Superior Country is home to many great fisheries, the Nipigon River is among the most popular. The river is a great place to fish because of its location, the variety of fish that live in it, and its history. One of the most favored fish species in the river (aside from the Brook Trout) is Salmon. Chinook Salmon, Pink Salmon, and Coho Salmon are the three main types of salmon that live in the Nipigon River. Even though they aren’t native to the Great Lakes, they were brought there and became naturalized. They now spawn in the river, and the salmon run happens in the fall. However, these species can be found year round in the river.
All three of these species share the same genus, Oncorhynchus. This indicates they’re in the Salmonidae family. Their specific species name is what differentiates them. The Chinook Salmon is the Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha. The Pink Salmon is known as Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha, and the Coho Salmon being Oncorhynchus Kisutch.
Once they’ve returned to their original origin area of birth, Salmon will spawn. People usually spawn in the fall, but it can happen earlier or later depending on the number of fish in the tributary and the temperature of the water. They will dig a redd at the bottom of the stream or river and lay thousands of eggs inside it. The male will then release his sperm, and both will guard the nesting site. They give off a huge amount of energy as they move to their spawning site, spawn, and protect their nest. This is why shortly afterwards, they’ll die, even before their eggs hatch.
Once they’re born Salmon juveniles stay in closer range of their tributary within the Great Lakes. Then, they’ll span their range and swim all throughout where they’ll mature. Maturing to their spawning age can take anywhere from 3-5 years, depending on the specific species. Within this time, they will have travelled far and wide. When spawning season comes around, they start the long journey back to where they first hatched to avoid their own spawning habits. Also, they move around a lot during their lives, from living in a stream or river to living in the Great Lakes and back to the stream or river where they started.
As juveniles, Salmon will feed on aquatic insects and invertebrates. Once larger and matured, their diet will consists mainly of smaller/juvenile fish.
With its cold, deep waters and ample food supply Lake Superior has become a prime habitat for salmonids over the past few decades. But many anglers wonder – are there actually salmon in Lake Superior today? And if so how did they get there?
Yes, many types of salmon now live and reproduce in Lake Superior thanks to efforts that began in the 1960s and 1970s to stock the lake with fish. Let’s look more closely at how salmon fishing has changed over time and how it works now in Lake Superior.
A Brief History of Salmon in Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. With its massive volume and frigid waters, this inland sea provides an ideal environment for cold water fish species like trout and salmon
But salmon are not native to the lake. Populations of Pacific salmon like chinook, coho, and pink salmon were introduced through stocking programs carried out by state agencies around Lake Superior in the 1960s through the 1980s.
Early Stocking Efforts
The first salmon to be put into Lake Superior were coho, which were brought there in 1966. Stocking of coho continued periodically until 1972.
Chinook salmon stocking started in 1974 and went on every year for more than 30 years, ending in 2006. During this time, over 25 million chinook salmon were stocked into Lake Superior.
Pink salmon were also sporadically stocked from 1985 to 1995, with approximately 550,000 fish introduced.
Natural Reproduction Takes Hold
While salmon stocking was phased out by the early 2000s, these introduced fish had already begun reproducing naturally. Spawning populations became established in cold tributaries around the lake.
Wild reproduction now sustains Lake Superior’s salmon fishery rather than continued stocking. Self-sustaining populations of chinook, coho, and pink salmon now inhabit the cold waters of Lake Superior and its tributaries.
Salmon Fishing Today in Lake Superior
Thanks to a combination of intentional stocking and successful natural reproduction, salmon fishing in Lake Superior is now very productive. Let’s look at the state of each salmon species in the modern Lake Superior fishery.
Chinook Salmon
Also known as king salmon, chinook are the largest salmon species inhabiting Lake Superior. They commonly reach 20+ pounds, with trophy fish over 30 pounds caught each year. Their large size and fighting ability make them a favored target of anglers.
Summer and fall are the best times to target chinook salmon in Lake Superior. These salmon can be found dispersed across the open waters of the lake during summer months, while mature fish migrate back to tributary rivers in fall to spawn.
Coho Salmon
Though smaller than chinook salmon, coho are also a popular game fish reaching upwards of 10 pounds. They offer great fun on light tackle.
Coho salmon have a three-year lifecycle in Lake Superior. They spend summers feeding in the open lake before making spawning runs into tributaries in late September and October. Target them in rivers during fall or troll for them in open water in summer.
Pink Salmon
Pink salmon are the smallest and most elusive salmon variety in Lake Superior. They follow a similar pattern to coho, spawning in fall and spending summers dispersed across the lake.
Less abundant than other salmon species, pink salmon are an incidental bonus catch for anglers targeting chinook and coho. They average just 3-5 pounds.
Outlook for the Future
While salmon are not native to Lake Superior, stocking efforts succeeded in establishing thriving populations that now reproduce naturally. These introduced salmon have created a popular fishery that draws anglers from across the region.
