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.
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.