Lake Michigan Fishing Season

April-May

Fishing begins.
In Lake Michigan, fishing starts in mid-April and brings excellent Coho Salmon fishing

Good chances of catching Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout adding to your daily catch.

​This is a great time to experience Great Lakes fishing early in the season. Each spring is different though. Some seasons there are big schools of Coho in early April and other seasons it begins in early May.

June/July

Variety time.
Large Chinook Salmon and acrobatic Steelhead usually beginning to congregate.

Coho getting larger and good numbers can still be caught. 

Lake Trout catches usually remains excellent. Best overall chance to catch all five salmon & trout species in a single trip.

August

Trophy-size salmon 
Starting near the second half of July and most of August begins the best time to catch large, mature Chinook (King) Salmon in the 15-30lb+ range. 

Chinook (king) Salmon are the pinnacle of the Great Lakes food chain, largest of all salmon found anywhere in the world and these very aggressive, large fish are usually the most sought after and prized by captains and anglers alike.

Excellent Lake Trout catches remain. Steelhead, Brown Trout, and Coho Salmon usually available.

September

Transition time.
Fall is the most beautiful time of season to be on the water. As King Salmon and Coho begin to stage running up the rivers, fall offers to best time to catch salmon near river mouths

Large, spawning Lake Trout can be caught in secret, offshore rock-reef structures. 

Brown Trout, Steelhead, and non-spawning Chinook Salmon available.

Fall and Frankfort's changing autumn colors offers a great way to enjoy the end of the fishing season.