Rivers / Upper Peninsula

Salmon Trout River

Often cited as the only remaining stream on Lake Superior's south shore with a significant coaster brook trout population; adult numbers are up about 70 percent since 2002 but remain small, protected by an 18-inch, one-fish rule and a shortened season ending August 14. Coaster migrations begin in mid-July. Two USGS gauges report water temperature. No hatch chart was located.

Big Bay, Marquette Countymixedlake superiorhatch offset +21 d

Find flies for February Full-year calendar

Fish by month

Brook trout
Resident brook trout plus coasters entering from mid-July; season closes Aug. 14.
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Origin
wild
Confidence
A
Steelhead
Inferred from Lake Superior basin timing.
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Origin
wild
Confidence
C

Species	Months	Origin	Confidence
Brook trout Resident brook trout plus coasters entering from mid-July; season closes Aug. 14.	J F M A M J J A S O N D	wild	A
Steelhead Inferred from Lake Superior basin timing.	J F M A M J J A S O N D	wild	C

Hatching in February

Eggs in the drift

In February the drift carries steelhead eggs. Spawning follows water temperature rather than the hatch offset, so these months do not shift. The spawners have left, but eggs are still washing out of the redds. They go pale as they age, so rows marked Washing out list the pale colors.

Steelhead eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
February
Washing out
Colors to fish
Cream/Dead Egg, Light Pink
Hooks
#10–14
Walleye eggsTie on Sucker Spawn, Y2K Egg, Micro Spawn (6 to 8 mm yarn egg)
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
February
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold
Hooks
#12–16
White and longnose sucker eggsTie on Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
February
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold, Peach
Hooks
#12–16
Redhorse sucker eggsTie on Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
February
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Pale Yellow, Light Gold, Cream
Hooks
#12–14
Brook trout eggsTie on Micro Spawn (6 to 8 mm yarn egg)
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
February
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Oregon Cheese, Apricot, Peach
Hooks
#12–16
Lake trout eggs
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
February
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Oregon Cheese, Pale Yellow, Apricot
Hooks
#10–12

Egg source	Months	February	Colors to fish	Hooks
Steelhead eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Washing out	Cream/Dead Egg, Light Pink	#10–14
Walleye eggsTie on Sucker Spawn, Y2K Egg, Micro Spawn (6 to 8 mm yarn egg)	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Not drifting	Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold	#12–16
White and longnose sucker eggsTie on Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Not drifting	Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold, Peach	#12–16
Redhorse sucker eggsTie on Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Not drifting	Pale Yellow, Light Gold, Cream	#12–14
Brook trout eggsTie on Micro Spawn (6 to 8 mm yarn egg)	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Not drifting	Oregon Cheese, Apricot, Peach	#12–16
Lake trout eggs	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Not drifting	Oregon Cheese, Pale Yellow, Apricot	#10–12

DNR stocking

No Michigan DNR stocking record is mapped to this water; treat the fish here as wild.

Gear rules

Transcribed from the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations digest. Confirm with the DNR before fishing.

Salmon Trout River (Marquette County)
Tackle
general
Season
Trout season
Notes
Brook Trout Restoration Area rules: 18 in minimum, 1 fish; season last Sat. April - Aug. 14.

Reach	Tackle	Season	Notes
Salmon Trout River (Marquette County)	general	Trout season	Brook Trout Restoration Area rules: 18 in minimum, 1 fish; season last Sat. April - Aug. 14.