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
Fair
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 142 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2026 | Swan River | 739,857 total | 3.9"–4.1" | |
| May 27, 2026 | stocking event | 93,316 | 3.9" | |
| May 27, 2026 | stocking event | 186,582 | 3.9" | |
| May 27, 2026 | stocking event | 93,287 | 3.9" | |
| May 20, 2025 | stocking event | 181,677 | 4.1" | |
| May 19, 2025 | stocking event | 184,995 | 4.1" | |
| May 22, 2026 | Medusa Creek | 120,099 | 3.3" | |
| May 13, 2026 | Manistique River Schoolcraft County | Schoolcraft | 150,268 total | 3.2" |
| May 13, 2026 | stocking event | 139,643 | 3.2" | |
| May 13, 2026 | stocking event | 10,625 | 3.2" | |
| May 13, 2026 | Cedar River Antrim County | Antrim | 97,387 total | 3.1"–3.2" |
| May 13, 2026 | stocking event | 55,199 | 3.2" | |
| May 13, 2026 | stocking event | 42,188 | 3.1" | |
| May 13, 2026 | Cedar River Menominee County | Menominee | 97,387 total | 3.1"–3.2" |
| May 13, 2026 | stocking event | 55,199 | 3.2" | |
| May 13, 2026 | stocking event | 42,188 | 3.1" | |
| May 11, 2026 | Cheboygan River Cheboygan County | Cheboygan | 76,109 | 3.7" |
| May 9, 2026 | Kalamazoo River Kalamazoo County | Kalamazoo | 124,672 | 3.6" |
| May 8, 2026 | Black River St. Clair County | St. Clair | 124,639 | 3.7" |
| May 6, 2026 | Manistee River Wexford County | Wexford | 365,228 total | 3.7"–3.9" |
| May 6, 2026 | stocking event | 158,645 | 3.7" | |
| May 6, 2026 | stocking event | 117,118 | 3.7" | |
| May 15, 2025 | stocking event | 89,465 | 3.9" | |
| May 4, 2026 | Boardman River (below Union St. Dam) Grand Traverse County | Grand Traverse | 96,113 | 3.5" |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Big Sable River (below Hamlin Lake) Mason County | Mason | 99,452 | 7.5" |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Nunns Creek Mackinac County | Mackinac | 250,182 total | 3" |
| Apr 27, 2026 | stocking event | 149,807 | 3" | |
| Apr 27, 2026 | stocking event | 100,375 | 3" | |
| May 15, 2025 | Little Manistee River Lake County | Lake | 249,433 total | 3.9"–4.1" |
| May 15, 2025 | stocking event | 89,465 | 3.9" | |
| May 15, 2025 | stocking event | 89,852 | 4" | |
| May 15, 2025 | stocking event | 70,116 | 4.1" |
Showing the 25 most recent stocking events for Chinook Salmon, across 13 lakes. Lakes with several events can be expanded.
Chinook Salmon DNR Stocking History
Total stocked: 270,012,216
Stocking events: 2,484
Peak year: 1990 (10,390,504)
2,490
Historical stocking events
63
Lakes stocked
Apr
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
May
Jun
Apr
Top Stocked Lakes
Cheboygan harbor, Lake Huron
Cheboygan Co.
Manistee River
Wexford Co.
Little Manistee River
Lake Co.
Grand River
Clinton Co.
Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.
Estimated Mature Chinook Salmon, November
Based on DNR stocking records from 2021–2023 (3–5 years ago), these 15 lakes likely hold mature Chinook Salmon at or near 20" keeper size today.
1
Swan River
~165,600
est. mature
→
2
Manistee River
~118,400
est. mature
→
3
Little Manistee River
~118,400
est. mature
→
4
Nunns Creek
~113,000
est. mature
→
5
Grand River
~58,500
est. mature
→
6
Grand River
~58,500
est. mature
→
7
Saint Joseph River
~58,400
est. mature
→
8
Medusa Creek
~33,100
est. mature
→
9
Cheboygan River
~32,700
est. mature
→
10
Muskegon Lake
~29,800
est. mature
→
11
Kalamazoo River
~15,700
est. mature
→
12
Kalamazoo River
~15,700
est. mature
→
13
Big Sable River (below Hamlin Lake)
~14,900
est. mature
→
14
Lake Michigan
~14,900
est. mature
→
15
Manistique River
~14,300
est. mature
→
Estimates based on average stocking-size survival rates. Actual populations vary by habitat, fishing pressure, and lake conditions. Data sourced from Michigan DNR.
Best Times to Fish Chinook Salmon
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