2026 regulation year
Michigan Chinook (king) salmon 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Last updated
Chinook salmon are Lake Michigan's open-water apex predator and Michigan's salmon fishery is built on trolling planer-board and downrigger spreads. Fall river run brings them up the tributaries from August onward.
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Season
Open year-round Great Lakes: year-round. Rivers: open during fall run (Aug – Nov peak).
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day (combined Pacific salmon — chinook + coho + pink)
- Possession
- Same as daily bag
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 10 in minimum
Gear restrictions
- Snagging prohibited on tributary streams
- Single-hook artificial only on listed reaches
- Trolling gear (downriggers, planer boards) legal in Great Lakes
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Michigan waters:
Manistee River below Tippy Dam
Single-hook artificial only; snagging prohibited
Pere Marquette River
Flies-only stretch + standard rule elsewhere
St. Joseph River
Fall king run; standard 5 / day combined salmon rule
Lake Michigan (Michigan waters)
Year-round; 5 / day combined salmon; trolling-rig friendly
Official source
Michigan Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative 2026 Michiganfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
Visit official Michigan fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Chinook (king) salmon closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Michigan Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Michigan trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is chinook (king) salmon season in Michigan?
- Michigan keeps chinook (king) salmon open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
- What is the Michigan bag limit for chinook (king) salmon?
- The Michigan daily bag limit for chinook (king) salmon is 5 / day (combined Pacific salmon — chinook + coho + pink). The possession limit is Same as daily bag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size chinook (king) salmon can you keep in Michigan?
- The Michigan size rule for chinook (king) salmon is 10 in minimum.
- Do you need a license to fish for chinook (king) salmon in Michigan?
- Yes. Michigan 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 Michigan license — compare resident and non-resident Michigan fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for chinook (king) salmon in Michigan?
- Yes. In Michigan, chinook (king) salmon fishing carries these gear rules: Snagging prohibited on tributary streams; Single-hook artificial only on listed reaches; Trolling gear (downriggers, planer boards) legal in Great Lakes.
- Do specific Michigan waters have different chinook (king) salmon rules?
- Yes. 4 named Michigan waters carry rules that override the statewide chinook (king) salmon regulation, including Manistee River below Tippy Dam, Pere Marquette River, St. Joseph River, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.