Fall Salmon Trips in Lake Michigan
Private Trip
River Fishing
Fall salmon fishing on Lake Michigan with expert guidesEquipment provided, just bring license with salmon trout stampSmall group experience for up to two guests
When fall rolls around on Lake Michigan, it's salmon time – and I mean serious salmon time. The big kings and feisty cohos are staging up for their spawning runs, making them hungry and aggressive. This is hands down the best time of year to get into some world-class salmon fishing on one of the Great Lakes' most productive waters. Your captain at Crazy4Chrome Guide Service knows exactly where these fish are holding, and with all your gear provided, you can focus on what matters most – landing the fish of a lifetime.
This isn't your typical lake fishing trip – Lake Michigan in fall is a whole different beast. We're talking about massive water with salmon that have been feeding all summer and are now at their peak weight and fight. Your guide will have you out before dawn, running to the spots where the salmon are stacked up. The cool fall air, steam rising off the water, and that first rod going off in the downrigger clip – there's nothing quite like it. You'll be fishing for 2-6 hours depending on the bite, working depths anywhere from 40 to 150 feet down. The boat handles up to 2 anglers, so you won't be fighting for rod time or elbow room. Pack your snacks and drinks because once we're on fish, nobody wants to head in early. Just make sure you've got that Michigan fishing license with the salmon trout stamp – the DNR doesn't mess around, and neither do we.
We're running a top-rated trolling spread that's been dialed in for Lake Michigan salmon. Your captain will have downriggers set at multiple depths, planer boards working the edges, and long lines running behind the boat. The gear is all provided – quality rods and reels that can handle a 20-pound king going ballistic in open water. We're pulling spoons, plugs, and flies that have proven themselves on this water. The key is covering water and staying in the thermocline where the baitfish are holding. Your guide reads the electronics constantly, watching for bait schools and marking fish. When we find them, we'll work that area hard. The downriggers let us get our baits right in the strike zone, and when a salmon hits, that release clip pops and you're connected to pure power. No worries if you've never used downriggers before – your guide walks you through everything and handles the technical stuff while you focus on fighting fish.
The salmon have been absolutely crushing it this fall, with anglers landing fish that'll have you talking for years. Kings in the 15-25 pound range are showing up regularly, and those fish fight like freight trains once they realize they're hooked. The cohos have been just as impressive – maybe not as heavy as the chinooks, but pound for pound some of the hardest fighting salmon in the Great Lakes. We've been seeing great numbers too, with double headers keeping both anglers busy at the same time. The bigger kings love the deeper water offshore, while the cohos have been mixing it up both shallow and deep. Your best shot at a true trophy is early morning when the bigger fish are most active, but we've been getting bit throughout the day as these salmon stage up for their spawning runs.
Chinook salmon are the kings of Lake Michigan for good reason – these fish are absolute bruisers that can top 30 pounds. Fall is prime time because they've been feeding heavily all summer and are now at their maximum size before spawning. They typically hold in 60-120 feet of water during the day, relating to temperature breaks and baitfish concentrations. When a big king hits, you'll know it immediately. The rod doubles over, line screams off the reel, and you're in for a battle that can last 15-20 minutes. They'll make multiple runs, often toward the surface where they'll jump and tail-walk. What makes chinooks so special is their combination of size and power – landing a 20-pound king on Lake Michigan is a customer favorite experience that keeps anglers coming back year after year.
Coho salmon might be smaller than chinooks, but don't let that fool you – these silver rockets are arguably the most fun fish to catch in the Great Lakes. Fall cohos average 8-15 pounds and are known for their acrobatic fights, jumping repeatedly and making blistering runs. They're more aggressive than kings, often hitting lures with reckless abandon. Cohos tend to roam more than chinooks, so you'll find them anywhere from 30 feet down to over 100 feet, depending on where the baitfish are positioned. They're renowned for their aerial displays once hooked, often jumping 4-5 feet out of the water in spectacular fashion. The silver sides and broad tail make them easy to identify, and their aggressive nature means they'll often hit multiple times if you miss the initial hookset. Many anglers actually prefer targeting cohos because of their willingness to bite and the guaranteed fireworks once you're connected.
Fall salmon season on Lake Michigan doesn't last forever, and the prime weeks fill up fast with repeat customers who know what they're getting into. The fish are here now, staging in predictable patterns that your experienced guide has been following for years. With all gear provided and a boat that's set up specifically for Great Lakes trolling, you're getting a world-class fishing experience without the hassle. Whether you're after a wall-hanger chinook or the acrobatic fight of a coho, this is the time and place to make it happen. The combination of prime fall conditions, peak salmon activity, and professional guiding makes this a trending trip that delivers consistent results. Don't wait until these fish move into the rivers – book your Lake Michigan salmon adventure now while they're still in the big water and fighting at full strength.
Get ready to land some serious salmon on Lake Michigan this fall! Our 2-person kayaks are perfect for navigating the prime fishing spots where these chrome-bright beauties are running. You'll paddle into the best salmon waters while our experienced guides from Crazy4Chrome help you hook into these hard-fighting fish. All your fishing gear comes included - rods, reels, tackle, and nets - so you just need to bring your valid fishing license with salmon trout stamp, plus snacks and drinks for the day. These stable fishing kayaks let you get right where the action is, whether you're casting near river mouths or trolling the deeper channels. Perfect for couples, friends, or anyone wanting to experience Lake Michigan's legendary fall salmon run from a different angle. The salmon are hungry and aggressive this time of year, making for some epic battles right from your kayak seat.
Oncorhynchus TshawytschaKing salmon are the heavyweights of Lake Michigan, running 12-30+ pounds with some real monsters pushing 40. These silver-sided bruisers with black-spotted backs and tails love deep, cold water – we typically find them 60-120 feet down during fall runs. What makes them special? Pure power. When a king hits, you know it – they'll peel drag and make long runs that test your patience. The meat is rich and orange, perfect for the grill. Best fishing happens early morning and evening when they move up in the water column. Local trick: watch your downrigger rod tip closely. Kings often grab bait gently at first, so a subtle bounce might be your only warning before they wake up and start fighting.
Oncorhynchus KisutchCoho salmon are the acrobats of the lake – these silver rockets average 8-12 pounds but fight like fish twice their size. They'll jump clean out of the water multiple times, sometimes 6 feet high, making every hookup a show. Fall is prime time when they stage near shore in 40-80 feet of water, often suspended mid-column. Their bright orange meat tastes fantastic, and they're aggressive feeders that hit hard. Unlike their king salmon cousins, cohos are scrappy from the first second – no gentle taps here. Pro tip: keep steady pressure but don't horse them. Let them jump and tire themselves out. Too much pressure early on and they'll throw the hook during one of those spectacular leaps.
Sheboygan, WI