How to Catch - Michigan Fall Salmon and Steelhead

Pere Marquette River King Salmon

As the days become shorter, nights cooler, our focus begins to change to big chrome king salmon entering the river.  Fall is the time year for Chinook salmon, Coho, and Steelhead on the lower Muskegon River, Pere Marquette, and Big Manistee River. 

There are several techniques that work great for silver king salmon.  Casting crank baits such as Rapalas or deep Junior Thundersticks.  Casting lures downstream quartering across the front or behind log jams makes for some insane crushing strikes!!  Hands down,  the double head shake and ensuing runs are nothing less than pure adrenaline!    Pere Marquette Salmon Fishing Report

Salmon Love Fire Tiger Thunder sticks! 

My second best technique is floating fresh salmon skein under a bobber or float. Fishing soft water in the deeper holes and pockets can create amazing results.  The most interesting thing about float fishing for salmon is that often times, salmon barely take the float down. Often times, the float barely twitches!  Chinook usually only bite two to three times, the spit out the skein.  The key is bounce, bounce, set the hell out of the hook!  I mean Jimmy Houston style!  Cross their eyes! You can feel bones crack when the hook finds its place.

  Quality hooks tied with 20 lb fluorocarbon and an egg loop knot to hold the skein eggs. connect to a quality swivel, a clear plastic bead, 3/8 egg sinker on the 30 lb braided Power pro main line. 

The lower Pere Marquette, Muskegon, and Manistee makes for some great salmon fishing in the early season.  Check out early season King Salmon in late August into late September,  You won't be disappointed!   Michigan Fishing Trips for Salmon