Fall King Salmon Fishing: Trophy Time for Small Boat, Shore, and Wading Anglers

Boat fishermen get first crack at fall kings as they come shore-ward. While water temps remain warm (say 55 to 65 degrees) downriggers may be necessary to reach down to cooler water at the beginning of fall. At that time, summertime presentations like spoons, J-Plugs and flasher/fly combinations will take kings. As water temps cool off, kings can be found higher in the water column and in shallower water. When that happens, trollers can often take kings while fishing deep-diving crankbaits, using spoons behind diving planers like Dipsy Divers, running spoons or stickbaits on leadcore or copper line. Even anglers without downriggers can get in on the action then.

Near-Shore Salmon Fishing: Piers, Breakwalls, and Kayaks

Once fish move close to shore, other anglers can get in on the action. Salmon often pass piers, breakwalls and marinas to reach their spawning streams. Anglers can catch kings while casting from these structures. Heavy spoons are popular choices. Glow-in-the-dark models are especially good because kings are most active in low light. Anglers can cast them a mile, reaching more fish. Salmon eggs fished below a bobber and suspended just off bottom are very effective as well. If you're casting from a pier or breakwall, a long-handled net can be critical to landing kings. These fish just won't quit and there's no way you're pulling a 20-pound fish vertically out of the water!

As fish enter harbors and river mouths, kayakers can even get in on the mix. Kayaks are becoming increasingly popular for kings, and if you hook a big fish, you're going for a ride! Kayakers take fish by trolling crankbaits, jigging spoons or pitching spawn below bobbers. My brother said the first thing he learned when kayak fishing for Lake Michigan kings is to beef up the hooks and split rings on all his lures, which is good advice for all anglers, whether they're fishing from a kayak, boat or shore. King salmon are incredibly powerful, so you'll need industrial-strength tackle.

Jigging Kings in Harbors and River Mouths

Jigging for kings in harbors has grown in popularity, especially with the introduction of live sonar. Sure, it's great watching a downrigger rod bounce when a fish hits, but when you're holding a rod in your hand and a fish slams it just 20 feet below, it's a whole different ballgame! Jigging spoons are the go-to lure, but beefy tube jigs would work well too. Gaps in the breakwall where a river dumps into the Great Lakes are obvious choices for jigging, but you may be blocking navigation, so use your best judgment. Jigging is also effective over deep holes or on deeper outside bends near river mouths.

River Tactics for the Final Salmon Run

Once salmon push up the rivers, things are changing rapidly. For one thing, fish are nearing the spawn and death. Many will have turned dark instead of chrome and the meat isn't anywhere near as good, if not unpalatable. As fish get close to spawning, the meat turns soft and mushy and actually starts to rot. But you can still catch them for sport.

Now fish will be in shallow, narrow rivers. Casting from shore, wading or possibly vertically jigging if the water is deep enough come into play. Salmon are now in spawning mode, so they aren't concerned with eating. Therefore, most strikes now will be reaction strikes. Spinners like the Blue Fox Vibrax and spoons like the Blue Fox Pixee are proven producers. Even crankbaits will work. Salmon eggs fished below bobbers or drifting near bottom are also productive.

Fly anglers get in on the game now too. Early in the run, fish may still be feeding and they will hit streamers or beads representing eggs. Once fish get further into spawning mode, they stop feeding, but you may get a reaction strike out of a fish, especially if you repeatedly cast a fly to a fish on a redd.

Why Fall is the Best Time for King Salmon

Fall provides one of the best times for near-shore and shore fishing Great Lakes anglers to connect with a giant, powerful fish. Whether trolling from a small boat or kayak, casting from a pier, jigging the harbors or wading rivers, fall king salmon offer unforgettable battles and real trophy fish potential.

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