Where do salmon go this time of year?

[salmon_slayer06]

On Lake MI, where do the salmon go when its this cold? Do they go deep, or just where ever?

[fishinmachine2]

Out deep and down deep.

Scott

[Tech Rally]

Like the birds, they go south for the winter.

[stinger63]

Like the birds, they go south for the winter.
:lol: :lol:
I heard that on Huron this is true.Its been said that they go down to the deeper ends of the St Clair river.Im not sure if I agree with this or not.I see no reason why they would do that and just wouldnt go out and find the greater depths of Huron on reefs and stay there for the winter.I have not seen proof that actualy migrate down to lower depths of the river.
As for lake Michigan since there is no large river system similar to lake Huron I would think that they would school up deep and hang on structure where there are shelves or reefs also.These areas seem like they would hold baitfish also giving a reason for the salmon and other species to stay there.
Another theory would be that all salmon from lake Michigan,Superior,Huron,and Ontario swim out and through the St lawrence seaway to the Atlantic ocean migrating to the warmer waters of southern Florida and the Gulf of mexico for the winter and then migrate back north during the spring Like the snow birds LOL

[Tech Rally]

Roughly one third of lake Michigan is farther south than Port Huron/Algonac. #1. Further south means that the sunlight is stronger which helps to keep the southern end of Lake Michigan from freezing over, a very rare event.
#2. The powerplants/steelmills of the heavely populated area of southern lake Michigan help to create hotspots that draw baitfish and thereby draw in the salmon very similar to the powerplants on the SCR.
#3. The St. Joe river flows out of indiana. Which being south of Michigan will be warmer than streams flowing from Michigan.

Arron, You are entitled to your opinion. The winter Southern migration of Salmon on both lakes is well documented. I'm sure that hours of watching Purdy's boats from the banks of the SCR have given you insight that years of research by biologists could only hope to obtain.

[stinger63]

Is there or not a thermalcline in which warmer water would be in Lake Huron or Michigans greater depths during the winter that would hold fish.?

I would see warm water discharge areas drawing and holding fish yes but not an entire lakes population of them.

As for the Huron system 1 question that I have always had was if and when there is a winter migration of salmon to the Lower portion of the St Clair river what month does it occur?

I have never seen a jack or immature salmon caught during the early winter on this river.In my thinking I would think that they would show up in anglers catches this time of year.I fished the river this year almost till the middle of January I never seen any salmon and in previous winters nor have I seen any.Does this meen they are not passing through or are there or not,Im just saying that I have never seen them and thats why I think the southern migration is false for lake Huron.Hurons southern portion is shallower than the mid and upper portions also which in turn make this portion of the lake much colder than the rest of it.

As for insight from Purdys Fishery perhaps he is the person that can anser this question best for all of us since his boats usualy go out all winter.If I can get a hold of him I will ask him and see what kind answer he can give us.
Aaron

[Tech Rally]

I have never seen nor have I caught a STD, but that is no reason for me to believe that they do not exist and adjust my actions accordingly.

Here's an article from the MS library
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/fishing_articles/Spring_Salmon_Huron.htm

"A large percentage of the immature King Salmon in Lake Huron migrate to the southern end of the lake late in the fall and during the winter. This has been proven, over the past few years, by a Michigan Department of Natural Resources tagging program. Fish tagged and released in Rogers City, for example, are often caught off Lexington or Harbor Beach early in the spring."

"Jim Johnson, biologist in charge of the DNR Fisheries Division’s Alpena research station, told me he thinks some salmon remain on the north end and in the middle of the lake, too. He says the probably hold near schools of alewives in about 200 feet of water."

