"Abundant Atlantic Salmon"???

[Terminator]

I just read that in May/June "Huron's steelhead and Atlantic salmon are also abundant during late spring" off Rogers City???

Are Atlantic Salmon really "Abundant" of Rogers City in May/June???

Are Atlantic Salmon "Abundant" anywhere in Lakes Huron or Michigan????

[EdB]

I am not sure of they are abundant but they do have a plant in the St Mary's River. The only somewhat consistant fishery that I am aware is below the Soo Power plant dam around July. Maybe somebody else can add some more details?

[Beave]

When was the article written? 15-20 years ago the state was planting a lot of atlantics so that was probably true.

[Terminator]

A long time ago but I know it was never really a success.

No, this statement is present tense and I for one am skeptical.

[Linda G.]

The state is currently only raising Atlantics, in cooperation with Lake Superior State University and their egg culturing program at the Soo, at their Thompson facility, and those fry are released back into the St. Mary's and into Torch Lake in northern lower Michigan. I'm not aware of any other Atlantic programs in Michigan, and that includes the USFWS hatcheries and the tribes.

[Terminator]

I didn't know they were stocked in Torch Lake.

I might have to go catch one just so that I can say I have.

After 30 years of salmon trolling on Lake MI and a little on Lake Huron I have never seen one.

I still am skeptical about the claim of "Abundant Atlantic Salmon" off Rogers City, but then this person also claims Rogers City to have been the #1 Brown Trout fishery in Michigan for the last 4 years as well.....

[Linda G.]

You've never caught a salmon until you've caught a nice Atlantic-they fight more than a steelhead, just an awesome gamefish...jump, dance on their tails, charge the boat, they do it all. And they're the best eating salmon there is.

Tough to catch, tho, I never hear about more than a few of them getting caught out of Torch Lake every year. Some of the guys on here have caught them, they can help you out with tips and gear. July's the month to go for them in open water, they run Torch River, (a few run Clam River, not many) in November, mostly at night, and are very spooky fish. They have not been successful at natural reproduction in the lake.

Smaller than they are in the St. Mary's, too, which stands to reason, they have more to eat up there. They're eating mostly pin herring in Torch, and competing with a pretty large population of lake trout and whitefish that's also under-fished.

What mag did you read that about the Atlantics in?

[SalmonBum]

Skip,

I used to see a 5-8 a yr caught outta Harbor Beach when I used to fish there alot. No one ever really got big ones, usually 10 lbs and under. If you really want a good chance to get one, the St. Mary's is the place to go. You can fish the rapids for them starting in June. The bigger ones are usually caught then thru July. I have a buddy that is a Fly-fishing guide for them up there. I'm sure you can troll the Lower River and get an opportunity to hook up on a few.

As for Torch, never fished them but I know they are there. Guys get them trolling in the summer and fly fish them in the fall. I know some guys chase them during the Hex hatch at the end of June when they enter the river over there.

[Offshore This]

I didn't know they were stocked in Torch Lake.

I might have to go catch one just so that I can say I have.

After 30 years of salmon trolling on Lake MI and a little on Lake Huron I have never seen one.

I still am skeptical about the claim of "Abundant Atlantic Salmon" off Rogers City, but then this person also claims Rogers City to have been the #1 Brown Trout fishery in Michigan for the last 4 years as well.....

Skip,
I netted an atlantic last summer in Muskegon. Came off one of the dipsy set-ups that you so graciously helped me get productive a couple of summers ago. Took me awhile to figure out what the heck it was :lol:

[Linda G.]

They don't get them in the rivers in June, because they're not in the rivers in June. Maybe they fly fish for them in the lake?? although I've never seen anyone doing that, even in shallow water.

Years ago, during the first segment of Atlantic stocking in the 80's, some guys tried fly fishing for them in the rivers, Northeastern style, in the fall, with some success, but this latest crop of stockings appear to run the rivers much later in the fall-last year, it was deer season before I heard of anyone seeing a fish.

Also, years ago, some folks caught them off the dock at Clam River and off the dock in Alden in April and May, a young jack run...but a lot of those turned out to be brown trout, and in recent years, there's been very few fish at all in the rivers during the early spring, so no fishermen, either.

These fish are VERY shy, and won't be found anywhere in the rivers when there's any type of boat traffic around, and if you're familiar with Torch and Clam Rivers, both rivers are like freeways from early June until mid-October.

[Terminator]

That wasn't in a magazine. It is on the website of a Charter Captain that fishes Rogers City.

Since it is part of his "sales pitch" I can (kind of) understand his exaggerations and twisting of statistics to make Rogers City appear to be the best place to fish in Michigan.

Chris, that is cool that you got an Atlantic Salmon! How's things? Been a while since you "Jimmy Houston"ed that Steelie! LOL :)

Bill, do you have those naked lady mud flaps on your boat for when you are catching "mud chickens"???? I think it would be cool to fish the St. Mary's some time. When is the best time to fly fish them???? We might have to meet your buddy some weekend when I don't have a tourny and check that out!

