapee between Algoma and Forrestville.
A lonely king just about to the ends of it's journey
Keep in mind, now, that river kings can be a bit tougher to
catch than lake kings. Remember that after they spawn
out, they die, so they probably aren't very hungry! River
kings, bite out of aggression. Use large, flashy baits to set
them off. Lures such as a bright colored Mepps spinner,
or a bright colored Flat Fish. Or maybe even try fly fishing
for the brutes, use large colorful streamers. Yarn flies
seem to be a favorite among many anglers. The most
popular method seems to be, once again, mini
marshmallows! One thing to remember. During the peak
of the salmon run, the rivers will be full of fish. You are
bound to foul hook a fish. It is illegal to keep a foul hooked
game fish in Wisconsin. You could get a fine, or even
have your personal belonging taken from you. Make sure
that fish is hooked in the mouth before you put it on your
stringer! No fish in your freezer is worth loosing your
fishing privileges over.
catch than lake kings. Remember that after they spawn
out, they die, so they probably aren't very hungry! River
kings, bite out of aggression. Use large, flashy baits to set
them off. Lures such as a bright colored Mepps spinner,
or a bright colored Flat Fish. Or maybe even try fly fishing
for the brutes, use large colorful streamers. Yarn flies
seem to be a favorite among many anglers. The most
popular method seems to be, once again, mini
marshmallows! One thing to remember. During the peak
of the salmon run, the rivers will be full of fish. You are
bound to foul hook a fish. It is illegal to keep a foul hooked
game fish in Wisconsin. You could get a fine, or even
have your personal belonging taken from you. Make sure
that fish is hooked in the mouth before you put it on your
stringer! No fish in your freezer is worth loosing your
fishing privileges over.
After the kings are done running, the steelhead, a strain of
rainbow trout which migrate from the great lakes, start
moving into the rivers for the winter. Many folks write off
the tribs after the big king run, but they can be had
throughout the winter, if you can find open water. Again
spinners, spawn sacs, and yarn are popular baits of
choice. You probably will not get that big of a crowd for
them until the ice goes out on the rivers in the springtime.
Popular destinations include the Root, Sheboygan, and
Twin Rivers. Waders are not a must, but I wouldn't make
that kind of journey without a pair! This will allow you to
cover much more ground in search of the chrome-fish. If
the rivers aren't doing it for you, make a drive closer to the
big lake. Hit the harbors and breakwaters and toss
spoons. Big browns should be in shallow in the spring of
the year.
rainbow trout which migrate from the great lakes, start
moving into the rivers for the winter. Many folks write off
the tribs after the big king run, but they can be had
throughout the winter, if you can find open water. Again
spinners, spawn sacs, and yarn are popular baits of
choice. You probably will not get that big of a crowd for
them until the ice goes out on the rivers in the springtime.
Popular destinations include the Root, Sheboygan, and
Twin Rivers. Waders are not a must, but I wouldn't make
that kind of journey without a pair! This will allow you to
cover much more ground in search of the chrome-fish. If
the rivers aren't doing it for you, make a drive closer to the
big lake. Hit the harbors and breakwaters and toss
spoons. Big browns should be in shallow in the spring of
the year.
There you go, now plan a trip and go
have a blast! Until next month.
***Chris Powell***
have a blast! Until next month.
***Chris Powell***
Algoma
Marinette
Milwaukee
Sheboygan
Two Rivers
Steelhead runs are also a big draw in the fall
and spring
and spring