King Salmon

[ozark trout fisher]

Ok, so this doesn't technically belong in the "trout talk" section, but close enough. I'm planning on heading up to Michigan in early August. Last time I was up there also in early August, the king salmon were just starting to run on the lower sections of the Little Manistee River. We didn't have the right gear to go after them, so we just had to fish for the trout that were luckily plentiful as well (which was fine, really.)

We plan to spend much of our time floating and fly fishing for resident trout on the upper part of the Pere Marquette, but if the salmon are running on the Little Manistee we may want to give it a try this time. I don't have a fly rod that is anywhere close to big enough to take on that kind of thing. And honestly, I just don't want to about double the cost of the trip by buying a 9 or 10 weight set up that I'll use for maybe 2 days and won't use again for several years in all likelihood.....especially since hitting the run on time is far from a certainty. So I'm thinking about just spin-fishing (which is legal for the stretch we want to fish.) I've got a couple of spinning rods intended for going after flathead catfish that are plenty big enough to spool of with 20-25 pound test, probably 30 in a pinch. Will that be enough, or do I need to get something bigger?

Also, any ideas on what to use? We're just not willing to use bait, so anything besides that. We're thinking big spinners and spoons, but honestly I've got no clue.

[Jeff Tief]

Cabelas has had a Redington Pursuit 9' 8wt 4 pc. for 59.99 with a lifetime warranty.You would have to order it as they sold out all models in this line at the Hazelwood store.Years ago we fished the PereMarquette and the Muskegon and I took an old spinning rod ugly stick with a cardinal 6 spinning reel with 20# test and my old buddy Nick Knowles caught several fish on tackle the size you are talking about.

[ozark trout fisher]

Awesome thanks!

Apparently, they're already starting to trickle into the rivers up in northwest Michigan. Very early. Hopefully there will be a few around when we get up there. I doubt I'll spend too much time salmon fishing even if they are in, given the crowds that are usually associated with good runs up there and the fact that we'd like to spend plenty of time fishing for trout and smallies, and otherwise spending time in places that aren't so likely to be overrun with people. But spending a day or two chasing salmon would be nice.

[Feathers and Fins]

OTF, What about use of a Guide so you don't have to spend the money on gear you wont use often?

The spinning gear option is a good one as well, Not knowing the crowds If they are bad I would think about spooling a spinner with 50lb braid and use 30 to 80 lb floro. Shoot Ducky a PM he would be the one to ask about Salmon.

[ozark trout fisher]

OTF, What about use of a Guide so you don't have to spend the money on gear you wont use often?

The spinning gear option is a good one as well, Not knowing the crowds If they are bad I would think about spooling a spinner with 50lb braid and use 30 to 80 lb floro. Shoot Ducky a PM he would be the one to ask about Salmon.

Thanks a lot for the advice, Feathers and Fins. I just don't think a guide is in the cards.There will be several of us and the bill on that would run up pretty quickly, and we're pretty cheap....which is why we're going to Michigan instead of Montana LOL.

[cnr]

If you are fishing the lower stretches early in the Salmon season you can fish streamers or hardware pretty successfully. The early season fish are still feeding and will hit an offering that imitates a minnow. After they have been in the river a little while they will start getting into full on spawn mode and nymphing becomes the norm. But those fresh early season fish will hit aggressively if you can find them. They will be stacked up in certain lower river holes so you may have to cover some ground to find them. Floating the river is to your advantage so you can cover some ground and find them.

[ozark trout fisher]

If you are fishing the lower stretches early in the Salmon season you can fish streamers or hardware pretty successfully. The early season fish are still feeding and will hit an offering that imitates a minnow. After they have been in the river a little while they will start getting into full on spawn mode and nymphing becomes the norm. But those fresh early season fish will hit aggressively if you can find them. They will be stacked up in certain lower river holes so you may have to cover some ground to find them. Floating the river is to your advantage so you can cover some ground and find them.

Awesome. We will have kayaks and canoes so floating should be an option.

[Rolan Duffield]

Phil and I fished the Pere Marquette many times several years ago. It's a great stream in the Baldwin, Michigan area. I used a 6 wt. fly rod. Don't think you really need anything heavier than that. Yes, the salmon will be hard to control and slow down though that's part of the fun. Just make sure you use strong salmon type hooks.

Rolan

[ozark trout fisher]

Phil and I fished the Pere Marquette many times several years ago. It's a great stream in the Baldwin, Michigan area. I used a 6 wt. fly rod. Don't think you really need anything heavier than that. Yes, the salmon will be hard to control and slow down though that's part of the fun. Just make sure you use strong salmon type hooks.

Rolan

6 weight, for real? I do have one of those. I am just envisioning getting it torn up pretty badly but maybe I'm wrong. We plan to be on the Pere Marquette trout fishing anyway, so if there are salmon in there we shouldn't have to go far......

[Quillback]

I used to catch kings on spinning gear in Washington state. Spinners will work, Blue Fox spinners are good ones. Get out early in the AM, or evenings. You don't necessarily have to use a big spinner either, size 5 is as big as I would go, but 2's and 3's will work. When the sun is up and the water is clear, smaller, tarnished spinners can work, big flashy ones will spook them. I used to set some brass spinners in wet coffee grounds overnight, does a good job of tarnishing them. Cast across stream and slow roll the spinner, swinging it in the current, keeping it just off the bottom.