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 May 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 May

Eggs in the drift

In May the drift carries white and longnose sucker, redhorse sucker and steelhead eggs, with white and longnose sucker and redhorse sucker at peak. Spawning follows water temperature rather than the hatch offset, so these months do not shift.

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
May
Peak
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
May
Peak
Colors to fish
Pale Yellow, Light Gold, Cream
Hooks
#12–14
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
May
Drifting
Colors to fish
Apricot, Peach, Pale Yellow, Oregon Cheese, Light Pink
Hooks
#10–14
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
May
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
May
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Oregon Cheese, Pale Yellow, Apricot
Hooks
#10–12
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
May
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold
Hooks
#12–16

Egg source	Months	May	Colors to fish	Hooks
White and longnose sucker eggsTie on Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Peak	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	Peak	Pale Yellow, Light Gold, Cream	#12–14
Steelhead eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Drifting	Apricot, Peach, Pale Yellow, Oregon Cheese, Light Pink	#10–14
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
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

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.