Chinook Salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Also called king salmon, Chinook are the largest of Michigan's Pacific salmon and power the state's iconic big-lake trolling fishery. They stage off river mouths in late summer and run upstream to spawn in fall.

Seasonal Activity

Jan

Slow

Feb

Slow

Mar

Slow

Apr

Good

May

Good

Jun

Prime

Jul

Prime

Aug

Prime

Sep

Prime

Oct

Good

Nov

Slow

Dec

Slow

Best Techniques

big-lake trolling with downriggers
pier casting
back-trolling plugs in rivers
drifting spawn

Top Baits

spoons
flashers with flies
J-plugs
spawn bags
crankbaits

Michigan state record: 47.86 lbs, Grand River (Kent Co.), 1978