Salmon and Trout of Lake Michigan

Salmon and Trout of Lake Michigan

I believe in working hard every minute of your charter and giving that added extra to make your trip a rewarding and an eventful experience. Not only do we guarantee fish but more important we make every trip a memory not to be forgotten.

The Boat

Our boat is a 34 ft Wellcraft Offshore Coastal. It was constructed for offshore fishing with comfort and saftey in mind. It has a large enclosed helm area for those cold spring days. A large spacious aft deck for the comfort of your group while fishing or just conversing. It features full amenities such as an encolsed washroom and saftey equipment.

We have the latest electronics and fishing equipment.

More on the Fishing

Chinook salmon also known as the king salmon and in some areas called black mouth. It can be identified by the dark spotting on the back and usually on both lobes of the tail, a long anal fin and teeth set in black gums.

Chinook mature at the age of four years. They drastically change color to a golden own then to a deep olive color. The males develops a hooked upper jaw. In Illinois waters an average mature Chinook weighs between 15-25 pound. Numerous fish approaching 30 pounds are caught. Illinois stocks the fingerling Chinook at the age of 4-6 months when they are between 2-4 inches in length.

Chinook tend to prefer warmer waters than the Coho, around the mid- 50s. They are much more sensitive to the light and tend to prefer a deeper level of water than the Coho. They usually prowl the waters miles offshore. They can be caught by using various Dodger / Fly combo�s and spoons. In September when the spawning run begins they will move into the harbors and rivers.

They can be caught by the shore angler casting spoons and plugs. Bait just as spawn and nitecrawlers can also be productive.

Rainbow Trout often called Steelhead are distinguished by its white mouth, black spots on its back and entire tail. It�s tail also being entirely square.

Rainbow trout feed on insects and alewives. There are several different strains of rainbow in the Great Lakes. Some are spring spawners and others spawn in the fall. The male�s colors change to a red appearance while the female stay predominately silver. Unlike salmon they do not die after spawning and often live 5-8 years.

Rainbow prefers water temperatures of 55-60 degrees. They are a specie that can travel great distances in short periods of time and can be difficult at times to locate when they are miles off shore. They are stocked yearly when they are about 4-5 inches in length. The average adult is between 6-8 pounds, but many are caught in the 12-16 pound range. Shore fishing during the spring and fall using live bait such as nitecrawlers, minnows and salmon spawn can be productive. Trollers prefer spoons and dodger / fly combinations with ight colors being the most productive.

Lake Trout can be identified by it�s white mouth with teeth, irregular marking on the back and sides, deeply forked tail and a white leading edge on the lower fins.

The lake trout mainly eats alewife, smelt and small fish. A mature laker will weigh between 8-12 pounds with many being caught in the 20lb range. They may live as long as 20 years. They prefer the coldest water available usually a temperature in the high forties. Because of their preference for cold water they are often found near the bottom or at depths of greater than 100 ft. During the 1950 the lake trout almost completely disappeared due to the ravages of the sea lamprey and commercial fishing.

Lake trout are almost always caught by the boat fisherman miles offshore. Best lures for lake trout are dodgers with flies or spoons.

Salmon and Trout of Lake Michigan -
Coho Salmon
also known as the silver salmon can be identified by the fine line of dark spots on the back and upper lobe of the tail fin, the long anal fin and the gray gums.

Coho represent 75% of the salmon that are caught in Illinois waters. The majority are caught during the months of April, May and June. Illinois stocks fingerling coho at the age of around 6 months old when they are about 5-6 inches in length. During peak feeding periods they can gain a pound of weight every week.

Coho can be caught from the shoreline usually in the months of March, April and May by using livebait. Nitecrawlers, smelt and alewives strips are all good bait. Casting small spoons at times also can be productive.

As the waters warm up they venture offshore and can be caught by using Dodger / Fly combinations and spoons. Coho prefer a water temperature of 50 degrees. Once the temperature increases towards 60 degrees the fish leave the surface and drop to a deeper level.

Coho feed primarily on alewives, smelt and small minnows. Coho become adult at 3 years of age. The male takes on a deep red color during the spawning run, which usually occurs during September and October. The average mature Coho averages around 6-8 pounds.

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Morning Charters start at 5 or 6 am
Afternoon Charters start at 12 or 1 pm

*A $100.00 deposit is required