There are a number of factors anglers need to keep in mind and plan for when heading out on big water, such as the Great Lakes, to chase salmon. Plan properly and you can have a memorable outing. (Photo: Ross Robertson)
September 17, 2025
By Capt. Ross Robertson
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Whether you enjoy the sound of the reel’s drag screaming or the bounty of lean protein that salmon fishing on large bodies of water like the Great Lakes can produce, there are a lot of things to consider before you hit the water. These hard-pulling fish are just different and are as close to a saltwater fish as most of us will see in freshwater.
Here are 10 factors to keep in mind and prepare for before the boat leaves the slip on a salmon trip.
Speed The speed at which you troll is easily one of the most important aspects of salmon fishing on big water. Different presentations require different speeds to elicit the proper action. Diving depths of lures are also significantly affected by trolling speed. While most of us utilize speed over ground (SOG) shown on the GPS unit, those in the know also factor in underwater currents and the angle of the boat as variables that will impact the speed the lures are actually running below the water. This is why almost 100 percent of Great Lakes charter captains use a Fish Hawk speed and temp probe to be able to instantly see what their speed is below the surface where their lures actually are.
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The Fish Hawk is an invaluable tool for big water trolling as it can detect speed and temperature in the section of the water column where lures are being presented. (Photo: Ross Robertson) Clarity Using your eyes can be one of the best ways to eliminate water. When you see bright blue Caribbean like water, most likely there will be scant baitfish and the water will be cooler. Seeing water with a green tint typically means more life. A slight tint to the water means more plankton, which means more baitfish, which translates to more gamefish like salmon. While this is a rule of thumb, fish the conditions. Bodies of water like Lake Michigan are mostly blue water and the baitfish and salmon don’t have much of a choice. If you were to fish that same blue-ish water on Lake Ontario you would be in for a long, painful day because there is more green water in the system that the fish gravitate to.
Temperature If you fish a small inland lake most likely the water temp is within a few degrees on either the West or East side of the lake. On large bodies of water, it is not uncommon for the water to not only layer within the water column, but for it to change 20 or more degrees as the warm and cool water pockets are shifted around the lake by wind and currents. This is why using the same Fish Hawk probe that most rely on for speed is also equally important for temperature. Preferred temperature can fluctuate with different species and lakes themselves, but 45 to 55 degrees is often the window you want to look for when targeting salmon. Without a probe like the Fish Hawk , it’s hard to understand and impossible to see that just because you have a 70-degree surface temp, there can be a pocket of water that is 20 degrees cooler 30 or more feet below.
Leader Leader line can make a tremendous difference between catching and just going for a boat ride. Presentations like Dipsy Divers often require at least 10 feet of leader material to get bit, but leaders as long as 30 feet get significantly more bites most days. The same can be said for downriggers, make adjustments of putting the lure anywhere from 15 to 50 feet behind the ball. The type of line you use for leaders also really matters. Salmon are hard on gear and using a true fluorocarbon leader line will drastically reduce the number of breakoffs, hence cutting down on time spent re-tying. My preferred leader line is 20-pound P-Line Shinsei for most of my open water salmon fishing, but heavier line may be necessary.
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Time Salmon fishing is not for those who like to sleep in. First- and last-light bites are definitely the best of the day and setting up in the dark is almost mandatory on blue water fisheries like Lake Michigan. Once the sun is up, look to increase leader length and deploying planer boards to get lines away from the boat helps get additional bites.
In low-light conditions, using lures with a glow finish will increase the lure's visibility. (Photo: Ross Robertson) To Glow or No During the aforementioned early bite windows using UV glow lures typically will get significantly more bites. Remember the salmon are chasing schools of alewives or other larger baitfish and often come up and down significantly in the water column to score a meal. The more visibility your lures have, the more bites you are going to get. In higher light conditions, look to switch to silver or metallic finishes for a little flash to draw salmon in.
Diversify Most anglers think of spoons when they think of salmon fishing, and for a good reason. They have caught a lot of salmon. Like fishing for any other species, switching it up occasionally will get you more bites. Presentations like J Plug style baits work well in the late summer as salmon begin to stage near river mouths. Setups like a paddle and fly or cut bait often work well for getting bites when the fish seem sluggish.
Spoons, spoons and more spoons – salmon anglers can never have enough. They come in all kinds of colors, finishes and patterns – and are among the most consistent fish catchers you can find. (Photo: Ross Robertson) Get Deep When someone first gets into salmon fishing on large bodies of water, the first thing they realize is that they don’t have enough gear to get their lures deep enough at speeds in excess of 2 miles per hour. Presentations such as downriggers and Dipsy Divers are the best options to help get your lures to the preferred depth, but a few others should be explored.
Most of our lakes are cleaner than they have ever been and this causes fish to spook from the boat. Using the same type of planer boards walleye anglers use not only gets your presentation away from the boat, they allow you to cover more water and get more lines in the water. Presentations such as lead core , copper line and weighted steel line excel when used in conjunction with planer boards.
A J-Plug style bait can be a productive presentation late in the summer as the salmon shift into staging mode near mouths of rivers. (Photo: Ross Robertson) Connections Salmon will test your gear enough that you will find out who ties a bad knot in a hurry. Granny knots won’t do. Instead, use a San Diego jam knot to ensure a strong connection and get the full pound test out of your line. A poorly tied or wrong type of knot will quickly reduce the overall pound test of your line. The same goes for terminal tackle. Avoid cheap snap swivels or you will pay the price with breaking off much more expensive lures and diving devices.
Preparation The early bite often doesn’t last long and bite windows can be short for salmon, so being ready and able to execute during them is key. Simple things like having several nets with long handles is key. I prefer a Beckman net with a telescoping handle that extends to 9 feet. This allows me to net the fish as soon as possible, which can reduce the times a salmon charges the boat and gets into other lines.
Having additional rigs ready to go will increase your efficiency on the water, especially when the bite windows can change quickly. (Photo: In-Fisherman) Little things like having extra hooks and a pair of split ring pliers has saved many a trip. When you bend or break a hook on that hot lure, getting it back into service quickly is key. The same goes for leaders. Having a pool noodle wrapped with pre-tied leaders saves precious minutes and at the same time keeps you from getting lazy and fishing a worn leader. This is another reminder to not use regular fluorocarbon line, but a leader line like P-Line Shinsei . The difference is significant and can be felt and seen in your hand.
No doubt this list could be twice as long with additional details, but these 10 tips for your next you big water outing should get you started on the pathway to salmon success.
