As summer gives way to crisp mornings a new excitement stirs along the shores of Lake Michigan — the fall run of king salmon. For anglers across the Midwest, this is the season to chase one of the most powerful freshwater fish in North America: the Chinook, or “king” salmon.
Each fall, adult king salmon return from the deep waters of Lake Michigan to the rivers and tributaries where they were stocked or spawned. Their journey upstream is a final sprint to reproduce, and for anglers, it’s prime time to intercept them in nearshore waters or at river mouths.
The run typically kicks off in late August, peaks in September, and can stretch into early October depending on water temperatures and rainfall. As the lake cools, salmon move closer to shore, staging around piers, harbors, and river mouths — easy pickings for both boat and shore anglers.
Captain Q Fishing 