Michigan Steelhead: What the Salmon Are Telling Us Right Now

By Brian Szafran

The salmon are starting to get everyone’s attention.

And for good reason.

Late August is when Lake Michigan starts getting interesting. The Chinook bite is getting stronger, bait is becoming an important part of the picture, and fish are beginning to make decisions about where they’re going as summer starts giving way to fall.

But I’ve been looking at it a little differently.

What are the salmon telling us about the steelhead?

I’m not saying steelhead are going to follow the salmon into the rivers tomorrow.

They won’t.

I’m also not saying that every steelhead in Lake Michigan is getting ready to make the same move.

They aren’t.

What I am saying is that when the salmon start changing their behavior, I start paying closer attention to everything else happening in the lake.

And that includes steelhead.

Right now, steelhead are still part of the offshore trolling picture. That’s important because a lot of anglers see the salmon beginning their fall transition and immediately start thinking about the rivers.

I’m not there yet.

I’m thinking about the fish that are still in the lake.

The Salmon Are a Clue—Not a Blueprint

This is where I think anglers can easily get the wrong idea.

You see salmon beginning to stage.

You hear about fish getting closer to the rivers.

You see more anglers talking about the fall run.

And it’s tempting to think the steelhead are going to do exactly the same thing next.

I don’t look at it that way.

The salmon are a clue.

They’re telling us the system is changing.

They’re responding to changing water conditions, food, temperature, daylight and the time of year.

Steelhead are living in that same environment.

But that doesn’t mean they’re going to react in exactly the same way.

They may use different water.

They may be looking for different food.

They may be positioned at a completely different depth.

And they may be on a different schedule.

That’s why I don’t want to fish for steelhead based entirely on what the salmon are doing.

I want to use the salmon to make me look harder.

That’s a big difference.

Don’t Leave the Lake Too Early

This is probably the biggest thing I’d want another angler to think about.

When salmon begin moving toward the rivers, there’s a natural tendency to think the lake portion of the game is coming to an end.

But it isn’t.

Not yet.

There are still steelhead in the lake.

They’re still feeding.

They’re still responding to bait and water temperature.

And they’re still being caught by anglers who are out trolling.

That’s important because it changes the question.

Instead of asking:

“When are the steelhead going to run?”

I’d ask:

“What are the steelhead doing right now?”

That’s a much more interesting question.

Because if you’re willing to keep looking at the lake while everyone else is already thinking about the river, you may notice things that other anglers aren’t paying attention to.

The Water Column May Be More Important Than the Calendar

One of the things I find interesting about the current steelhead picture is that they’re not necessarily sitting in one predictable part of the water column.

That’s something I want to pay attention to.

If the fish are high, there’s a reason.

If they’re deeper, there’s a reason.

If they’re suspended, there’s a reason.

The mistake is deciding ahead of time where the steelhead should be and then building the entire trolling spread around that assumption.

I’d rather start with what the lake is telling me.

Water temperature is part of that.

Bait is part of it.

Depth is part of it.

Time of day is part of it.

And then there’s the weather.

All of those pieces can change where the fish want to be.

The calendar doesn’t.

Don’t Assume the Steelhead Have the Same Plan as the Salmon

This is where I think the real twist comes into the article.

The salmon may be moving toward their next destination.

That doesn’t mean the steelhead are.

At least not yet.

A steelhead may be more interested in the bait in front of it than the river behind it.

That sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget when everybody starts talking about the fall run.

We’re looking at the calendar.

We’re looking at the salmon.

We’re thinking about what’s coming next.

Meanwhile, the steelhead may simply be thinking:

“There’s food right here.”

And if the food is there, why would I expect the fish to leave just because the salmon have started moving?

That’s the question I’d keep in the back of my mind.

Bait Is One of the Biggest Clues

If I’m trolling Lake Michigan right now, bait would be one of the first things I’d want to understand.

Not just whether bait is present.

Where is it?

Is it concentrated?

Is it shallow?

Is it suspended?

Is it near a temperature change?

Is it moving?

Are the fish around it?

Those questions matter.

Because a map can tell you where the structure is.

The calendar can tell you what month it is.

But bait can tell you why fish are sitting somewhere right now.

That’s why I don’t want to make a blanket statement like, “Steelhead should be in this depth in late August.”

Maybe they are.

