Michigan Salmon Fly Fishing Guide on the Pere Marquette River

Michigan Fly Fishing for Salmon

Michigan Salmon fly fishing season is September 1st through November 15th. Salmon fishing is a beautiful time in Baldwin, Michigan as the leaves change color and the salmon fill the river.

Chinook salmon, or commonly known as king salmon, are the largest of Michigan salmon species. The state record is a whopping 46 pounds 1 ounce but they average around 12-14 pounds. This is the same average weight of most Chinook found in Alaskan waters.

Michigan Salmon Fly Fishing Guide on the Pere Marquette River

Northwest Michigan PM River Fly Fishing Guide Service

Chinook were introduced to Michigan waters in the 1960s to control the Great Lakes alewife populations. They soon thrived and created the greatest fishery in the Great Lakes. These fish hatch from eggs in rivers or are planted as smolts in the rivers. From there they make their way out to the Great Lakes were they spend the next 2-4 years cruising around and growing very fast and large.

Muskegon River, Manistee River & Pere Marquette River Michigan Guide

When they reach full maturity they will ascend the rivers to spawn. This takes place as early as mid- July and will last into mid- October. On the way up to their spawning gravel they take their time to rest in slower pools and runs. They soon find a spot they find suitable to spawn and get on with business. Once the spawning is complete they will remain on the gravel to protect the eggs from predators until Mother Nature tells them they have done their job and they slowly die.

Salmon Fly Fishing
Click on a salmon photo
below to enlarge it.
Visit our Salmon Gallery
for more pictures.

Marsh Ridge
River Guide Service
Baldwin, Michigan 49304
Tell: 231 920-7527
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