Escanaba, MI Port
There are some charters who will operate out of the Escanaba port each summer and many anglers do come here with their own boats to fish for salmon. Out of Escanaba, you can usually find Chinook salmon moving into this area by the middle of summer. Chinook salmon will be the bulk of the salmon here, however, steelhead are caught here too. The salmon will usually stay in this area through early September. You can also fish for salmon in the Escanaba Harbor and in the Escanaba River. The 4 year old Chinook salmon will move back into the river and harbor to spawn. You can find steelhead mixed in too. Anglers fish the river and the harbor in September and October until the spawning season ends.
Fairport, MI Port
Out of Fairfport, Michigan, there are also several fishing charters and plenty of anglers that will go out and fish for Chinook salmon, steelhead and lake trout. Fairport is unique since it offers great structure just a short boat ride away. There are several islands just out into the lake and this structure holds good numbers of fish every summer. Fish will usually move into this area in the month of June and it can still be good into September.
Rivers & Streams Fishing
There are many places to fish for trout and even salmon in the streams and rivers in this area. Brook trout, brown trout, chinook salmon, steelhead, northern pike and even smallmouth bass are available in the area streams and rivers. The rivers such as the Bark, Days, Escanaba, Ford, Fishdam, Sturgeon and Whitefish all have good salmon runs and are open to fishing. As you go further up the Escanaba River, it becomes a very good trout fishery. It is well known for its brook trout in its upper reaches, but its wider stretches are good for brown and rainbow trout. There is a stocking program for the stretch below the Boney Dam as well.
Learn More About Salmon Fishing
Our salmon fishing section has information on the best live baits, lures, flies, where to catch them and how to catch them. It also covers all of the popular species of salmon as well. Visit our salmon page to learn more.
