Michigan’s fall salmon migration run has begun. Anglers are salivating

Michigan anglers might spot salmon “running” as they migrate from the Great Lakes to rivers and streams ahead of winter. Courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

by Janelle D. James  (Bridge Michigan)

Michigan’s coastal rivers and streams are filling up with salmon as the prized sportfish make their annual fall migration from the Great Lakes.

The fall fishing run is eagerly awaited by anglers, giving them easy access to some of the millions of Atlantic, Chinook, pink and coho salmon that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources stocks across the state each year.

This year, the state stocked more than 9.1 million fish weighing nearly 321 tons.

Born in rivers, the fish spend the majority of their lives in lakes before migrating back inland to reproduce in the waters of their birth.

“That’s a fish that during the summer can be potentially miles offshore and 90 feet down,” said Patrick Hanchin, research manager for the Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station of the DNR. “So it takes really specialized gear to catch them at that time.”

That means anglers who don’t have boats capable of navigating the open water of the Great  Lakes often lack a shot at stocking their freezers until the river migrations.

“Guys can go up and fish right offshore and have a chance to catch one,” said Paul Zubok, owner of Zubok’s Bait Tackle Marine in Taylor in southeast Michigan.

While each species varies, migration season for salmon can start as early as July and continue through December, but peak activity is after Labor Day, between September and early October.

Fishing season dates and regulations vary by body of water. The DNR website has information about local waterways  along with week-by-week reports on the best fishing opportunities.

The trick to snagging a good, fall-run salmon is timing. During spawning season, adult salmon stop eating and dedicate all of their energy to swimming upstream, where they often die after spawning.

After they lay eggs, many species die; others spawn a few times.

Wait too long, and the river will be full of half-decomposed zombie fish that aren’t great for eating.

Warm weather has triggered an early start to the fall run, said Zubok.

“They just want to get in there and lay their eggs and die,” Zubok said.

Avoid invasive species

Michigan officials recommend the following tips to prevent the spread of unwanted or harmful aquatic species:

• Thoroughly cleaning waders, decoys, straps, anchors, boats, trailers and other equipment between trips to avoid transmitting plant fragments, seeds or organisms from one place to another.
• Drain all water from boats, trailers and equipment.
• Dry boats, gear and equipment for at least five days before using it in another waterbody.
• Remove any plants, debris or soils from equipment and inspect it before and after each use.

This article is being republished through a syndication agreement with Bridge Michigan. Bridge Michigan is Michigan’s largest nonprofit news service and one of the nation’s leading and largest nonprofit civic news providers. Their coverage is nonpartisan, fact-based, and data-driven. Find them online at https://www.bridgemi.com/.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.