Where When & How To Catch Salmon In The River / Tips For SALMON FISHING IN MICHIGAN RIVERS

In this guide to salon fishing Michigan rivers we go over where when and how to catch salmon in Michigan Rivers. If you have ever wondered how to find salmon how to catch salmon or where to fish for salmon in Michigan this salmon fishing video is for you. The fall salmon run for 2022 is approaching so the time has come to start thinking about Michigan king salmon. This video includes river fishing salmon tips as well as common salmon fishing techniques and lures. In this video I will go over lots of information that should help teach you how to catch river salmon in Michigan. The tips in this video pertain to king salmon and coho salmon fishing. Michigan fishing is full of awesome opportunities and one of those opportunities is river fishing for king salmon and coho. We will cover water temperatures for salmon, holding water for salmon, affects of the moon phase, barometric pressure, time of day etc. for salmon fishing.
River Fishing Salmon in Michigan is so epic that people come from all over the country to fish in Michigan for salmon. Particularly king salmon. Michigan king salmon fishing this is epic as it gets without going to Alaska. And for me it’s much closer drive lol. I hope this guide to salmon Fishing Michigan River‘s is helpful in your quest to catch more salmon or your first salmon.
If you are tracking the fall salmon run in 2022 make sure to stay tuned as I will be salmon fishing until 2023 hits. If you want to know how to catch salmon in the river check out my salmon fishing videos playlist for salmon fishing tips and tricks that will give you a better how to catch river salmon while fishing Michigan rivers for king salmon and coho salmon! If you like this Michigan fishing video make sure to subscribe and hit the like button. This alone helps me grow my channel and create better content! Also please drop a comment to let me know what you like or don't like. I always aim to grow as an angler and appreciate getting advise as much as I enjoy sharing my knowledge of fishing with my audience. Also your comments increase my engagement score so more people will see my fishing videos.
If you are fishing in Michigan and are looking for Michigan fishing videos look no further as I have content for most species Michigan has to offer. Whether you are into fishing small creeks for brown trout or Flathead catfish fishing I am into it all. This year I will try hard to get my first Musky and my first sturgeon and with any luck a few other species.
Reel Michigan Anglers is a collection of Michigan fishing Videos made by real Michigan Fisherman. Not professional anglers but average guys on their quest to catch as many epic fish as possible. Michigan fishing flows through my veins like water flows through Michigan rivers and I enjoy sharing my Michigan fishing adventures with you all in the form of educational and entertaining fishing videos. I love fishing for all species in all bodies of water but have a particular passion for Michigan river fishing. Fishing Michigan rivers has brought me so much joy and excitement and my zen place is me standing in a river with a fishing rod in my hands. I am not in this for the fame or the attention my goal is to help other fisherman grow and learn with me and to get paid to fish which I do now thanks to all of you lovely viewers. Thanks to your support I will continue to bring you many more Michigan. fishing videos! I will be Fishing Michigan 2021 and making more fishing videos for your enjoyment!
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[@agentwtf]

Great video. I appreciate the level of detail and the clarity with which you speak. Got me super motivated to go find some salmon.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

I love to hear that! Good luck on your adventures!

[@donaldhavasy2356]

I live in the PNW and just started chasing salmon. I’ve failed every time and I get so deflated because they are in the water and I see them but it seems no matter what I try I can’t catch one or even get a bite. This video helps though, at the end when you said it’s all about time spent and you have failed over and over now I feel that is just normal rather than it’s just me. I’m gonna keep going and I’m determined to catch salmon every year.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Definitely don’t give up. After you get a few you will get a rhythm down and it will seem easy. There are always those days where salmon are all around you but not biting. Skein seems to be the best for tight lipped salmon.

[@donaldhavasy2356]

Well I have been going to a hatchery where other are pulling them in. So they are biting right now. Been trying drifting, bottom bouncing, plunking, with soft artificial eggs, Cokey, artificial worm, spin and glow, yarn, power eggs… I feel like I’ve tried it all but skien haha. I think my biggest problem is trying to figure out if I am the right depth, and presenting correctly.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@donaldhavasy2356 that was my problem at first I never knew if I was doing it wrong and wasting my time or not. After seeing it done in person a few times in different rivers and making it happen a couple times in a couple different rivers I finally became somewhat confident and now I feel confident but also like I could always take an opportunity to experiment and tweak my set up to improve my game.

