Fall Salmon Fishing Trips

Fall salmon fishing is about timing. Salmon return from big water to the rivers where they were born or stocked, and for a few weeks they are concentrated, aggressive and within reach of anglers on the bank, a pier or a drift boat. Arrive during the run and the fishing can be fast. Arrive between pulses of fish and you may wait.

For U.S. anglers, two very different fall salmon trips stand out among our destinations: Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula for coho (silver salmon), and Northern Michigan’s Great Lakes rivers and bays for Chinook and coho.

Run timing is a broad pattern. Water temperature, rainfall and the size of each year’s run shift it, sometimes by weeks. Check recent reports before you go.

Kenai Peninsula, Alaska: coho season

On the Kenai Peninsula, fall means coho. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s run timing chart lists:

• Kenai River coho: late July through mid-October.
• Russian River coho: early August through the end of September.
• Kasilof River coho: late July through September.
• Kenai River pinks: mid-July through August.
• Kenai River rainbow trout and Dolly Varden: rainbows listed from mid-June through April, Dolly Varden from mid-May through October.

Fish and Game’s sonar page notes that coho and pinks generally arrive on the Kenai in mid to late July, as the king runs are ending. That means a late-August or September trip lines up with coho, and an August trip can still overlap the tail of other runs.

What a trip looks like: drift boat or power boat trips with a guide, bank fishing at public access points, and trout fishing as a second option. Pack rain gear and warm layers for changeable fall weather.

Rules: Alaska salmon regulations can change during the season by emergency order. Check current orders from Fish and Game before you go and again on arrival.

Northern Michigan: Great Lakes runs

In Northern Michigan, Chinook and coho from the Great Lakes run up rivers in late summer and fall. Pure Michigan’s salmon guide says:

• Chinook: begin moving upstream in late summer and are usually catchable by mid-August. Popular fall spots include Lake Michigan piers, coastal streams, and inland rivers such as the Manistee (at Tippy Dam) and Pere Marquette.
• Coho: fishing peaks in late summer and early fall, with a Manistee River run in late October. The Platte River is a named coho water.

Pure Michigan’s guide also covers pink and Atlantic salmon, but their main waters, such as the St. Marys River and Lake Huron tributaries, lie outside the northwest Lower Peninsula this destination covers. Torch Lake, in the region, is named as an Atlantic salmon fishery.

Pure Michigan’s fall guide says fall fishing generally kicks off by mid-September, with salmon in early fall and steelhead and brown trout as late-fall targets. It names the Manistee and Au Sable among rivers with good fall fishing, and Betsie Bay, Platte Bay and Grand Traverse Bay for fish in the big lake.

What a trip looks like: pier fishing at river mouths, wading or drifting rivers, and boat fishing on the bays. It is a drive-to trip for much of the Midwest, and a good fit for a weekend or a group trip.

Rules: Michigan’s rules differ between Great Lakes waters and streams and from river to river. Check the Michigan DNR’s current regulations before you fish.

Alaska or Michigan?

The two trips are very different, and the right one depends on your budget, time and style.

Choose the Kenai Peninsula if you want a bigger adventure, are happy to fly, and want salmon fishing combined with Alaska scenery and trout fishing. It usually means more travel time and a larger budget, and guided days are common.

Choose Northern Michigan if you can drive, want a shorter or cheaper trip, or like fishing on your own from piers and rivers. It suits a long weekend, and it is easy to add a guided boat day on the bays.

Either way, plan around run timing rather than a fixed date, and keep a day or two of slack in case the fish are late.

How to plan a fall salmon trip

Pick your window, then book. Guides and lodging near popular rivers are in demand during the runs, so reserve early.

Watch reports in the weeks before. Runs respond to rain, river flow and water temperature. A local shop or guide can tell you whether fish are in.

Bring the right gear. Waders, rain gear, warm layers and heavier rods. If you plan to keep fish, bring a cooler plan and check how to transport them. See traveling with fishing gear.

Respect crowds. Popular runs draw many anglers. Learn local etiquette, give space and follow the rules. See charter etiquette and tipping.

Get the right license. Check each state agency’s license requirements, including any extra stamps or tags, before the trip. See fishing licenses.

Pitfalls to avoid

• Booking around last year’s peak. Runs shift. Leave some flexibility.
• Arriving at the tail of the run. Many anglers prefer the early and middle parts of a run, when fish are fresher.
• Ignoring weather. Fall storms bring high water and cold, wet days. See safety and weather.
• Not checking emergency orders. In Alaska especially, rules can change mid-season.

Month by month

• August: Kenai coho begin, Russian River coho, Michigan Chinook in rivers by mid-month.
• September: Kenai and Russian River coho, Michigan fall season under way.
• October: Kenai coho into mid-month, Manistee coho run, Michigan Chinook in the rivers.

Learn more on our salmon and trout pages.