Maybe they aren’t.

I’d rather find out where the bait is and see what the fish are doing around it.

The First Steelhead Can Be More Important Than the First Big Run

This is another thing I think gets overlooked.

An angler catches a steelhead in late August and somebody says:

“It’s too early.”

Maybe.

But I don’t want to dismiss that fish.

I’d want to know why it was there.

What was the water doing?

What was the bait doing?

What was the weather doing?

What depth was the fish using?

Was there a temperature change?

Was it near other species?

Was it in an area that had been productive for several days?

One steelhead doesn’t mean the run has started.

But one steelhead can still be a clue.

If you start seeing the same thing happen repeatedly, now you’ve got something worth paying attention to.

Lake Michigan at sunset, rods set and ready. The salmon may be getting the attention right now, but there are still steelhead out there—and what the salmon are doing could be giving us clues about what comes next. 🎣

I Would Rather Be Early Than Late

I’m not talking about racing to the river.

I’m talking about being mentally ready for the change.

There’s a difference.

I don’t need somebody to announce that steelhead season has officially started before I start watching the conditions.

I’d rather be looking at the water before the fish make the move.

Because once everyone agrees the run is happening, the fish have already made their decision.

I’d rather understand the conditions that caused the decision.

That’s where I think anglers can get an advantage.

Weather Could Change Everything

Late August can make you think the fishing is going to stay the same for another month.

Then a cold front comes through.

Or a strong wind changes the lake.

Or several cooler nights arrive.

Or a significant rain changes a river system.

Suddenly the conditions are different.

And fish respond.

That’s why I don’t like putting a date on the steelhead transition.

The fish aren’t looking at September 1.

They’re responding to what’s happening around them.

Maybe the transition starts slowly.

Maybe it happens quickly.

Maybe one part of the lake changes while another doesn’t.

That’s exactly why I’d rather watch the conditions than follow a calendar.

This Is Where Trolling Becomes More Than Dragging Spoons

I think trolling gets a bad rap sometimes.

People act like you’re simply dragging lures around until something bites.

That’s not how I look at it.

At least not when I’m trying to figure fish out.

Every pass gives you information.

Depth.

Speed.

Direction.

Temperature.

Bait.

Fish location.

What presentation produced.

What presentation didn’t.

If you’re paying attention, you’re building a picture.

And that’s particularly important right now because the lake is changing.

I don’t want to run six lines at the same depth simply because that’s where I caught fish yesterday.

I’d rather use the spread to figure out what’s happening.

Put some information in front of the fish.

See what they respond to.

Then adjust.

Don’t Be Afraid to Change the Spread

This is where having different spoons becomes useful.

I’m not a believer in carrying one “magic” spoon and expecting it to solve every situation.

If the fish are active, maybe they want something bright.

Maybe they want something subtle.

Maybe they want a larger profile.

Maybe they want something smaller.

Maybe they want a completely different action.

And that’s why I like having choices.

The current Lake Michigan salmon bite is producing fish on different presentations, with spoons remaining a major part of the trolling game.

But I wouldn’t interpret that as “use this one spoon.”

I’d interpret it as:

Keep changing until the fish tell you what they want.

What I Would Watch Right Now

If I were getting ready for the next few weeks of Lake Michigan steelhead fishing, I’d be watching several things.

Water temperature would be high on the list.

I’d watch the bait.

I’d pay attention to wind direction.

I’d watch weather changes.

I’d watch where salmon are being caught.

And I’d pay attention whenever steelhead show up in the catch.

I’m not looking for one magic sign.

I’m looking for several things to start lining up.

That’s when I get interested.

One clue doesn’t tell me much.

Several clues pointing in the same direction are different.

Don’t Confuse Salmon Activity With Steelhead Activity

This is worth saying one more time.

Salmon activity does not automatically mean steelhead activity.

A salmon report is not a steelhead report.

If you’re targeting steelhead, you still have to figure out steelhead.

But the salmon can tell you something about the environment.

That’s the twist.

I’m not trying to copy the salmon.

I’m trying to understand what their movement tells me about the lake.

And if the lake is beginning to transition, I want to know what the steelhead are doing before that transition becomes obvious to everybody.

The Lake May Be Giving You a Head Start

That’s probably the best way I can describe how I’m looking at this right now.

The salmon are getting the attention.

