When is chinook (king) salmon season in Indiana?

Lake Michigan year-round; tributary fall chinook run typically September – November (Trail Creek + Little Calumet + St. Joseph). Those are the 2026 Indiana dates; always confirm against Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the Indiana bag limit for chinook (king) salmon?

The Indiana daily bag limit for chinook (king) salmon is 5 / day combined salmon + trout (chinook + coho + steelhead + brown + lake trout) Lake Michigan + tributaries; no more than 3 may be lake trout. The possession limit is Two times the daily bag limit (10); does not apply to fish processed + stored at the angler's primary residence. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size chinook (king) salmon can you keep in Indiana?

The Indiana size rule for chinook (king) salmon is 14 in min (uniform for all salmon + trout) Lake Michigan + tributaries; IDNR Trout & Salmon Stamp REQUIRED. Trophy rule: Trail Creek + Little Calumet fall run regularly produces 20+ lb chinook; Lake Michigan boat fishery routine 15-25 lb fish May – September.

Do you need a license to fish for chinook (king) salmon in Indiana?

Yes. Indiana requires a valid fishing license to fish for chinook (king) salmon, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Indiana license — compare resident and non-resident Indiana fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for chinook (king) salmon in Indiana?

Yes. In Indiana, chinook (king) salmon fishing carries these gear rules: IDNR Trout & Salmon Stamp ($11) REQUIRED for any angler fishing for or possessing trout or salmon; Trail Creek upper reach + listed tributary upper reaches: flies + artificial-lures-only; Snagging prohibited statewide for salmon + trout (must be hook-set in mouth); Single barbless hook required on listed tributary reaches per IDNR notice.

Do specific Indiana waters have different chinook (king) salmon rules?

Yes. 5 named Indiana waters carry rules that override the statewide chinook (king) salmon regulation, including Lake Michigan — Indiana waters, Trail Creek, Little Calumet River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Indiana Chinook (king) salmon 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Last updated June 9, 2026

Indiana's chinook (king) salmon fishery is concentrated on the Lake Michigan Indiana waters (a 45-mile shoreline from the Illinois state line through Hammond + East Chicago + Whiting + Gary + Burns Harbor + Portage + Ogden Dunes + Indiana Dunes National Park to Michigan City and the Michigan state line) and the tributary streams that carry the fall spawning run: Trail Creek (Michigan City — IN's premier chinook + steelhead tributary), Little Calumet River (Highland to Burns Harbor), Salt Creek (Indiana Dunes National Park area), and the St. Joseph River (South Bend area — Lake Michigan-strain salmon via the Mishawaka + South Bend fish ladder system). The Indiana DNR Lake Michigan chinook population is stocked under the multi-state Great Lakes Fishery Commission joint plan — chinook (king) salmon were first introduced to Lake Michigan in 1967 to control the invasive alewife population, and the stocking program continues under IDNR + MI DNR + IL DNR + WI DNR + USFWS coordination. The fall run typically peaks September – early November; spring steelhead run typically March – April. The Lake Michigan combined limit is 5 salmon + trout per day (no more than 3 may be lake trout) with a uniform 14-inch minimum across all salmon + trout species. IDNR Trout & Salmon Stamp ($11) is REQUIRED for any angler fishing for or possessing trout or salmon from any Indiana water, including Lake Michigan and the listed tributaries.

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Season

Lake Michigan year-round; tributary fall chinook run typically September – November (Trail Creek + Little Calumet + St. Joseph).

Jan 1 – Dec 31Lake Michigan Indiana waters
Year-round open; peak boat fishing May – September; pier + surf fishing year-round
Sep 1 – Nov 30Trail Creek + Little Calumet + St. Joseph River tributaries
Fall chinook spawning run — typical peak September – early November

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day combined salmon + trout (chinook + coho + steelhead + brown + lake trout) Lake Michigan + tributaries; no more than 3 may be lake trout
Possession: Two times the daily bag limit (10); does not apply to fish processed + stored at the angler's primary residence

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 14 in min (uniform for all salmon + trout) Lake Michigan + tributaries; IDNR Trout & Salmon Stamp REQUIRED
Trophy rule: Trail Creek + Little Calumet fall run regularly produces 20+ lb chinook; Lake Michigan boat fishery routine 15-25 lb fish May – September

Gear restrictions

IDNR Trout & Salmon Stamp ($11) REQUIRED for any angler fishing for or possessing trout or salmon
Trail Creek upper reach + listed tributary upper reaches: flies + artificial-lures-only
Snagging prohibited statewide for salmon + trout (must be hook-set in mouth)
Single barbless hook required on listed tributary reaches per IDNR notice

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Indiana waters:

Lake Michigan — Indiana waters
14 in min, 5 / day combined salmon + trout (no more than 3 lake trout); year-round; Trout & Salmon Stamp required
Trail Creek
14 in min, 5 / day combined; premier IN chinook + steelhead tributary; flies + artificial-only listed reach
Little Calumet River
14 in min, 5 / day combined; fall chinook + spring steelhead
Salt Creek
14 in min, 5 / day combined; Indiana Dunes National Park steelhead + chinook
St. Joseph River
14 in min, 5 / day combined; Lake Michigan-strain salmon via Mishawaka + South Bend fish ladders

Official source

Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife publishes the authoritative 2026 Indianafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The chinook (king) salmon rules on this page are sourced from Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife's official chinook (king) salmon regulation page.

Visit official Indiana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Chinook (king) salmon closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Indiana Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Indiana trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is chinook (king) salmon season in Indiana?: Lake Michigan year-round; tributary fall chinook run typically September – November (Trail Creek + Little Calumet + St. Joseph). Those are the 2026 Indiana dates; always confirm against Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Indiana bag limit for chinook (king) salmon?: The Indiana daily bag limit for chinook (king) salmon is 5 / day combined salmon + trout (chinook + coho + steelhead + brown + lake trout) Lake Michigan + tributaries; no more than 3 may be lake trout. The possession limit is Two times the daily bag limit (10); does not apply to fish processed + stored at the angler's primary residence. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size chinook (king) salmon can you keep in Indiana?: The Indiana size rule for chinook (king) salmon is 14 in min (uniform for all salmon + trout) Lake Michigan + tributaries; IDNR Trout & Salmon Stamp REQUIRED. Trophy rule: Trail Creek + Little Calumet fall run regularly produces 20+ lb chinook; Lake Michigan boat fishery routine 15-25 lb fish May – September.
Do you need a license to fish for chinook (king) salmon in Indiana?: Yes. Indiana requires a valid fishing license to fish for chinook (king) salmon, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Indiana license — compare resident and non-resident Indiana fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for chinook (king) salmon in Indiana?: Yes. In Indiana, chinook (king) salmon fishing carries these gear rules: IDNR Trout & Salmon Stamp ($11) REQUIRED for any angler fishing for or possessing trout or salmon; Trail Creek upper reach + listed tributary upper reaches: flies + artificial-lures-only; Snagging prohibited statewide for salmon + trout (must be hook-set in mouth); Single barbless hook required on listed tributary reaches per IDNR notice.
Do specific Indiana waters have different chinook (king) salmon rules?: Yes. 5 named Indiana waters carry rules that override the statewide chinook (king) salmon regulation, including Lake Michigan — Indiana waters, Trail Creek, Little Calumet River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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