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Atlantic Salmon

🔬 Salmo salar

Atlantic Salmon are stocked in select Lake Ontario and Lake Superior tributaries in Michigan. A prized sport fish known for spectacular runs and aerial leaps, they are less abundant than Pacific salmon species in Michigan waters.

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🏆 Michigan record 32 lbs 10 oz ·Elaine Bender ·Lake Michigan ·Mason County ·1981 All records →
Bite this month
Excellent
📅
Best season
Fall (September–November)
📏
Keeper size
15" at ~4 yrs
📋
Regulations
15" min · limit 5 (combined trout/salmon)

🌊 Where to Catch Atlantic Salmon in Michigan

Lake County Population
Bear Lake
3,350 acres
 Manistee Good
Black Lake
10,130 acres
 Cheboygan Good
Burt Lake
17,120 acres
 Cheboygan Good
Charlevoix Lake
17,260 acres
 Charlevoix Good
Cheboygan harbor, Lake Huron Cheboygan Good
Croton Pond
1,605 acres
 Newaygo Good
Crystal Lake
9,854 acres
 Benzie Good
Douglas Lake
3,400 acres
 Cheboygan Good
Elk Lake
7,793 acres
 Antrim Good
Fletcher Pond
8,600 acres
 Montmorency Good
Fremont Lake
1,700 acres
 Newaygo Good
Glen Lake
4,944 acres
 Leelanau Good
Hamlin Lake
5,000 acres
 Mason Good
Hardy Pond
4,025 acres
 Newaygo Good
Higgins Lake
9,600 acres
 Roscommon Good
Houghton Lake
20,044 acres
 Roscommon Good
Lake Cadillac
1,141 acres
 Wexford Good
Lake Erie Monroe Good
Lake Huron, Harrisville Alcona Good
Lake Huron, Oscoda Iosco Good

🛡 Atlantic Salmon Conservation Status

Michigan requires a minimum length of 15" to keep. The daily bag limit is 5 (combined trout/salmon).
Atlantic Salmon

🌿 Atlantic Salmon Habitat & Behavior

Cold, clear rivers and Great Lakes tributaries. Prefer cool, well-oxygenated water similar to Brown Trout habitat. Most accessible during fall spawning runs in select Lake Ontario tributaries. DNR records show Atlantic Salmon present in 62 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Chippewa, Antrim and Kalamazoo counties. Bite activity rates Good or better in Sep, Oct and Nov.

🎣 Best Atlantic Salmon Techniques

Drift fishing with egg sacs, swinging flies, or spoons during fall river runs. Similar approach to steelhead fishing

🪱 Best Atlantic Salmon Baits

Spawn sacs, egg flies, spoons, small spinners, streamers

📋 Atlantic Salmon Fishing Regulations in Michigan

15"
Minimum size
5 (combined trout/salmon)
Daily limit
10 (combined trout/salmon)
Possession limit
Year-round in Great Lakes; tributaries vary
Season

Counted within the combined trout/salmon daily limit of 5 fish. On the Great Lakes the minimum size drops to 10". Inland lake regulations vary by lake type: open all year on Great Lakes; inland waters follow trout season dates. Always verify with the DNR Fishing Guide for your specific water.

⚠️ 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 Atlantic Salmon Stocking Records

📋 Atlantic Salmon Stocking Events by Lake

Date Lake County Quantity Size
Jun 4, 2026 St. Marys River Chippewa County Chippewa 144,587 total 5.9"–8.2"
May 13, 2026 Thunder Bay River Alpena County Alpena 62,143 total 6.2"–7"
May 13, 2026 Au Sable River Oscoda County Oscoda 62,526 total 6.6"–7.6"
May 12, 2026 Torch Lake Antrim County Antrim 25,494 total 7.1"
Apr 13, 2026 Cheboygan harbor, Lake Huron Cheboygan County Cheboygan 44,974 total 6.8"–6.9"
May 15, 2025 Au Sable River Crawford County Crawford 25,278 total 6.6"
May 14, 2025 Thunder Bay River Montmorency County Montmorency 25,000 total 6.9"–7"

Showing the 25 most recent stocking events for Atlantic Salmon, across 7 lakes. Lakes with several events can be expanded.

📦 Atlantic Salmon DNR Stocking History

Total stocked: 5,802,208
Stocking events: 396
Peak year: 2022 (373,082)
396
Historical stocking events
19
Lakes stocked
Apr
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
May Apr Jun
Top Stocked Lakes
St. Marys River Chippewa Co.
Torch Lake Antrim Co.
Gull Lake Kalamazoo Co.
Cheboygan harbor, Lake Huron Cheboygan Co.
Thunder Bay River Alpena Co.

Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.

📅 Best Times to Fish Atlantic Salmon

💡 Angler Tips for Atlantic Salmon

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📋 Quick Atlantic Salmon Facts

📈 Growth Timeline

🔗 Resources

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