Lake Michigan Fishing, Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing, Lake Michigan Fishing Charters

Lake Michigan Fishing

Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake located entirely within the United States. Nearly 119 miles wide and over 380 miles long, Lake Michigan has more than 1,600 miles of beautiful shoreline. Averaging 275 feet in depth, Lake Michigan reaches 928 feet at its deepest point. Lake Michigan is the 5th largest lake in the World.

Lake Michigan is known for its world-class Trout and Salmon fisheries, and also features a strong Whitefish, Walleye, Large and Smallmouth Bass, Steelhead and Yellow Perch fishery.

Lake Michigan Fishing Records

Brown Trout - 21.68 lbs

Chinook Salmon - 32.75 lbs

Coho Salmon - 16.25 lbs

Lake Trout - 22.12 lbs

Rainbow Trout - 19.84 lbs

Lake Michigan Chinook Salmon Fishing Tips

Chinook salmon in the 12 to 17 pound class are a regular part of most Lake Michigan fishing trips. Big Chinook Salmon are a cold water species so look for them in temperatures below 45 degrees. The exception is when they come into spawn. At this point in their life temperature is not important. Keep your baits in 45-degree temperature and you will increase your odds on the big salmon.

Several methods are used for Lake Michigan salmon trolling. Downriggers are a popular method to run tackle with many variations possible. In sunny conditions increase your downrigger leads to 100 feet or more. By running long leads you work water undisturbed by noise and turbulence of the boat.

Leadcore is another good choice on Lake Michigan. A weighted line with a fluorocarbon leader is attached to a planer board. The planer board is run well off to the side of the boat out of the travel path. Leadcore is graduated to allow five feet of depth for every color. Five colors will run lures approximately 25 feet down 10 colors fifty feet and so on. This allows you to fish any depth you want and is a killer for huge kings.

Chinook live four and a half years and it makes sense that they will be the biggest at the end of their life cycle. These monsters will be the most aggressive and easiest to get in the months of July thru September.

Lake Michigan Fishing Species

Lake Michigan Chinook Salmon