Thanks all!

[Linda G.]

He's probably trying to pick up his early summer business over there-Rogers City is usually pretty dead except for lake trout, some browns and a few steelhead until the salmon show up in July. Or maybe he charters up in the river in late August/September.

They do catch some pinks in Harrisville every summer.

[Rat Fink]

I boated 1 on the boat I was working on about 5 years ago out of frankfort. I threw it in the box and declared what a nice steelhead to the capatain so he could write it in the log. About 5 minutes later I pulled it back out of the hold and looked more closely. It took a few minutes of investigation but yep it was definately an atlantic. It was a very cool catch in a rare place to find them.

[SalmonBum]

I have friends that own flyshops that will go up there (torch) druning the Hex hatch and they will get them. These guys are are pros and work ther **** off to do it. It can be done, but you REALLY Need to work at it.

Skip,
As for the St. Mary's, fish are in there in June, which is the best month to fish them. They can be caught almost into August, but Late June-Early July is prime. I'm talking about fly-fishing them in the rapids, thats at least how I fish them. There are guys that will take small boats up to the power plant on the Canadian side and fish them there too.

Whenever you wanna go, I'm there. I only need about 3 hrs notice ;) .

You Like the Trucker Lady? I'm thinking about having Jay cut me one for my hardtop, about 5 x 7 feet!!! Remind me to show you my "Trucker" belt.

[Terminator]

You should put a full size cutout like that on the roof of your hardtop...if you ever need the CG chopper pilots to come find you they will have no problem identifying your boat, LOL!!! :lol:

Next June (not this june, already to many plans) we should do a weekend up there fly fishing. I am kind of a rookie at fly casting but I have fly fished stream trout for cutthroats in WY and it was a blast.

I can't imagine an Atlantic in the river on a fly rod! :fish:

Besides...the fishing off GH sucks in June.

[karl.d]

I tried trolling for salmon up at Torch Lake last fall. What a pretty lake, but it seems almost empty.

We were out there for about 4 hours. Marked a number of fish way down deep (lakers or burbot?) and a school of something (whitefish or perch?) midway down. I've heard some people say that the Atlantics they stock in that lake are cleaning it out. The lake is too cold and sterile to support such a voracious feeder.

[hypox]

I go every year to the Soo usually around the begining of july. It's a great time. We catch a few every year. You really have to work for them though.

[Ralph Smith]

As stated above, the SOO is the place to go in this state to catch an Atlantic. I've personally never caught one, but fish there every year for kings, always later in August and September. A few people I know who live there say that as previously mentioned, late June and early July is best time. Usually they catch a few behind the power plant while fishing for whitefish(which are in this time of year also)with mayfly's. I heard locals talk of hanging a body bait back aways in current while flipping mayflies into tubines for the whitefish.

[Ralph Smith]

Was a large plant in Carp R. also up there about 8 years ago I'd guess, but never heard much on a return to spawn.

[Offshore This]

Chris, that is cool that you got an Atlantic Salmon! How's things? Been a while since you "Jimmy Houston"ed that Steelie! LOL :)


I thought we agreed not to speak of that again. I think "Virgina Slims" said it best "You've come along way baby" :lol: . I was still pretty dang green on the big lake then. Things are good, except for the 7 (or 8 or 9 or...) footitis that I've got. I'm looking for a bigger boat as soon as mine sells.

[Steelhead Addict]

a buddy and I caught a few and had more on...a few summers ago on the Canadian rapids on the St Mary's. It was right around the 4th of July. They bite pretty much the same things that steelhead like.

These fish are simply spectacular to catch on light gear. They are like fall steel on steriods. their mouth is incredibly soft so they are much more likely to shake the hook than to break off.

The thing that we noticed is that these fish really like water flow in the rapids. if the "dam" is open next to the wall you are in good shape...the water probably will hold good numbers...if not...if the dam in open more to the middle of the river...you might have more difficulties finding fish.

I had one fo these fish come out of the water right next to the wall (which i was standing on)...it was so close and leaped so high it almost looked me in the eye! It also made some increadible leaping runs.

They are awesome fish. I hope that they continue the program.

-Addict

[Trout Scout]

WE get an occasional atlantic at Alpena and Rockport from LSSU plant usually in spring with some off wreck in summer. As far as anyone targeting Atlantics, that could happen but only at very limited period of time. They are migrating up and down the coast but not in great numbers. St Mary's great fishery for Atlantics and if you ever caught one and could fish everyday you would. Great fish!! I'm not going into Brown Trout fishing. YOU Fish and They will come.
Capt Ed Retherford

[jardno]

I caught two on Higgins lake a few years ago. I don't think they plant any there any more.