[@nicholasyebra1988]

Brother invite me I’m a good friend who doesn’t have many I’m teach you, if you take me

[@steveking6683]

Great info

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@steveking6683 thanks! I appreciate the feedback!

[@orlandoreyes4919]

Very generous...thank you!

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

My pleasure. I prefer to throw a dog a bone cause I remember what it was like wanting to catch my first salmon and steelhead and not having a clue where to even start.

[@outdoorsforachange]

This is a huge resource!!!

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful :)

[@logunschmitt8311]

Greatly informative video. Thanks man

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks for watching and for leaving the positive feedback. Tight lines!

[@georgefitzhugh6455]

Thanks for sharing. Subbed!

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thank you for subbing and for the feedback. I will have lots of new educational content for next season!

[@ZacGoFish]

Wow amazing video thanks bro

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching!

[@reidrobicheau9661]

Very informative, this video deserves millions of views. Thanks so much! I'll go watch more of your content :)

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks for watching and I appreciate the feedback.

[@TMM716]

Great video! Thanks for sharing! Heading to Weber today 🤙🏼

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks! Let me know how that goes I’m going scouting a bit today further west.

[@ShaunBush-ji4kh]

Very helpful.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks! That was my goal :)

[@mattc7782]

I didn’t realize the run starts that early. Explains why I never catch salmon lol. Thanks man

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Some Years it pays to start early. a few rivers do have kings right now but with the hot weather and warm water they are still that super active and biting. fishing should start to get good in the next couple weeks though.

[@mattc7782]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers Where should I start? Up north somewhere? Is there a difference between say the Grand River (6th street) and something farther north like Ludington area or Traverse City? For early season.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@mattc7782 6th street can be good but tricky to fish. Tippy dam is a good spot to learn if you go early before the crowds get bad by Labor Day. The betsie is great as well but also is a zoo.

[@fishbrainfrancis5174]

I am,getting more curious about stream salmon fishing. This is a good video I will be referencing back to this come fall thanks bro.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks. Once you get your first one regular Fishing won’t be the same just so you know lol

[@blakebettendorf8894]

Going to attempt for pinks this year might need someone to tag along thanks for the video.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks for watching :)

[@andrewsohikian4721]

Great information though!

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

I appreciate the feedback!

[@rickhalle-podell169]

Really appreciate your video. Most informative of all I have been searching. to understanding Salmon fishing in MI rivers

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks! Your comment made my day :) I agree it is hard to find good info about Michigan salmon fishing.

[@rickhalle-podell169]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers I am trying to learn about mid west fishing I live in chicago area but have friends with a place in Pentwater. I usually do inshore saltwater in FL.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@rickhalle-podell169 The Muskegon River Manistee River in Betsy River are all pretty close to Pentwater and they’re all great for salmon and steelhead.

[@rickhalle-podell169]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers thanks

[@silverfire9844]

Great video. We are in Wisconsin, but it's nice to get some tips from someone who fishes lake Michigan cuz sometimes it seems like a lot of info is about the Pacific Northwest. I was wondering, how spooky do you think salmon are when they're in the river? We mostly inland trout fish so I wonder if I am being overly cautious as far as approachable distance from the fish? Also, when I see five guys fishing the same hole, I think -no way are those fish going to bite!--but I don't know, maybe they will?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

I appreciate the comment and I agree wholeheartedly all the information out there is for Pacific Northwest and you really have to dig to find information about great lakes salmon runs. In my opinion salmon can be extremely spooky when the conditions are right for them to be so they can also care less about you walking right in front of them and then standing back and casting at them. It just depends on the river size fishing pressure quantity of fish etc. Pretty much everything in this should apply to Wisconsin Fishing as well since it’s basically the same conditions but the opposite side of the lake. You guys get different wind and current patterns than we do so things are probably a little different but mostly the same.

