World-Class Salmon Fishing on Lake Michigan

Chinook Salmon

# Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Chinook salmon is also known as King Salmon and is the largest of the Salmon species. It is a popular game and commercial fish. Oncorhynchus tshawytscha is similar to its brethren Coho salmon and Rainbow trout. King Salmon has silver sides and blue-green back. It has black spots on the head, back, tail, and all the fins. It also has a black mouth and gums. Wild salmon are well known for their hard fighting ability and excellent table fare. ## Chinook Salmon Size and Weight Chinook salmon is a large fish and it can grow from 12 to 39 inches and weighs around 7 to 15 pounds. But depending on the habitat, weight can exceed 20 - 30 pounds. ## Chinook Salmon Interesting Facts • They can live up to 7 years. • This specie is anadromous. They migrate to Seawater and later return to spawn in freshwater. • Oncorhynchus tshawytscha die soon after spawning. • King salmon have reddish-pink or orange meat. • Males are more colored than females and have a distinguished nose and upper jaw. • Chinook salmon leaves a water body if the habitat starts degrading, making it a good indicator of the water conditions. ## Chinook Salmon Habitat Young Chinook salmon can be found in freshwater and estuaries. Adults move into the open Ocean for better nutrition and food. The fish can also be found in cold streams, especially in hiding places such as tree roots. Snow melting into lakes and streams also helps their environment. ## Chinook Salmon Spawning Chinook salmon are ready to spawn from 2 to 7 years of age. Female makes redds or gravely nests and lays the eggs. Depending on spawning time and temperature, hatching takes place in early spring or late winter. ## Chinook Salmon Food Young Chinook salmons feed on plankton, insects, small fish, and invertebrates. Adult Salmon in Ocean also enjoy many organisms such as sand lance, pilchards, squids, herrings, and crustaceans. ## Chinook Salmon Fishing Chinook salmon is sensitive to light so they stay at water bottom mostly. So, anglers should use weighted baits. The best time for fishing them is early morning or in the evening. Ship Creek in Anchorage, Alaska, and Lake Oahe in South Dakota are among the top spots to fish them. • Fly fishing King salmon is very exciting, but keep in mind to not swing too far and keep the fly swimming in water. • When Salmon fishing in lakes, down-rigging and trolling works best. • Anglers can also still fish in deep water using a herring. • Trolling is also an effective method using plugs, spoons, live or dead bait. ## Chinook Salmon Baits and Lures Fly Fishing: when selecting flies for king salmon, most of the time exact fly pattern is not overly important. However, depending on a bunch of variables (light, water levels, location, etc.) fly color can make a big difference. Some examples include rhea tube intruders, bunny leeches, marabou tubes, shanked intruders, minnows. On a bright day lean towards bright color combos like chartreuse/blue or pink/orange, and for cloudy/dark days blue/black and purple/black color combos. Other Fishing: Use of plugs, spoons, trolling flies, live or dead bait, sand shrimps ## Chinook Salmon Distribution Chinook can be found in the colder water of the Pacific Ocean from the coast of Alaska, Western Canada, Oregon, Idaho, Washington State, and Northern California. It has been introduced in Great Lakes of United States and can also be found in Japan and Russia.

Lake Trout

Lake trout are the true natives of Lake Michigan. These deep-water dwellers can live for decades, growing to impressive sizes. A typical "laker" runs 5-20 pounds, but 30-40 pounders aren't unheard of. You'll find them hugging the bottom in 80-200 feet of water during summer, moving shallower in spring and fall. They're not the fastest fighters, but they're dogged and will test your stamina on light tackle. The flesh is rich and flavorful, especially when smoked. To target lakers, we often use downriggers to get our lures deep. Try large spoons or cut bait rigs. One local trick: use glow-in-the-dark lures in the depths where light is scarce. When you feel that telltale thump, get ready for a battle of endurance!

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) 

Description

Rainbow trout is a popular game fish known for its attractive color and ability to swim upstream. It belongs to the Salmonidae family. The upper body color ranges from bluish-green to olive green. They are silver to white in color near the belly. A horizontal pink stripe is present on each side of the body. The body is covered with black spots and extend to dorsal fins, tail, and anal fins. The appearance of a rainbow trout can depend on habitat, gender, age, and maturity. 

Interesting Facts 

• Rainbow trout starts spawning at age of 3 or 4 years.
• They have a life span of 4-8 years but can live up to 11 years as well.
• As this species can only live in clean water, they are very good indicators of pollution.
• A water temperature of 55°F to 64°F is preferred by the rainbow trout, but they can also survive up to 70 °F.

Habitat, Distribution and Heat Map 

Rainbow Trout is native of the United States including the Pacific coast from Mexico to Alaska, northeastern and central United States along with the eastern coast of Asia. 

Rainbow trout can be found in freshwater bodies such as rivers and streams. They prefer a place with an abundance of natural covers such as water vegetation, weeds, and gravelly shoreline. Rainbow trout can be found in streams where the currents are strong and water flow is fast but also do well in cool and deep water. 

Rainbow Trout Spawning 

The spawning season starts in late winter or early spring and can go through early summer as well. During this time, the male Rainbow trout finds a shallow place with gravels or a clear water inlet/outlet. The female lays eggs there. Depending on the water temperature, hatching takes a few weeks to 4 months. After hatching, they keep themselves in hiding until they reach 2 to 3 years and then go into deep waters. 

