UTERChinook (king) salmon fishing in Lake Huron
In Lake Huron, Chinook (king) salmon peak July–September and are around May–October, spawning in September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Smaller run since the 2004 alewife collapse; stocked ports fish best.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Chinook (king) salmon in Lake Huron, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyPeakSmaller run since the 2004 alewife collapse; stocked ports fish best.
- AugustPeakWalleye on the bay, lake trout deep, kings stage. Downriggers off Harrisville and Oscoda for kings and lakers.
- SeptemberSpawningAu Sable and Thunder Bay River fall kings.
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Chinook (king) salmon near Saginaw Bay, Bay City, Port Austin
Saginaw Bay — one of the great walleye and perch fisheries in the country — the rocky Thunder Bay and Drummond Island shoals for lake trout and smallmouth, the Au Sable and Rifle river runs, and Lake St. Clair, the shallow weedy world-class water for muskie and smallmouth between Huron and Erie.
Fish Scouter charts 324 lake spots in the Lake Huron & Lake St. Clair map area — the kinds Chinook (king) salmon hold on.
What to use for Chinook (king) salmon
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Anchovies (Pacific)Nose- or collar-hooked on a #4 to 1/0 hook and fly-lined with no weight, or on a dropper loop; a dozen tossed over the side as chum keeps the bass and bonito up.
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 44–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Chinook (king) salmon in Lake Huron?
Peak season is July–September, with fish spawning in September (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Chinook (king) salmon are in Lake Huron May–October. July: Smaller run since the 2004 alewife collapse; stocked ports fish best.
Where do Chinook (king) salmon hold in Lake Huron?
Look on fishing pier, river, lake — around Saginaw Bay, Bay City, Port Austin, Oscoda, Alpena, Rogers City.
What is the best bait for Chinook (king) salmon in Lake Huron?
Live bait: herring, anchovies (pacific), salmon eggs (roe). Herring: Cut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
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All about Chinook (king) salmon · Lake Huron & Lake St. Clair, the whole year