[@waikarimoana]

Great video and good fishing too, tight lines and greetings from New Zealand trout fishers,, Tony.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks for watching Tony!

[@bob9724]

How do rig for salmon what kind of line, what lb test, what type leader and length and if you had to pick one type bait what would it be? Liked your video learned some things. Thank you.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

I fish a 20lb mono or braid mainline and a 15-20 lb Flurocarbon leader 6-36 inches depending on the situation. For lures straight 20lb braid works fine. Skein, beads, jigs, spinners and crank baits like thundersticks are my favorite.

[@josiahbuck2562]

Love watching your vids tab! Hopefully I get a chance to fish with you this season

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Hit me up any time. Skams and kings any time soon :)

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Hey since I owe u some spinners we should plan a day to hit the water so I can get u those lol

[@josiahbuck2562]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers I’m totally down man! I’m counting down the days till the coho come back and hopefully get after some kings and steel!

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@josiahbuck2562 all 3 are a must…

[@jimnummerdor9687]

Great information and video

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thank you for the feedback and thanks for watching!

[@outdoorsforachange]

4:34 that's it, getting my gear ready now. Beast!

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Get em!

[@outdoorsforachange]

Thanks Tab!

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

My pleasure. Thank you for watching!

[@mikedowns2006]

I think I seen you on my Fakebook post earlier. Either way great video.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks for watching! I just uploaded a few more educational salmon fishing videos in the last week or so including one earlier today. I hope you find it informative and I hope you have good luck on the river. Say hi if you see me out there!

[@mikedowns2006]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers I definitely will. The way the weather is looking I'm aiming to hit the Big M in a few weeks. Might even be the first week of October. You can't miss me though. I'm the guy with the freezer bag full of Pre-Tied leaders who gets crap from the Centerpin guys. I'm also very active on Michigan Sportsman Forum. Good luck to you too.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@mikedowns2006 lol check out the pips leader caddy… I just did a video about it and it will change your life for under $20

[@fishinwiththegriffins7304]

I can put you on some Atlantic's over here on the east side. I also like to target big lakers in December from the pier and 18" to 20" monster river smallmouth all summer long (18" is the average size smallie). I'll try to message you some pictures privately to prove it.🎣 Loved this video some great information!!!

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

That would be super epic! Would love to link up.

[@fishinwiththegriffins7304]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers I tried contacting you on Facebook Messenger but got an auto reply. What's the best way to get in touch with you?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@fishinwiththegriffins7304 I see the message now :)

[@medlensoutdoors]

How is the april or may bite do you think? I enjoyed this video, very informative

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Spring time they can be found in the lake around the peirs before they go deep for summer but not in the river till Fall.

[@medlensoutdoors]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers thank you for the info

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@medlensoutdoors my pleasure :)

[@orlandoreyes4919]

❤

[@AbuOmarP]

Great video I’m on my way

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks! I appreciate the comment!

[@johnnytruckingoutdoors]

Awesome videos, what drone do you use for your videos? How long have you been filming?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

My buddy brought his drone to salmon camp one year and got that footage. I have no idea what it is but it’s a nice one. As I recall, he said he paid around 2000 for it I think.

[@lynnmayse7113]

Very informative!!!!! Like and subscribed sending to my husband.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Thanks for the sub and comment! Glad you liked it.

[@italiansalmonhead]

U so ready to go I can't tell. I see u in river soon.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

You know it’s true I got nothing but Skamania and Kings on my mind LOL

[@italiansalmonhead]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers I'm start soon I gone let u know

[@reliablyrandomoutdoors]

Any chance you are near tippy dam? I’ll be there in about a month…. My first time going for the salmon

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Yeah I have a couple of tippy dam videos. I live three hours from there but make the drive when I can. if you check out my salmon and steelhead playlists there are a couple tippy dam videos some of which are labeled as being at tippy dam and a few of which are not. That should help give you a better idea of the lay of the land and if you have further questions feel free to message me on social media or email.

[@reliablyrandomoutdoors]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers I just dropped ya an email.