That’s understandable.

But while everyone is watching the salmon, there are still steelhead out there.

They’re still feeding.

They’re still moving.

They’re still responding to the conditions.

And some are still being caught by anglers trolling the lake.

That means the steelhead story isn’t over.

If anything, it’s getting more interesting.

Because we’re getting closer to the point where the conditions that eventually push fish toward the rivers begin to develop.

And I’d rather be watching that process than waiting for the finished product.

I Don’t Want to Chase Yesterday’s Fish

There’s one thing I really don’t like doing.

Chasing yesterday’s fish.

If the fish were in one depth yesterday, that doesn’t mean they’re going to be there today.

If a spoon worked yesterday morning, that doesn’t mean it’s the only spoon worth running today.

If the water changes, I want to change.

If the bait moves, I want to move.

If the fish move, I want to move with them.

That’s what makes trolling interesting to me.

You’re constantly gathering information.

The lake gives you something.

You make a decision.

Then the fish tell you whether you were right.

The Transition Is the Story

That’s really what I think the salmon are telling us right now.

They’re not telling us exactly where the steelhead are going.

They’re not telling us exactly when the steelhead will move.

They’re showing us that the lake is beginning to change.

And that’s enough.

The days are getting shorter.

Water conditions are changing.

Bait is important.

Salmon are beginning their seasonal movement.

Steelhead are still part of the lake fishery.

We’re getting closer to fall.

But we’re not there yet.

And that “not there yet” period is something I don’t want to overlook.

Because sometimes that’s when the most interesting fishing happens.

My Approach Right Now

If I were heading out to troll for steelhead right now, I wouldn’t start the day assuming I already knew where the fish were.

I’d use my electronics to understand the water.

I’d look for bait.

I’d pay attention to temperature.

I’d vary my depth.

I’d keep different spoon profiles and finishes available.

I’d watch what the salmon are doing.

But I wouldn’t automatically follow them.

I’d let the steelhead tell me what they wanted.

And if I found them doing something unexpected, I’d pay even more attention.

Because unexpected fish are often the ones that teach you something.

The Salmon May Be Telling Us to Start Looking

That’s where I land on all of this.

I don’t think the salmon are telling us the steelhead run is here.

I don’t think they’re telling us to abandon Lake Michigan and head for the rivers.

And I don’t think steelhead are going to follow the salmon’s schedule.

What I think they’re telling us is something much more useful:

It’s time to start looking.

The system is changing.

The fish are responding.

The transition toward fall is beginning.

And somewhere in that transition are the clues that will tell us what the steelhead are going to do next.

You just have to pay attention.

My Go-To Gear

I don’t believe in having one magic setup for Lake Michigan steelhead.

I want enough versatility to adjust to the fish, the depth and the conditions.

🎣 St. Croix Great Lakes Trolling Rod

A trolling rod I’d want when I’m covering water and changing presentations throughout the day.

🎣 Shimano Tekota 300 Line Counter Reel

A line-counter reel I’d want when controlling trolling depth and keeping my presentations consistent matters.

🎣 PowerPro Super Slick V2 Braided Line

A braid option I’d have available when line control and sensitivity matter while trolling.

🎣 Seaguar Fluorocarbon Leader

A leader I’d keep available when I want a more subtle connection between my main line and presentation.

🎣 Pro King Holographic Fishing Spoons

Having several finishes available gives me options when the fish aren’t responding to the first presentation I’m showing them.

🎣 Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 Fishfinder/GPS

The electronics I’d use to help me understand depth, bait, temperature changes and where the fish are actually positioned instead of guessing.

Final Thought

I don’t think the salmon are telling us that the steelhead run is here.

I think they’re telling us something more useful.

The system is changing.

The salmon are beginning to make their seasonal move.

The water is changing.

The bait is changing.

And steelhead are still part of the picture.

That doesn’t mean I’d follow the salmon blindly.

It doesn’t mean I’d abandon the lake.

And it doesn’t mean every steelhead in Lake Michigan is about to make the same move.

It means I’d start paying attention.

I’d watch the water.

I’d watch the bait.

I’d watch the weather.

I’d watch the salmon.

And then I’d let the steelhead tell me what comes next.

Because maybe the salmon aren’t telling us where the steelhead are going.

Maybe they’re simply telling us it’s time to start looking.