Lake Michigan King Salmon Report

It’s not very often that I fish for King Salmon, Rainbow trout or any other species that calls Lake Michigan it’s home. It’s not that I don’t like to, but mostly because the opportunity rarely arises. 20 some years ago it was a yearly trip out there to hop on a charter boat and burn a day on the water trolling for those reel burning fish. But these days, trips like that are replaced with trips to other fishing destinations or just left to the wayside.

I knew when Mike Finke from Salmon Chasers, harbored in Two Rivers WI., contacted me for some freelance artwork that given the chance, I’d snap up a trip out there in a heartbeat. I provided Mike and his crew the art they needed for their boat and we hashed out a deal to trade art for a trip out there.

So the date was set and carved in stone on the calendar. Now all we needed was the weather to cooperate and some fish willing to make their way onto the boat. The weather couldn’t have been any better, with light southerly winds that put some small waves on the water’s surface.

The fishing we knew going in wasn’t the best. The action was pretty slow with most boats bringing in just a few fish if any. When we walked to the marina, a few boats were unloading their catch prepping them for cleaning with only 3-5 fish for the trip being the norm. Mike had told me that it wasn’t lights out and we’d have to work for what we might catch. Honestly I appreciate that kind of honesty from a charter Capt.. It’s easy for most charter Capt. to rave about the bite to get people to fill their boat only to say at the end of the day “Well, that’s fishing.” I’ve been on that end of the stick and it does leave a sour taste in your mouth. Knowing that each of us might only catch 1 fish kept us grounded with no real high expectations.

Mike and company got us out on the water Saturday afternoon at 3pm and ran us out past where most boats had been fishing looking to fresh water to fish. We set up 12 rods with dipsy divers, planer boats and down riggers, rigged with spoons and flies. Typical fish tackle for that kind of fishing.

For the first hour or so we trolled, hoping to find a few fish on the electronics so we could find out their depth and target them more precisely from there. Once we found the fish, the action was pretty good. We went 7 for 15 Saturday evening with Jake bringing in a 20 and 17lb King Salmon as the 2 biggest for the night. We were fortunate to also hook into some hard fighting Rainbows in the 8-10lb range. Everybody in our group went back to the marina around 10pm with smiles on their faces.

4am Sunday morning came WAY too soon as we found our way back onto the Salmon Chasers boat. From the looks of the area we fished the night before, the word had gotten out that the fishing was better further out. So we opted to once again try some fresher water. Again, the decision paid off and we were back into the fish. Shane caught the biggest of the day with a 23lb King Salmon. The Rainbows followed suit, keeping the dipsy’s and planer boards hopping. In all, we went 10 for 18 which for my expectations was WAY beyond what I was hoping for. The guys on that boat sure know how to work those fish into biting, even if they have to ‘buy’ a bite or two from time to time.

Given how the fish had been biting, I’d willingly say Mike and the crew busted their humps putting us on those fish. They didn’t just knock it out of the park, they killed. I am completely grateful for their hard work and dedication to putting fish in the boat. If any of you are looking for a boat to charter for a trip on Lake Michigan, I’d strongly encourage you to contact Mike at Salmon Chasers.

I know next year I’ll be doing my best to get another trip out there fishing with them. Thanks again to Mike, Rich and Bob. I am extremely grateful to have spent the weekend with you guys!