Other names include steelhead, red-sides, River trout, and silver trout. Rainbow Trout are predators and mostly feed on insects, small fish, and crustaceans. They also eat eggs, other rainbow trout, and even feast on leftover carcasses. 

Rainbow Trout Size and Weight 

A Rainbow trout can vary in length from 8 inches to 24 inches. The largest Rainbow trout was fished in Canada in 2009 and weighed 48 pounds. The average weight of the species is from 2 to 8 pounds. 

Is Rainbow Trout Good to Eat?

Rainbow trout is a popular fish among anglers and food enthusiasts alike.  It has a distinct pink flesh that can be enjoyed in many different dishes. 
Cooking rainbow trout can be done using various methods such as grilling, baking, or frying. When cooked properly, it offers a delicious and healthy meal option for those who enjoy seafood. The taste of rainbow trout is often described as mild with a slightly nutty flavor that pairs well with herbs like thyme or rosemary.

Rainbow trout contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for maintaining good health. These fatty acids have been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease and improving brain function.

Fishing Techniques - How to Catch a Rainbow Trout

They can be found near gravelly shorelines in the river, or in a downstream flow. In summer, they go to cooler depths. It is recommended to fish rainbow trout during their feeding time, which can be at dusk or late evening. Best fishing techniques include: 

• Nymphing fly fishing
• Dry fly fishing for rising fish
• Emergers & Buggers fly fishing
• Keeping bait off the bottom
• Retrieving a bait
• Hanging lure below a bobber
• Drifting an artificial lure

Fly Fishing for Rainbow Trout

Fly fishing for rainbow trout is a thrilling and rewarding experience that many anglers dream of. Rainbow trout are one of the most popular game fish in North America, and fly fishing for them can be both challenging and exciting. Whether you are an experienced angler or new to the sport, fly fishing for rainbow trout is an activity that should be on your bucket list. 
To successfully fly fish for rainbow trout, it's important to understand their behavior and habitat. These fish prefer clear, cold water with good oxygen levels, so look for rivers or streams with these conditions. Rainbow trout also tend to feed on insects near the surface of the water, so using dry flies can prove effective. When choosing your equipment, consider using a lightweight rod between 7-9 feet in length with a weight rating of 3-5.

If you want to learn more about rainbow trout fly fishing, check the Guidesly Nymph Series of articles. Start with an introduction and progress thru techniques, tactics, flies, and trends.  

1. Introduction to Nymphing, Learn what is Nymphing, the art of fly fishing with a nymph
2. Basic Techniques of Nymphing, Learn the basic techniques involved with nymphing
3. Advanced Nymphing, Discuss the details of nymphing techniques
4. Top 10 Nymph Flies, See the top 10 nymph flies with fly-tying videos
5. Euro Nymphing, The latest trend in nymphing is European-style nymphing.
6. Trout of North America, Find your nymphing prey. Learn about the top 10 trout species in North America.

Rainbow Trout Baits and Lures 

Common baits and lures for rainbow trout are: 

• Spoons
• Spinners
• Plugs
• Worms
• Flies
• Roe
• Egg sac

What is the Difference Between Rainbow Trout & Steelhead Trout?

The key difference between rainbow trout and steelhead is where they live. They are actually the same species of trout and in many cases look very similar. A rainbow trout will stay in freshwater streams. The steelhead trout will leave freshwater and spend a portion of its life in saltwater until returning to its freshwater spawning grounds to breed. Steelhead can also be seen in great numbers in the Great Lakes and migrating, spawning in the many tributaries. 

What is Special About the Rainbow Trout?

The rainbow trout are indeed special and hold a special allure to fly fishing anglers around the globe. Rainbow trout are native to the United States and specifically west of the Mississippi River, primarily in the pacific northwest. Their distinctive pink, red and purple stripes along the sides of their silvery bodies make them easily recognizable. But what makes rainbow trout so special? There are several key factors that set them apart from other fish. 

1. Rainbow trout have an incredible ability to adapt to different environments. They can thrive in both freshwater and saltwater habitats, which is rare among fish species. This means they can be found in lakes, rivers, streams and even in the ocean. 
2. Rainbow trout have a well-deserved reputation for being strong fighters when caught on a fishing line. They are known for their acrobatic jumps and sudden bursts of energy that challenge even the most experienced anglers. 
3. They are often found in majestic rivers across the United States that are among the most beautiful places to visit. Fly fishing in the middle of nature if often therapeutic to the angler. 
4. Rainbow trout have been stocked in great numbers across the United States so almost every river and lake will have some rainbow trout. Many rivers have large populations after stocking introduction.

A Brief History of Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout has a long and fascinating history. Rainbow trout has a rich history, dating back to the late 1800s when it was first introduced to North America from Europe.  Belonging to the salmon family, it has been present on Earth for thousands of years. This species of fish is native to several regions of North America, as well as Eurasia, making it a versatile and widely found fish. Interestingly, the upper Columbia River was where scientists first described it to the scientific community in 1836.

North American Trout Family 

Trout are members of the family Salmonidae, order Salmoniformes. The native trout family is closely related to salmon. A top fly fishing family of fish that are both tremendous game fish and tasty eating fish. Found in small streams, large rivers, and any trout stream with the right water temperature, aquatic insects, and clean water. The trout species is usually restricted to freshwater, though a few types migrate to the sea between spawnings. 

The Trout Species in North America: 

1. Rainbow Trout
2. Brown Trout
3. Brook Trout
4. Lake Trout
5. Steelhead Trout
6. Bull Trout
7. Cutthroat Trout (several species of cutthroat)
8. Apache Trout