Chasing Kings on Grand Traverse Bay: A Summer Salmon Mission with Sport Fish Michigan
Fishing for king salmon on Michigan’s iconic Grand Traverse Bay is a high-adrenaline pursuit, and when conditions align, it turns into a frenetic, action-packed experience. In this special outing with the seasoned crew from Sport Fish Michigan, we dive into a mid-summer king salmon blitz, where preparation, precision, and on-the-water knowledge converge for unforgettable moments on the water.
Back on the Big Water
After some years away from the king salmon game, I joined Captain Rondome Jr. and Chad Dilt for a kamikaze-style early morning bite. Within 30 minutes of launching, rods were already popping, the boat brimming with energy and anticipation. These expert anglers spend their seasons chasing a wide range of species, but mid-July is prime time for kings, with fish migrating up from southern waters.
As we prepped lines and monitored the action, I was reminded how special this fishery is—one that combines open-water trolling with surgical efficiency and an eye for ever-shifting details. 
Dialing in the Program
Efficiency is everything when trolling for kings. We set our downriggers at 70 to 80 feet, targeting the thermocline—a critical layer of water where baitfish congregate. Low divers were run deeper, around 150 to 170 feet, while long leadcore and copper lines were carefully measured using 13 and 14 colors to get baits into the strike zone.
Each setup requires math and experience. The distance out, trolling speed, and the weight of the line all influence how deep each bait runs. At first light, it’s common to keep some rods higher in the column, around 60 feet, to intercept aggressive early feeders. Sure enough, a king crushed a bait set at 65 feet shortly after it was deployed—textbook execution.
The Details That Matter
Success in salmon trolling often comes down to fine details. Our leadcore setups featured 9-foot St. Croix Encore rods paired with 50-size Daiwa Saltist reels. The reels offered smooth drag and exceptional pickup power—crucial for hauling in long lines of heavy leadcore and copper. The mainline was 65-pound Sufix 832 braid, down to Sufix Pro leadcore, spooled with precision for maximum performance.
Understanding the board spread is also essential. The innermost planer boards (closest to the boat) run deepest, while outermost boards run shallower. This arrangement helps keep lines from tangling when a fish hits and ensures clean, efficient retrievals.
Fast-Growing Giants
One of the biggest thrills of salmon fishing is the sheer power of the fish. On this trip, we encountered a healthy 17-pound king—likely just four years old. It’s impressive how fast these fish grow, and it’s a testament to the rich forage base and the effectiveness of the stocking programs. Many of the kings we caught were wild, though we did pick up a few healthy planters with big bellies and aggressive attitudes.
A Versatile Crew with Year-Round Tactics
Our hosts aren’t just salmon specialists. I’ve fished with them for smallmouth bass in crystal-clear shallows and jigged deep for lake trout and ciscos. But this time of year, their full attention shifts to the kings—and for good reason. July and August present a mobile fishery, allowing anglers to follow the salmon migration along the Lake Michigan coast.
Smaller, mobile boats give the team flexibility to move with the fish, chasing the hot bite wherever it develops. As coho salmon begin showing up alongside the kings, the variety and excitement only intensify.
Salmon Strategies: Trolling, Casting, and Jigging
While trolling dominates early in the season, the fish eventually begin staging near their natal tributaries. At that point, casting and jigging with light tackle becomes not only viable but incredibly fun. The crew relishes this time—it’s when finesse presentations and strike-triggering tactics take center stage.
During this outing, we even landed a beautiful coho while discussing their arrival—a perfect example of timing and awareness on the water.
The Thermocline: The King’s Highway
Understanding the thermocline is fundamental when chasing king salmon. This distinct layer forms where warm surface water meets cooler, deeper water, creating a temperature break that concentrates baitfish. On any given day, the thermocline might be as shallow as 40 feet or as deep as 100. Phytoplankton and zooplankton accumulate there, drawing Elwhites and other forage species—then the kings follow.
Some days, kings feed in warmer water; other days, they’re buried in the depths, swimming through 42 to 44-degree water. The key isn’t just to fish the thermocline but to fish where the fish are, even if it means shifting tactics on the fly.
Controlled Chaos and Explosive Action
As the sun climbed higher, the action didn’t slow. Rods bent under the weight of powerful salmon, line screamed from reels, and anglers hustled to clear paths and manage fish. With baits running at multiple depths, and constant adjustments based on speed and hits, the scene was one of controlled chaos—exactly what you want when chasing kings.