[@silverfire9844]

Do you find certain water/temp/time, etc.. conditions are suited more for one specific tactic? For example, eggs vs spinners vs crankbaits?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Yes. I would say crank baits work the best when fish first move into the river and are being skittish and aggressive. They also work really well when they settle down in a hole or on a gravel bed and are being territorial over that space. As the season goes on the fish see more and more lures and or flies beads spawn bags skein etc. so they become more wary so a more subtle presentation later in the season or in pressured areas tend to work better or just tossing something no one else is tossing. For late season early winter salmon fishing it’s pointless to toss hardware at that point I tend to do best in winter with jigs and wax worms. Same thing goes for steelhead so I tend to catch some late season cohos when I’m fishing for winter steelhead. Eggs of any kind are always a safe bet and I have actually caught more salmon by far on spawn bags than I have on skein. A lot of people will tell you you have to have skein but last year I did just as well tossing beads as I did with spawn bags and I caught nothing on skein lol spinners work best when you find a pod chilling somewhere. When you come across the bunch just kind of hanging out maybe darting back-and-forth a bit or holding down in a hole they are all jockeying for position and in aggressive mode so when you throw a spinner in the middle of the pod one of them is going to nail it. Low and super slow with spinners seems to be key also.

[@silverfire9844]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers Wow, thanks! I guess I too have always heard skein,skein, skein... so we cured our own last year and got no takes,lol. Only had two strikes all last season, one in harbor on kastmaster and one in river on jointed firetiger crank. No rhyme or reason to why I fished those lures

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@silverfire9844 those both were good choices :)

[@snagrbuster7343]

I've been steelhead and Salmon fishing in the PNW since early 70s, and I'm curious to know 2 things about your fish, 1- every video (regarding Great Lakes), that I've watched, showing river fishing has shown colored Salmon (with the exception fishing in the lakes)! Do you ever get Chrome fish in the rivers?! Also can you tell me if the Salmon's flesh is deep Pink? Thank you

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

In my experience, when you catch a Chrome salmon in the River in Michigan it means the fish has been there for less than a few days. Once they are chrome with pink highlights, they’ve probably been in the river for a week, and once they’ve been in the river for a month or longer, they start to turn darker, and/or brighter red for coho and kings just turn from silver to green to brown to black. If they are shiny and have been in the river for less than a few weeks, they are usually still very edible. I only keep really fresh ones.

[@Oooweee440]

Does salmon feed on bait fish when they're in the river?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

No as a general rule only Atlantic salmon feed in the rivers. I believe they will chase bait up river and feed at river mouths before committing to running the river to spawn. Once that happens it’s mostly going to be aggression strikes. They will absolutely crush any minnow or bug that invades their space though even after their flesh starts falling off lol.

[@inthelifeofben7168]

Hey we have an air B and B on the platte and there are schools of coho all together. Super clear water. Will they eat eggs and spinners at well?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Egg especially skein work great for Coho. The problem with that river is it moves so slow it’s hard to drift your bait where you want it to. I would throw some spinners gold blades chartreuse pink etc. also any sort of crank bait with a really tight wobble or blade bait. you want to go with your most natural least spooky colors on that river silver and red gold and black stuff like that. Also because of how clear the water is in that river I would use an abnormally light line preferably fluorocarbon.

[@mohammadelsayed668]

I’m going salmon fishing for the first time this fall. Would you recommend Betsie river over Tippy Damn? Any other spots you would recommend for a first timer?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Those 2 and the pm are the best bet. Betsie is the most beginner friendly spot imo.

[@mohammadelsayed668]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers sounds good thank you!👍

[@outdoorsforachange]

Are the salmon running in the Grand River yet, or should we head to Muskegon River?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

They are in. We have had coho for a few weeks and the kings were in before that.

[@rizzityrice6480]

So you can legally fish Michigan creeks(tributaries)?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

depends on the creek and the time of year. itsalways good to check first with new water. Trout streams close for the run but you can fish them up till trout closer. others are open all year. there is a map on the dnr page and you can get info on trout routes as well. also double check because some trout streams have open and closed sections seasonaly or gear restricted sections.

[@avinash348]

What is the best place where they sell fresh wild caught Salmon

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Lol near the ocean for sure.