Thanks to suitable habitat and forage, Lake Superior should continue providing excellent salmon fishing opportunities into the future. Careful monitoring and management will be needed to maintain balance between predator and prey populations.
But for now, salmon fishing remains productive lakewide. Lake Superior has proven an ideal home for Pacific salmon, allowing both anglers and the fish themselves to reap the benefits of a successful introduction.
Fishing for Lake Superior Salmon
Ready to catch your own Lake Superior salmon? Here are some tips:
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Target river mouths in spring and fall when fish are migrating.
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Troll with spoons, plugs and flies over open water in summer. Look for temperature breaks.
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Use heavier tackle – these fish put up a great fight!
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Check regulations – daily limits exist for each salmon species.
So if you love fishing for hard-fighting salmon, Lake Superior offers a world-class destination right in the heartland of North America. Experience the thrill of hooking into a brute chinook or acrobatic coho in the crystal clear waters of the world’s largest lake. The salmon fishing is definitely superior on Lake Superior!
Key Facts
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Pacific salmon were first introduced from 1966 to early 1970s
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25+ million chinook salmon stocked between 1974-2006
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Natural reproduction now sustains populations, no ongoing stocking
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Chinook, coho, and pink salmon all inhabit Lake Superior currently
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Best fishing in tributaries during spring and fall spawning runs
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Open water trolling productive in summer months
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Salmon fishing a major draw for anglers around the region
Common Baits & Lures
Chinook Salmon: Chinnys are very sensitive to light, so you don’t often see them feeding on the surface. Most anglers down rig for Salmon in general, but Chinnys especially. A lot of people use plugs and spoons as lures when they go downrigging or even just trolling for them. Baiting with salmon eggs or live bait is a favored tactic as well.
Pink Salmon – Personally speaking, I’ve caught Pinks on all sorts of lures and bait variations. I never target the species but in the fall always catch dozens. I usually use flashy plus in bright orange or red at this time of year, but I’ve also seen them take spoons, jig heads with twister tails, and worms. From what I’ve seen, they’ll eat anything you give them.
The Coho Salmon is different from the Chinny Salmon because it feeds near the surface because it is not as sensitive to light. In some ways, this makes them easier to catch, but in general, they are a little harder to catch in the fall because they eat less. Don’t let this scare you away from them; they are very territorial; it’s all about where you put your lures. If they come close, they will hit them, so use rattle baits and spinners that make noise or flash to get their attention.
Chinook Salmon – Chinnys encompass a blue/green back with silver sides and a white underbelly. They have black spotted tails, these spots are also visible on their higher back as well. A key identifying feature of Chinnys are their black mouths and gums.
Pink Salmon—Pinks are, well, pink! This species lives in many places and has different traits depending on where it lives. The ones that live in the Nipigon River don’t get very big, and during the fall salmon run, they have a very noticeable pink tint to the side of their bodies. Along with the pink hue they have a darker back, often green/brown. They have larger black spots on their backs and on their forked tails.
Coho Salmon: Coho salmon are thinner than Chinny salmon. Both are deep-bodied, but the coho is smaller. They also have a blue/green back with silver sides and a white underbelly. Chinnys have spots all over their tails, but Coho’s only have spots on the upper lobe. This is the main difference between the two species. Also, the Cohos mouth is dark with light grey gums, rather than all black like the Chinny.
Trolling for Salmon on the North Shore of Lake Superior!
FAQ
Do any of the Great Lakes have salmon?
Are coho salmon stocked in Lake Superior?
Does Minnesota have salmon?
What kind of fish are in Lake Superior?
Can you catch salmon on Lake Superior?
Salmon Fishing on Lake Superior is quite a journey. Today, catching a wild Salmon on the lake is all but guaranteed, but that wasn’t always the case. The different Salmon varieties have been stocked in the Big Lake for a long time, and we can now see the success these initiatives have had.
What kind of fish live in Lake Superior?
All feed in the big lake until they reach sexual maturity. In the fall, all three species swim up rivers to spawn and die, completing their life cycle. The largest salmon is the Chinook Salmon, also called King salmon, which grows to over 10 pounds in Lake Superior, though most catches are around 3 to 4 pounds.
Is Lake Superior a good place to eat salmon?
Lake Superior’s waters are cold, clear and very deep. This is the perfect environment for Salmon to thrive. The salmon fishery is unparalleled. Chinook salmon, coho and pink salmon are all abundant in Lake Superior. Pink salmon were actually first introduced into Lake Superior and have now spread to all the other great lakes.
Can You Fish Lake Superior?
You can fish Lake Superior, it’s tributaries or inland lakes and streams. Catch lake trout and a variety of salmon on the big lake, trout and salmon in streams, and walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, perch and brook trout from inland lakes. See fish descriptions and a few tips on catching below. No boat? Don’t worry.