Precision, Power, and Presentation: The King Salmon Bite Continues
As the bite intensified on Grand Traverse Bay, our boat was a flurry of motion—rods doubling over, nets flying, and lines screaming with the unmistakable power of a hooked king salmon. The adrenaline and camaraderie that come with a productive salmon trolling mission were on full display, as fish after fish came aboard, each one a testament to both the fishery’s health and the anglers’ preparation.
Managing Mayhem and Maximizing the Spread
The thermocline had settled around 80 feet that morning, so we adjusted our downriggers to fish that 80–90 foot band. Our spreads also included meat rigs and flasher-fly combos on the divers, some with leads as long as 25 feet from the dipsy diver to the flasher. While those long leaders require hand-lining at the end of the fight, they are critical in the ultra-clear, zebra-mussel-influenced waters of the Great Lakes where salmon can be line-shy.
Every adjustment, from rod positioning to presentation timing, was made with purpose. As soon as one rod was set, another would fire. Whether it was a mature 4-year-old king or a lively coho, the constant action reminded us why this fishery is so revered.
A Showcase of Healthy Fish
The kings we boated were strong, silver-backed, and built like tanks. Many were planters from four years prior—now grown into double-digit powerhouses. And interspersed among the kings were sleek, aggressive coho salmon, their bright colors and streamlined bodies showing just how well-fed and healthy they were, thanks to an abundant alewife population.
The signs were promising: plenty of bait, a consistent bite, and a mix of year classes. It all points to a balanced, thriving fishery.
Tactical Adjustments and Diverse Rigs
By mid-morning, the bite zone shifted slightly to 55–70 feet. Our team quickly retooled the spread, pulling rods and replacing them to match the new target depth. The spread included a wide mix:
- Planer boards with copper and leadcore lines
- Downrigger rods dialed into precise thermocline depths
- Divers set at varying distances with flasher-fly or meat rig combinations
This diversity is key to success. Salmon trolling is not a one-rig-fits-all endeavor. It requires constant adjustments, gear diversity, and a willingness to experiment until a pattern emerges.
Bigger Fish, Bigger Thrills
As summer progresses, the size of the fish typically increases. By late July and early August, many kings have packed on serious weight, and they show it in every blistering run. The action is fast, the fights are fierce, and every hook-up can produce a trophy.
Alongside the kings, cohos were starting their seasonal migration. Smaller in stature but equally spirited, they provided a welcome change of pace—and a strong sign of what’s to come as August progresses.
Fisheries Management and Future Promise
The success of the modern salmon fishery on Lake Michigan is no accident. About a decade ago, the state of Michigan took bold action, reducing salmon stocking numbers to protect the fragile alewife base—avoiding the collapse that Lake Huron experienced. Those conservation efforts are now paying off. Alewives are stable, and salmon are thriving.
With more salmon plants now underway, anglers are optimistic. Not only is the average size up—bigger than it’s been in two decades—but record-breaking fish are making headlines, including a 47-pounder caught not far from where we were fishing.
Legendary Lures and Proven Patterns
While rod and line setups are essential, the real art lies in lure selection. The team shared some of their favorites—many of which have become staples across the Great Lakes:
- Bloody Nose: A legendary spoon in both large and small sizes, effective for kings in nearly any light condition.
- Green Jeans: A reliable colorway that continues to produce.
- Agent Orange (by Moonshine): Great for higher water column fishing and especially effective as staging fish begin moving closer to pier heads.
- Captain Valium: A 10-inch flasher with matching fly that produces heavy action.
- Moo Moo Meat Rig: Paired with a black blade, this rig is deadly at first light or on overcast days.
Flasher Fundamentals and Color Logic
When selecting flashers and attractors, color plays a major role. The team prefers:
- Natural hues like whites, greens, and blues for clear water.
- Darker frames on overcast days to provide contrast.
- Chrome and glow finishes to enhance visibility and draw in strikes at various depths.
For example, an 8-inch Spin Doctor with slick pearl glow tape on both sides can be deadly. Dark-framed flashers with glow tape often outperform others in low light, especially during early morning bites or when fishing cloudy water.
Fine-Tuning Presentation and Reflecting on the Blessing of the Water
As the morning on Grand Traverse Bay continued, the bite remained steady, and so did the constant process of refinement. Every lure, every line length, every blade and fly combination—each detail was scrutinized and adjusted to maximize effectiveness.