[dinoday]

I usually am in the Soo at the 4th of July and I've seen quite a few of them caught.The only luck I've had for them was using real mayflys which are everywhere that time of year.I've never landed one,but have had a couple on.They(mayflys) aren't the easiest bait to keep on your hook,but I've found they work best, you will also get whitefish on them.
I haven't had the chance to fish the Canadian side yet,but I've heard that's the best place for them.

[Trophy Specialist]

I’m the charter captain that Terminator is referring to that states in my website that Rogers City has some of the best brown trout fishing in Michigan and also, at times the Atlantic salmon fishing there is also very good too. Once again Terminator starts slinging insults by saying that I’m “exaggerating and twisting the statistics to make Rogers City appear to be the best place to fish in Michigan.” Your comments are way out of line and I don't know what your grudge is with me, but I'm getting tired of it.

Here are the facts to clear things up. I will fish from 10 or more different Great Lakes ports this year on four of the five Great Lakes. Some ports are better for some species than others at different times of the year. I try to fish where the fishing is best for certain species at different times of the year. Last year during early to mid July we caught dozens of Atlantic salmon north of Rogers City. Some days the Atlantics were the dominant catch while on most days we would just catch a couple to spice things up. We also catch them near shore while targeting browns at Rogers City during May and June. I don’t know of any port that produced that kind of Atlantic action last year accept for the Sault. We also caught dozens of pinks last year during July. I typically target kings at Rogers City during July and the bonus pinks and Atlantics are a welcome addition to the box.

The brown trout fishing at Rogers City is in my opinion the best Michigan has to offer these days. It is not an easy fishery as the shallows are very rocky and unforgiving and the fish are especially fussy about what they will bite, but once mastered, it is very consistent. The fishing pressure in the shallows is very light contributing to the good fishing. Yesterday we took 14 browns and lakers in two hours of fishing and the day before that we lost count of how many we caught, but I’m sure it was more than a dozen. We took five browns that were over 10 pounds in our catch the last two days with two of them surpassing 15. Where else in Michigan can you catch browns like that during May? If someone knows of a place that’s better, then please share it with the readers of this forum because I for one would like to check it out.

[Oldgrandman]

Although it is not open water to the Great Lakes, do not forget Gull lake in Barry/Kalamazoo counties. It has an Atlantic thing going on. It is or was a brood stock lake for it's self if not elsewhere and has a min. 24 inch 1 or 2 fish limit I believe. A large very scenic lake that really belongs in the Northern lower part of the state. Is about 108 feet at it's deepest, has two basins and can be trolled as the big water. Never fished it, swam/swimmed/swum in it as a child though. Has browns smelt etc. and I would love to fish it.

[CGA97]

[QUOTE=Terminator]You should put a full size cutout like that on the roof of your hardtop...if you ever need the CG chopper pilots to come find you they will have no problem identifying your boat, LOL!!! :lol: QUOTE]


If you want to be found, forget the "cutout", go REAL!!

Oh yeah Skip, I caught an Atlantic in Lexington several years ago. :corkysm55

[karl.d]

I thought the Atlantics died out after they stopped planting?

Although it is not open water to the Great Lakes, do not forget Gull lake in Barry/Kalamazoo counties. It has an Atlantic thing going on. It is or was a brood stock lake for it's self if not elsewhere and has a min. 24 inch 1 or 2 fish limit I believe. A large very scenic lake that really belongs in the Northern lower part of the state. Is about 108 feet at it's deepest, has two basins and can be trolled as the big water. Never fished it, swam/swimmed/swum in it as a child though. Has browns smelt etc. and I would love to fish it.

[HuRon]

We just did some work on one of those big $1M homes on Gull lake & we were wondering if there were any Atlantics still in there. Suppose its possible, the little creek on the N end has some spawning gravel.
The DeTour area starts coming on right about now for trollers. But you better know what you're doing up there. Rocks & nets.
You know, this thread started out on a negative note from the start. :16suspect . I try not to get dragged into them. A little constructive criticism or questioning is good. But sneaky little snipes bordering on back stabbing doesn't belong here IMHO. One more candidate for my ignore list.

[Oldgrandman]

Maybe I am a little behind the times. I am getting old and forgetful. I'll blame the Old Grandad Bourbon for that! But it seems like it was just a few years ago I saw an article about it in MUCC or something. But maybe it was longer ago than I care to admit! A little research or a call to the DNR would settle the matter before oing there.

[cedarlkDJ]

Maybe I am a little behind the times. I am getting old and forgetful. I'll blame the Old Grandad Bourbon for that! But it seems like it was just a few years ago I saw an article about it in MUCC or something. But maybe it was longer ago than I care to admit! A little research or a call to the DNR would settle the matter before oing there.

No......they are not in Gull Lake anymore! The DNR did stock them there and used it for broodstock. I think all of us locals complaining got them to abandon it. They totally ruined the rainbow and bluegill fishery in the lake. You couldn't keep them off your line, and after being released usually just died. The DNR stocks rainbows, browns and smelt in it now and the bluegill and perch fishing are fantastic again!