[@twistedstemsfarmms572]

Is the coho in at tippy or maybe the kings ...

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Kings are in.

[@westmichiganguideservice3946]

🎣

[@chaseanthony9377]

if flossing allowed in Michigan? Here in Alaska, as long as you hook them in the mouth, ADFG doesn't care.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

It is a grey area in Michigan. In the rulebook, it dictates that the fish must willingly take the bait. So, although the rig is technically legal, according to all regulations, many believe that it is not because the fish are not willingly taking the bait in many cases when bottom bouncing. Due to that gray area, people do get tickets for intentionally flossing occasionally but not that often.

[@italiansalmonhead]

Skein under a float, or my bead and u get them lol

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Do you make beads in 14 or 16 mill?

[@italiansalmonhead]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers 12 I'm getting the mold for 14mm

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@italiansalmonhead u do well for kings with 12’s though? I’ve only used 14’s for kings but hear 14 and 16 work best.

[@italiansalmonhead]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers if u look on my videos u see me do well at tippy with it

[@justram]

Do you know any rivers near Grand Rapids?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

6th street dam is good right in downtown gr. A guy got a king there yesterday which is crazy late but there there.

[@justram]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers thank you! Some people have been telling me to cast near the fish ladder cause supposedly they like to stay there, should I?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@justram I don’t fish that way because I don’t find it to be ethical or fun but it is certainly an effective way to get your first one. I like to fish the center run there behind the basket in the river.

[@justram]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers I’ll give that a shot! I’m gonna be using a float setup with some egg sacks.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@justram that should work!

[@babx1]

U fishing the east jordan river?

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Someday I hope

[@babx1]

@@ReelMichiganAnglers lol keep up the content my good sir

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

@@babx1 thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@StelmachsWorld]

2:04 you could say these fish dont like the mainstream

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Depends on the conditions. This year the main river was better due to low water levels.

[@andrewsohikian4721]

Pls refrain from targeting fish that are actively on spawning beds

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

I don’t participate in that kind of shenanigan lol in fact, I don’t bottom bounce at all for salmon anymore, as I find it to be unsportsmanlike and not fun.

[@samzetroc2634]

You are not gonna mention the name of the rivers and your fricking video's title is where when and how to catch salmon.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Yeah but I literally laid out everything you need to know to figure out which rivers have them and how to figure out which ones are closer to you and what time of your target them. That’s better than naming the river and just sending you out aimlessly to not catch fish because you’re in the wrong spot of the river at the wrong time. I avoid mentioning rivers because it gives KZbinrs a bad reputation and gives me a bad name in the Fishing community. However I do mention rivers and give clues throughout all of my videos. If you’re paying attention in the descriptions or in the videos themselves you can figure out all of the spots that I fish pretty easily.

[@dyliane]

if you won't eat them why bothering the poor animals that are trying to reproduce spending their last energy to fight against you that want a video

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

Lol dumbest question ever. Also dumbest argument against river fishing for migrating fish ever. Does catching them in the lake and killing them (you can’t catch and release while trolling because they die) prevent them from reproducing? Yes 100% Does catch and release in the river prevent them from spawning? No… maybe sometimes at worst. you wanna re evaluate your position or be an ignorant hater without logic to back up your stance? The answer is because it’s fun, something you clearly know nothing about 😂

[@twistedstemsfarmms572]

Salmon are stocked u don't know nothing.. salmon have to live in saltwater no salmon eggs hatch. We have the dams to think for this.. pls remove all dams on salmon rivers

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

There’s nothing like telling somebody they don’t know nothing than spouting off a bunch of misinformation lol removing the dams would definitely be a great idea though! Natural reproducing salmon in Michigan is very real and there is no salt water anywhere in Michigan.

[@baileyforrester7]

Reel Michigan Anglers he’s an idiot. Ignore the hater. Ahahahah.

[@DarkKnight-dq7ek]

fishbrain has been helpful in identifying spots for where the salmon or steelhead can be found but that app has gotten annoying with how much they push their pro version which IMO is not worth it. Also I do get annoyed by the amount of clout chasing on that app from people.

[@ReelMichiganAnglers]

I’m on there but never use it lol