Lead Lengths and Lure Behavior
When running 10-inch blades—like many of the flashers used on this trip—the team used specific leader lengths to control the action of the fly. A standard setup is about 30 inches, which produces a steady rotation. But if the goal is to create a faster, more aggressive snap, that leader is shortened to 24–25 inches. For a slower, more subtle movement—ideal when fish are finicky or in colder water—leaders can be extended to 32, 35, or even 40 inches.
This rotation-speed balance is carefully paired with trolling speed. A slight uptick in boat speed can increase the fly’s action; slowing down does the opposite. It’s a delicate dance of depth, motion, and visibility—part of what makes trolling for salmon both a science and an art.
A Constant Puzzle with Limitless Possibilities
The beauty of Great Lakes salmon fishing lies in the endless combinations of tackle, gear, and strategy. As one of the anglers said:
“Lots of options, lots of variations, and it’s all just about spending time on the water and finding out what those fish are looking for.”
The payoff is clear: healthy, mature kings and cohos, thrilling fights, and memories that keep anglers coming back year after year. And after dialing in all the gear and fine-tuning each setup, there was only one thing left to do: get back to fishing.
Fishing on Lake Michigan offers unparalleled exhilaration, particularly when pursuing the majestic salmon. The morning began with a flurry as we immediately hooked into some stunning fish. The day was set in motion by the mayhem and excitement of bringing in these powerful fish. One of us described it as “little morning craziness,” which sums up the essence of getting a great start to the day.
Advanced Fishing Methods and Gear Technology Use in a Strategic Way
Fishing in Lake Michigan demands an understanding of cutting-edge fishing technology and strategies, not simply basic skills. In order to properly target the salmon, we used downriggers that were deliberately deployed at depths of approximately 80-90 feet, utilizing the thermocline. We found that using meat rigs on our divers and flasher-fly combos worked really well.
Taking Up the Tasks
The Great Lakes‘ crystal-clear waters and zebra mussels make the fish incredibly evasive and challenging to capture. We added a lead of 18 to 25 feet from our Dipsy Divers to the flashers to offset their spookiness. Even though it takes more work, this arrangement keeps our lures away from the noise and disruption of the boat, which improves their efficiency.
The work was well worth it. “That’s a great one, wow! Someone yelled, “Come here, buddy,” as we successfully landed a particularly stubborn salmon. The fish, a magnificent four-year-old king salmon, was evidence of the Great Lakes’ abundant fishing areas. Another person remarked, “These boys pull like banshees,” emphasizing the fierce resistance these fish put up.
A Combination of Methods and Tools
We had a variety of fishing gear on our boat, including downrigger rods, lead core, and board and copper lines. We were able to adjust our strategy on the fly by covering a range of depths and situations thanks to this versatility. We noticed that, between 55 and 70 feet, there were bites, so we adjusted our spread to maximize our chances.
Notes on the Behavior of Fish
We saw a variety of fish sizes as the day went on, from larger four-year-olds to smaller three-year-olds. This age class variety suggested a robust and healthy fish population, most likely the outcome of years of meticulous fishing management.
The Value of Regional Expertise
The local knowledge was priceless. “The state did a really good job of pumping the brakes on decreasing the plants and increasing the catch limit,” one of us thought. By keeping the ecosystem in balance, this cautious management helped keep the populations of bait fish from collapsing like they would have in other lakes that have experienced ecological difficulties.
Breaking Records in Catches
Recent successes demonstrated how effective our techniques were. We talked about how the 47-pound record set by the Michigan state record was broken a few years ago, as we were amazed by the size of fish that inhabit these waterways. This record shows that trophy-sized catches are possible in Lake Michigan, potentially making every trip an unforgettable one.
Innovations in Gear and Bait: A Look Inside the Arsenal
As varied as our methods were, so did our tackle box. We talked about a variety of baits and lures, each with a distinctive name and made for a particular type of fishing. We divulged the details of our tried-and-true tools of the trade, such “Green Jeans,” which this morning caught several fish, and “a nice variation of ‘Bloody Nose,’ a staple for Kings.”
Tackle Customization for Maximum Effectiveness
It was important to modify our equipment to fit the conditions of the day. “We’re fishing a lot of darker frames and a lot of chrome today,” we said. Our lures‘ visibility and fish-attractiveness can be greatly influenced by the color and material selection, particularly in different lighting scenarios.
The Trolling Science
One of the main topics of conversation was trolling setups and their modifications. “You can control the roll and rotation of the fly by adjusting the length of the lead on the blade. By using this technique, we may adjust our approach to the fish’s activity level and the conditions of the day, increasing our chances of catching them.