[stinger63]

""Fish tagged and released in Rogers City, for example, are often caught off Lexington or Harbor Beach early in the spring."[QUOTE]"

Ok the 1st statement does prove that salmon migrate from N to S and only think that this happens because the fish are following bait and wind movement causing a down flow current moves the fish down.It doesnt however prove that they migrate during the winter southward into the St clair river.A couple of observations I have made of the years is that when people catch salmon in the spring its after we have had a good northerly blow for a few days.After the blow the water is murky and the fish are around and show up in our catches.When the water clears the fish are gone leading me to believe that they go back into the lake until the next northerly blow pushes them back in the river.The only species of fish that I know migrtates up stream from wintering grounds would be smelt,walleye,and sheephead which I believe all come from the Tames river(walleye) and Lake Erie smelt,walleye,and sheapshead.Im not ruling out that there are few salmon which may hold over down river in the St clair rivers deeper sections on the lower part of the river which travel downstream looking for food.So while I havent conducted studies of any tagged salmon I dont believe the tagging system is conclusive enough to prove anything except that fish travel at times and thats it.

[QUOTE]
"Jim Johnson, biologist in charge of the DNR Fisheries Division’s Alpena research station, told me he thinks some salmon remain on the north end and in the middle of the lake, too. He says the probably hold near schools of alewives in about 200 feet of water."


This second statement is more to my belief of where the fish go during the winter and maybe perhaps even deeper.One other thing is that since the alewive populations on Huron have declined the fish are hanging out where the find minnows and perhaps a few smelt if there isnt a resident winter population.I say perhaps there isnt because I found out some interesting information today.
I did call and speak with the Purdys this afternoon and got alot of information.I spent the better part of almost an hour on the phone asking questions pertaining to our mystery salmon question and others that I had.Purdy had no substancial information on the winter migration of salmon although he did say that salmon are found up in the north end of the lake during the winter around the georgian bay area.He did say that salmon are incedently caught in their nets but are released:lol:

While i had him on the phone I asked him other questions about his operation.He told me right now that the crews are netting in about 120fow and targetting whitefish where they incidently catch lake trout.He said the whitefish are looking healthy and fat and the Market price is about $5.00 a lb.He also said that they dont target lake trout much anymore but they are also incidently caught while fishing for whitefish.Theres is a small market for them but not like there used to be.He would not comment on how many pounds of these 2 species are caught or allowed to keep.
Purdy`s daughter stephany said that they catch burbot while netting perch around Kettle point and that 100 of them are caught in their nets.I was also told that the population of burbots shows a steady trend with not much decline or increase in the population.
He did say salmon are few and far between out there in huron which is not much news most of us dont already have.
The Purdys also told me that they have rarely caught Herring on this end of the lake and only 1 or 2 has been caught in about 6 months
I asked Purdy about the general public riding on his boats to see how many and what kinds of fish he catches but they said for insurnace reasons its no longer allowed.I have a different thought on that but its speculation and cant be proven.
There is a member of BWSA on this forum and I feel he might have more insight to this question that can help with an answer.I did make a phone call there also but wasnt able to contact anyone.Perhaps I will write an email to them and see what they know.
Well thats my theories Im by no meens an expert but these are conclusions in my statement which reflect my opinion on where the salmon go during the winter
I thought the other iformation that I obtained from the purdys would be interesting purtinent to the conversation also and good to share with you all here.



Kieth my laughing icons werent not meant to insult you on your statement perhaps i misinterpited how I read.I thought it was kinda funny and you responded with a sense of humor.Please take no offense by it Sorry if you took it that way.
Aaron

[Fletch09]

Recent archival tag studies indicate that king salmon spend the dead of winter at depths of 400+ feet in both lakes where the temperature is a constant 38 degrees. When the water begins to warm in the early spring on the beach, some return to the shallows to chase smelt in Lake Huron, and Alewives in Lk Michigan. Others do not rise to depths above 400 until late spring or early Summer. These studies (performed by the USGS) disproved the long accepted theory that salmon "migrate south" in Lake Huron for the winter. The winter month depths recorded by the tags are only available in the northern basin.

Contact Ray Argyle of the USGS for more information. There is a lot of very interesting data out there.

[BFG]

Another theory would be that all salmon from lake Michigan,Superior,Huron,and Ontario swim out and through the St lawrence seaway to the Atlantic ocean migrating to the warmer waters of southern Florida and the Gulf of mexico for the winter and then migrate back north during the spring Like the snow birds LOL

This would explain why the captain of the black marlin charter that I went on in Jamaica told me...."yah mon...we get salmons down here in da winter....we catch 'em all the time."

