Salmon fishing

[Dave Bainbridge]

I was up at the Ocqueoc river this weekend and seen some salmon in the river. Talked to a guy fishing and he said he got 2 Friday morning.
I general go up salmon fishing in the mid of October. Are they running early this year or do I just go too late in the season?

[Monty Mikho]

I was up at the Ocqueoc river this weekend and seen some salmon in the river. Talked to a guy fishing and he said he got 2 Friday morning.
I general go up salmon fishing in the mid of October. Are they running early this year or do I just go too late in the season?


The salmon are starting to run this. The west side of Michigan is where the majority of the salmon have moved. Pere Marquette River, Big Manistee and Little Manistee Rivers. If you are looking to fly fish for them skip doing so if you're going on the weekend. The snaggers come in bus fulls. Throughout the week day it is not very busy.

The Ausable River in Oscoda/Tawas area doesn't have the action it once had many years ago. I was told the food source for the Salmon was running dry so they went to the west side of Michigan.

The 2nd and 3rd week of September seems to be when they used to come in. It seems they started a little earlier this year and last with the 1st week of September.

They are much tougher to catch in the river. If they are sitting in one spot you will have a hard time getting them to move. Best bet is to cast in areas where the salmon are moving. If you have a boat or want to stand the the peer spoons will probably be your best bet.

Hope that helps..

[2091]

What L. Huron lacks in Salmon it makes up for in Steelhead. Just need to wait later in the Fall then the Salmon for them to come in. I have a long time friend who runs a charter on Huron out of Harbor Beach. They've been stacking 'Steel' like cord wood this year. If that's any indication, it oughta be a good year for Steel on the Huron tributaries asuming we get the right weather to trigger a concentrated run. He also tells me the bait fish (smelt) populations on Huron are recovering and the Salmon fishery is slowly recovering as a result. It's just the food chain finding it's own balance, I guess. Hopefully Huron Salmon will be back to consistantly fishable levels in just few years.

As far as Salmon on L. Michigan tributaries go, they are right on time. The early fish usually show up in the lower portions of the rivers at the end of August. By mid-to-late September, the action will be hottest with fish all through-out length of the rivers. Salmon are usually done by October, but hold tight because hungry Fall Steelhead will be right behind them.

[Randy Warr]

what about the rifle river? any action on it??

[Dave Bainbridge]

The salmon are starting to run this. The west side of Michigan is where the majority of the salmon have moved. Pere Marquette River, Big Manistee and Little Manistee Rivers. If you are looking to fly fish for them skip doing so if you're going on the weekend. The snaggers come in bus fulls. Throughout the week day it is not very busy.

The Ausable River in Oscoda/Tawas area doesn't have the action it once had many years ago. I was told the food source for the Salmon was running dry so they went to the west side of Michigan.

The 2nd and 3rd week of September seems to be when they used to come in. It seems they started a little earlier this year and last with the 1st week of September.

They are much tougher to catch in the river. If they are sitting in one spot you will have a hard time getting them to move. Best bet is to cast in areas where the salmon are moving. If you have a boat or want to stand the the peer spoons will probably be your best bet.

Hope that helps..

Thanks Monty
I picked up a 14' alum boat with a 20 hp motor this spring. 1st time I ever fish from a boat. Finding it a little more difficult then I though to catch anything, but I been having a great time.
Again thanks for the Hunting/Fishing section, It's been helpful.

I am going back up on the 20th. I try to fish from the mouth with some spoons, let you know if I have any luck.

Dave

[Dave Bainbridge]

What L. Huron lacks in Salmon it makes up for in Steelhead. Just need to wait later in the Fall then the Salmon for them to come in. I have a long time friend who runs a charter on Huron out of Harbor Beach. They've been stacking 'Steel' like cord wood this year. If that's any indication, it oughta be a good year for Steel on the Huron tributaries asuming we get the right weather to trigger a concentrated run. He also tells me the bait fish (smelt) populations on Huron are recovering and the Salmon fishery is slowly recovering as a result. It's just the food chain finding it's own balance, I guess. Hopefully Huron Salmon will be back to consistantly fishable levels in just few years.

As far as Salmon on L. Michigan tributaries go, they are right on time. The early fish usually show up in the lower portions of the rivers at the end of August. By mid-to-late September, the action will be hottest with fish all through-out length of the rivers. Salmon are usually done by October, but hold tight because hungry Fall Steelhead will be right behind them.

Do you have any tips on catching steelheads?

Thanks
Dave

[2091]

I suggest getting a guide. Steelhead can be a real bitch.

Ted