Chinook Salmon Introduced
🔬 Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Michigan's largest salmon. King salmon reaching 30+ lbs are caught from piers, beaches, and charter boats. One of the most sought-after Great Lakes fish.
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Bite this month
Excellent
Best season
Summer, Fall
Keeper size
20" at ~4 yrs
Regulations
limit 5
Where to Catch Chinook Salmon in Michigan
Chinook Salmon Conservation Status
Introduced Chinook Salmon was introduced to Michigan and is now an established part of the fishery. Native to Pacific drainages. Introduced by MDNR in 1967. Now a foundational part of the Great Lakes charter fishing economy. Annual stocking sustains the population — natural reproduction is minimal. The daily bag limit is 5.
Chinook Salmon Habitat & Behavior
Great Lakes open water in summer; runs into major tributaries August through October. Found offshore in 50–200 ft of water. DNR records show Chinook Salmon present in 144 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Cheboygan, Wexford and Ottawa counties. Bite activity rates Good or better in Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep and Oct.
Best Chinook Salmon Techniques
Large spoons and plugs during river runs — deep trolling with downriggers and dipsy divers in summer
Best Chinook Salmon Baits
J-plugs, spoons, flies, spawn bags, herring
Chinook Salmon Fishing Regulations in Michigan
5
Daily limit
10
Possession limit
Year-round in Great Lakes
Season
King salmon run August–October in Lake Michigan tributaries. Trolling in open lake during summer is very productive.
⚠️ Regulations shown are general statewide guidelines for 2025. Rules vary by water body and change annually.
Always verify current regulations in the official Michigan DNR Fishing Guide before you fish.
Michigan DNR Chinook Salmon Stocking Records
Chinook Salmon Stocking Events by Lake
| Date | Lake | County | Quantity | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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See what's been stocked recently, including lake, quantity, and size.
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| May 6, 2026 | Manistee River | Wexford | 158,645 | 3.7" |
| May 6, 2026 | Manistee River | Wexford | 117,118 | 3.7" |
| May 4, 2026 | Boardman River (below Union St. Dam) | Grand Traverse | 96,113 | 3.5" |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Big Sable River (below Hamlin Lake) | Mason | 99,452 | 7.5" |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Nunns Creek | Mackinac | 149,807 | 3.0" |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Nunns Creek | Mackinac | 100,375 | 3.0" |
| May 20, 2025 | Swan River | 181,677 | 4.1" | |
| May 19, 2025 | Swan River | 184,995 | 4.1" | |
| May 15, 2025 | Little Manistee River | Lake | 89,465 | 3.9" |
| May 15, 2025 | Little Manistee River | Lake | 89,852 | 4.0" |
| May 15, 2025 | Little Manistee River | Lake | 70,116 | 4.1" |
| May 15, 2025 | Manistee River | Wexford | 89,465 | 3.9" |
Most valuable for Chinook Salmon anglers
See where Chinook Salmon will be stocked next
Full stocking history across all 64 lakes, plus a forecast of which waters are due for restocking this season.
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2,491
Historical stocking events
64
Lakes stocked
Apr
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
May
Jun
Apr
Top Stocked Lakes
See the top 5 lakes most likely to be stocked with Chinook Salmon next season.
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Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.
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Estimated Mature Chinook Salmon — September
See Which Lakes Have Mature Chinook Salmon Right Now
Based on DNR stocking records from 2021–2023, we estimate which Michigan lakes likely hold Chinook Salmon at keeper size (20") today.
Best Times to Fish Chinook Salmon
Angler Tips for Chinook Salmon
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