LMAO

I think they go deep and just hang. My other uninformed guess is that it is during this time that they get any and all lampreys attached to them.

No science behind that at all...just my opinion! LOL


BFG

[fishinmachine2]

Recent archival tag studies indicate that king salmon spend the dead of winter at depths of 400+ feet in both lakes where the temperature is a constant 38 degrees. When the water begins to warm in the early spring on the beach, some return to the shallows to chase smelt in Lake Huron, and Alewives in Lk Michigan. Others do not rise to depths above 400 until late spring or early Summer. These studies (performed by the USGS) disproved the long accepted theory that salmon "migrate south" in Lake Huron for the winter. The winter month depths recorded by the tags are only available in the northern basin.

Contact Ray Argyle of the USGS for more information. There is a lot of very interesting data out there.

EXACLT!!! I'm gonna have to get more cable on the riggers!:D

Scott

[bigrackmack]

Some go from my freezer to the dinner table that I know of:lol:....Mack

[Boatown]

I catch a lot of salmon in the North Channel By deckers landing in the late fall but mostly early spring as the ice flows are done.
I know durning the winter icefisherman catch steelhead near metro beach and in the spillway and at the mouth of the Clinton River.
Every spring we catch are salmon at the mouth of the North Channel were it empty's in to Lake St. Clair. Also we catch steelhead and salmon at the mouth of the South Channel just past Gull Island
I have ice fished in the canal's by the colony tower and caught salmon During the winter.

I think they migrate from Huron down into the St. Clair river and North Middle, south and Sni Channels and winter there follow the bait fish Smelt and alwifes, We have hammered the smelt the last few years in late march just after ice out water temp is still cold about 35-43 degrees but we net them in downtown Algonac. All the local's know when the smel are there and by the time it gets on the fishng reports the smel have move up to porth Huron and the Salmon with them, Why does the Algonac Lions club have there tourny in late march or early april , because the river is filled with bait and samlon.

Just my view on this you can Believe me or not it's up to you but my freezer will be full of fres spring smmel and salmon before you get of the couch and even think about going Fishng.

:fish: :fish: :fish: :fish:

[stinger63]

[QUOTE][Also we catch steelhead and salmon at the mouth of the South Channel just past Gull Island
I have ice fished in the canal's by the colony tower and caught salmon During the winter.

/QUOTE]

May I join you on a winter ice fishing trip so we can target these salmon through the ice?What kinda baits are used?

[Boatown]

we catch these salmon and steelhead with tear drops tip with a minnow or a #3 firetirger Rapala jigin with a minnow we are fishing for perch and gills and get these silver bonus fish, we see them in the spearing hole in are shanty they sometime just cruise on thru and some they take the bait and fish on they don't fight to much and they run small avg up to 5lbs but good eating. Now when Ice is out we put on the riggers and troll down river for them

[stinger63]

Next time you see one caught or catch one yourself can or will you take some pics?I have only seen 1 salmon taken through the ice before and it was december 25th last year.One of buddys caught it jigging a small swedish pimple tipped with waxie.That was quite shocking.If you want to meet me downriver where your talking about ice fishing at let me know.

[ahasiec]

I cant say much about catching them through the ice, but caught a few last year just after the ice melted in that area..

[Boatown]

They have been catching Brown's and steelhead thru the ice at Lexington and Port Sanalic for a few weeks now just like they due every year. also The black river just past I-94 has been doing well on the browns.

I would say we avg about 5 salmon each year thru the ice in the colony tower area access is tuff private sub, But we do see alot more in the shanty hole when we are fishing and spearing pike, Now if it was legal to spear them we would then have alot more but we can't. so we just get to watch them cruise by sometimes they strike the bait but mostly just swim by .

[stinger63]

Well the thread is taking a new direct,Sorry about that jason.Maybe we should move the latter half of it to the ice fishing section of the site.
Interesting you said that people are catching browns through the ice on black river near where I-94 crosses it.I would have to say maybe before it turned into the yearly winter racetrack but probaly impossible now.