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Michigan's Premier Half Day Salmon River Trip
- Published Date: July 17, 2025
- Fishing
- Brethren, MI, United States
- $250 - $600 price range
- Updated Date: August 29, 2025
Summary
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Salmon Action Shots
Exciting river boats ready for fishing adventure!
Exciting rainbow trout catch on the river!
Exciting smallmouth bass catch on the river!
Exciting Smoker Drifter boat ready for river fishing!
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Exciting trout catch on the fly in crystal-clear river waters!
Exciting brown trout catch on the river!
Exciting river fishing day under clear blue skies!
Exciting river boats ready for fishing adventure!
Exciting rainbow trout catch on the river!
Exciting smallmouth bass catch on the river!
Exciting Smoker Drifter boat ready for river fishing!
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Exciting trout catch on the fly in crystal-clear river waters!
Exciting brown trout catch on the river!
Exciting river fishing day under clear blue skies!
Exciting river boats ready for fishing adventure!
Exciting rainbow trout catch on the river!
Exciting smallmouth bass catch on the river!
Exciting Smoker Drifter boat ready for river fishing!
Reel in Salmon on the Scenic Manistee River
Ready for some world-class salmon fishing on one of Michigan's most picturesque rivers? Our Manistee River Half Day Salmon Trip is your ticket to an unforgettable angling adventure. Hop aboard our comfy 16' Smokercraft drift boat and let Captain Josh guide you to the hottest salmon spots. With room for just two anglers, you'll get personalized attention and plenty of elbow room to cast. Whether you're a fly fishing fanatic or prefer spinning gear, we've got you covered. All the tackle you need is included – just bring your Michigan fishing license and a good attitude!
What to Expect on the Water
Picture this: You're drifting quietly along the Manistee, surrounded by towering pines and colorful maples. The morning mist is just lifting off the water as Captain Josh points out a deep pool ahead. "There's a big chrome bullet hiding in there," he says with a grin. You make the perfect cast, and suddenly your rod doubles over. The fight is on! This is the kind of action you can expect on our half-day salmon trips. We run these popular outings from mid-August through the end of December, targeting the fall salmon run. Morning and evening slots are available to hit those prime feeding times. And don't worry if you're new to salmon fishing – Captain Josh will show you the ropes and have you hooking fish in no time.
Drift Boat Lowdown
Our 16' Smokercraft is the ultimate river ride for salmon fishing. These nimble boats let us access shallow riffles and tight spots where the big fish like to hide. The low sides make it easy to net your catch, and there's plenty of room to move around as you fight that trophy salmon. Captain Josh will handle all the rowing, positioning you perfectly for those money casts. And with just two anglers on board, you'll have tons of space to work your magic. No need to worry about tangled lines or crowded decks here!
Top Catches This Season
While we don't have specific customer reviews to share, our anglers have been absolutely crushing it on the Manistee this fall. We're seeing lots of 15-20 pound salmon coming to the net, with a few monsters pushing 30 pounds. One lucky angler even landed a 34-pounder last week – talk about a fish of a lifetime! The key is being in the right spot when these big boys are on the move, and that's where Captain Josh's local knowledge really shines.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Chum salmon are the stars of the show on our Manistee River trips. These powerful fish, also known as "dog salmon," are some of the hardest-fighting salmon you'll ever tangle with. They typically range from 7-18 pounds, but we see plenty of 20+ pounders each season. Chums make their spawning run up the Manistee from late summer through early winter, with peak action usually hitting in October and November. What makes chums so exciting to catch? For starters, they're absolute bulldogs when hooked. Expect blistering runs, acrobatic jumps, and general chaos until you finally slip the net under one. Their nickname comes from the canine-like teeth males develop during spawning – it's a wild sight! While not considered the best eating salmon, chums more than make up for it with their fighting spirit. And hey, if you do want to keep a few for the smoker, we can show you how to prepare them for the tastiest results.
Time to Book Your Spot
If heart-pounding salmon action in a stunning Michigan river setting sounds like your idea of a good time, don't wait to lock in your trip. Our Manistee River Half Day Salmon outings fill up fast, especially during peak season. Remember, we're only taking two anglers per trip, so you're guaranteed a personalized experience. Whether you're a seasoned salmon slayer or it's your first time chasing these silver torpedoes, Captain Josh will put you on the fish and make sure you have a blast. Grab your fishing buddy, pick a date, and get ready for some of the best salmon fishing Michigan has to offer. The Manistee is calling – time to answer!
Learn more about the specie
Chum Salmon
Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) Fish Description
The Chum Salmon is an underrated game fish that thrives in both fresh and saltwater. In the ocean, they are blue-green in color and have a silvery appearance (which helps them blend in the ocean), but when they are fully matured and return to freshwaters, they change to olive-green with pink stripes. Females change to brown-grey with a large dark horizontal bar. They eat a variety of prey such as small fishes, mollusks, and squids.
Interesting Facts about the Chum Salmon
- They are anadromous, meaning they mature in the sea then travel back to freshwaters to spawn.
- Matured male chum salmons develop their snouts into a hook-like shape called ‘kype’ and large canine teeth which they use to fight with other males. Females have kypes too but they’re less noticeable compared to males.
Size and Speed of the Chum Salmon
The chum salmon is medium size fish that averages 24 inches in length and between 9.7 to 22 lbs in weight. The world record for the chum salmon is 42 lbs and 44 inches. The average speed of chum salmon is 1-1.8 mph.
Habitat and Distribution of the Chum Salmon
Out of all the salmons, the chum salmons make the longest migration. They can travel up to 2000 miles from the ocean to the rivers where they were born to spawn. Spawning usually happens during fall, but sometimes it happens in late summer. The eggs will hatch in winter and the fries will hide under branches, water plants, and rocks to survive and feed. As they grow bigger, they become more adept at saltwater and slowly make their way to the oceans.
Their preferred depths in the ocean are usually around 42 feet but at night they swim near the surface, around 16 feet. The preferred temperatures of adult chum salmons are between 39.92 to 77.9°F. The chum salmon fry meanwhile prefers temperatures between 53.6 to 57.2°F.
Out of all the salmons in the Pacific, the chum salmon is the most distributed. They can be found throughout the North Pacific Ocean to the Arctic coasts of Canada. Fishing spots for chum salmons are located in Stave River, Harrison River, Chilliwack River, Puget Sound, Yaquina Bay, Oregon, the West Coast, and throughout Alaska.
How to Catch Chum Salmon
Anglers love fly fishing chum salmons in their prime, they can give you a tough battle and they’re also good to eat. One of the most preferred methods is through sight casting. They are said to be pretty easy to catch but they’re also easy to spook. So don’t cast your line right in the middle of the school or an individual. Just cast your line a few feet off the edge from the school. In the ocean, make sure to set your gear to depths of 15-40 feet.
The recommended gear for chum salmon fly fishing is a 7-9 weight fly rod with a full floating line or semi-floating. The mainline should be between 20-25lb combined with a 15-20lb monofilament leader. A clicker reel is more reliable but a drag reel will also be fine. Use a weight of ½ to 2 oz to reach the desired depth.
For the lures, use chartreuse-colored flies to capture the attention of the fish. Other colors such as pink and purple have been reportedly successful too. For baits, what anglers usually use are prawns.
About the Smoker drifter
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Vehicle Guest Capacity: 3
Manufacturer Name: Mercury
Maximum Cruising Speed: 5
Number of Engines: 1
Horsepower per Engine: 6
