Coho Salmon Fishing in Michigan
The coho salmon — also known as silver salmon — is one of the most accessible and exciting sportfish in Michigan’s Lake Michigan fishery. Michigan made Great Lakes fishing history in 1966 when fisheries chief Howard Tanner authorized the first planting of coho salmon smolts into the Platte River and Bear Creek in Benzie County, a bold experiment designed to control invasive alewives while creating a world-class sport fishery. The gamble paid off spectacularly. By fall 1967, an estimated 38,000 anglers lined the shoreline between Manistee and the Platte River for the first coho spawning run, and the modern Great Lakes salmon fishery was born. Today, coho remain the workhorses of the nearshore fishery, available to anglers fishing from piers, small boats, and charter vessels alike. Their willingness to feed aggressively near the surface, combined with acrobatic fights featuring multiple jumps, makes coho a favorite among anglers of all experience levels along Michigan’s hundreds of miles of Lake Michigan coastline.
Where to Fish
Coho salmon are available across Michigan’s extensive Lake Michigan shoreline, with productive fishing from both piers and tributaries.
Pier Fishing
Frankfort is ground zero for Michigan coho pier fishing. Nestled at the mouth of the Betsie River and just south of Platte Bay — the historic birthplace of Great Lakes coho stocking — the Frankfort piers see heavy concentrations of coho in both spring and fall. In autumn, fish flooding into Platte Bay stage near the piers in massive numbers before entering the Platte and Betsie rivers.
Manistee piers provide excellent access to migrating coho during spring and fall. Shore anglers work spinners and skein under bobbers along the breakwalls, intercepting fish moving between the open lake and the Manistee River channel.
Ludington is one of Michigan’s premier salmon ports, and the historic piers give shore-bound anglers solid access to coho during both the spring nearshore feeding runs and the fall staging period near the Pere Marquette River mouth.
Grand Haven piers at the mouth of the Grand River draw coho in spring as fish cruise the warm nearshore waters, and again in fall as fish push toward tributary mouths. The long pier system puts anglers within casting range of cruising schools.
St. Joseph and New Buffalo piers on the southern Lake Michigan shore are among the first to heat up in spring. Warmer southern waters draw coho earlier in the season, and pier fishing in April and May can be outstanding as schools concentrate near these harbors.
River Fishing
Platte River is Michigan’s premier coho stream and the historic heart of the program. The state’s coho egg-take weir operates here, and the river sees the most consistent fall runs in the state. The lower Platte below the weir is the primary fishing area.
Pere Marquette River is a top-tier coho destination with runs peaking in October and fish lingering into November. The PM offers excellent wade fishing with a mix of fly and spin tackle opportunities.
Manistee River produces a legendary late-season coho run below Tippy Dam, with fish stacking up from late October well into November. The dam concentrates fish and creates reliable, accessible fishing.
Betsie River sees strong coho runs in October, particularly in the lower stretches near Homestead Dam. Fish push in after the chinook wave subsides.
Little Manistee River and Muskegon River both receive coho runs and provide quality tributary fishing in the fall months.
St. Joseph River in southwest Michigan holds coho surprisingly late, with fish caught as late as December in some years.
In the Upper Peninsula, the Anna River watershed near Munising produces a solid coho fishery in both spring and fall for open-water anglers in Munising Bay.
Seasonal Patterns
Late Winter/Early Spring (March-April): This is the pier fishing season that draws crowds to Michigan’s Lake Michigan ports. As nearshore water temperatures begin climbing into the upper 30s and 40s, coho move in from deeper water to feed on baitfish concentrated near harbor mouths, warm-water discharges, and pier structures. Southern ports like St. Joseph and New Buffalo heat up first due to warmer water temperatures. Casting small spoons and crankbaits from piers during early morning and late afternoon produces steady action. This period is weather-dependent — warm spells with southerly winds push warmer water against the Michigan shoreline and bring fish within reach.
Spring/Early Summer (May-July): Coho spread out across the nearshore waters of the Lake Michigan basin. Open-lake trolling becomes the primary technique, with fish holding in the upper 10 to 30 feet of the water column. Coho feed higher than chinook, making them accessible to planer board spreads, flatlines, and shallow-running divers. Small to mid-sized spoons in silver, blue, and green patterns are the staples. Trolling speeds of 2.0 to 2.8 mph are effective. Charter fleets out of Frankfort, Manistee, Ludington, and Grand Haven produce mixed bags of coho and chinook during this window.
Late Summer (August-September): A transition period as coho begin staging near river mouths. Open-lake fishing remains productive, though fish become more concentrated near tributary areas. Chinook enter rivers first in early September, and by mid-September coho begin following. Pier fishing picks back up at major river mouth ports as staging fish move within casting range.
Fall (October-November): This is the peak of the coho tributary run. The Platte River, Pere Marquette, Manistee below Tippy Dam, Betsie, Little Manistee, and Muskegon all see strong runs, typically peaking in October. Fish stage at river mouths during periods of high water before pushing upstream. Tributary fishing with spawn sacs, spinners, and small spoons in pools and runs produces fast action when timing and water conditions align. Fly anglers find excellent opportunities swinging streamers and drifting egg patterns through holding water. On the Manistee and Pere Marquette, coho linger well into November, extending the season beyond most other rivers.
Tackle and Techniques
Pier Fishing
A 7- to 8-foot medium-light spinning rod with a 2500- to 3000-size reel spooled with 8- to 10-pound monofilament is ideal for pier coho. Cast small spoons (Kastmaster, Little Cleo, Krocodile) in silver, gold, and chartreuse finishes. Retrieve at a moderate, steady pace with occasional pauses. Small crankbaits that dive 3 to 6 feet also work well. When coho are visible cruising the pier edges, cast ahead of the fish and retrieve across their path.
Spawn sacs fished below a slip float are a proven pier technique. Drift the sac along the pier face at depths of 5 to 15 feet, adjusting based on where fish are holding. Tip with a small piece of wax worm for added scent. Glow spoons and alewife fished under floats are particularly effective at the Muskegon and Manistee piers during fall.
Open-Lake Trolling
Coho trolling gear is lighter than chinook equipment. Medium-action rods with line-counter reels and 12- to 17-pound line work well. Run spoons on planer boards, flatlines, and shallow divers. Coho respond well to erratic action — dodger-fly combinations and rotating spoons that flutter on speed changes trigger aggressive strikes. Set lines at varying depths from 5 to 30 feet to locate the feeding zone. The charter fleets out of Frankfort, Ludington, Manistee, and Grand Haven run coho-focused trips from May through August.
Tributary Fishing
A 9-foot medium spinning rod with 8- to 12-pound monofilament is standard for river coho. Drift spawn sacs through pools and tailouts using a float rig adjusted so the bait drifts 6 to 12 inches above bottom. In-line spinners (Mepps, Blue Fox) in sizes 3 through 5 are effective in deeper, slower pools. Work them slowly, just fast enough to keep the blade turning. On larger rivers like the Pere Marquette and Manistee, fly anglers swing egg-sucking leeches, woolly buggers, and bright streamer patterns through runs and tailouts on 7- to 8-weight rods.
Table Quality
Coho salmon are among the best eating fish in Lake Michigan. Their smaller size and higher fat content relative to body mass produce firm, flavorful fillets that grill, bake, and smoke exceptionally well. Fish caught in spring and early summer from cold, open water are the highest quality. Bleed fish immediately after landing and store on ice for the best results. Fall fish in spawning condition are still edible but decline in flesh quality as they darken.
