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The goal of this page is to provide frequent updates on the fishing conditions in the St. Mary’s River around Sault Ste. Marie throughout the prime salmon fishing season. Updates will begin in mid May of each year and continue through August. Clients are encouraged to submit feedback on their trips in the form of pictures or a description of their fishing experience. Check back frequently for updated fishing reports from the St. Mary's River in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Note: Be aware that this page may take several minutes to load due to the number of pictures. General Comments: Help do your part to protect and enhance the fishery on the world-class St. Mary’s River system! There are many ways to help promote conservation in order to create better fishing opportunities for everyone. Get acquainted with the practices of catch and release and selective harvest. Many fishermen do not have the discipline or the mindset to practice catch and release and selective harvest, which are two effective methods of protecting breeding fish, supporting healthy, growing, and sustainable fish populations, allowing for the growth and development of trophy fish, and ensuring that there are ample angling opportunities for future generations. To learn more about catch and release and selective harvest, contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources or Captain Travis White at the St. Mary’s Guide Company. Not every fish has to end up on the dinner table. The experience, memories, and pictures alone certainly justify this great American pastime! November 22-24, 2009 Weather Conditions: This fall has proven to be unusually mild. There has been very little precipitation since late October. Temperatures during the past couple of weeks have ranged from lows in the mid 20's to highs around 50F. Water Temp: 45-46F Fish Species Present: Atlantic Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, Whitefish
Fishing Report: The pacific salmon runs have tapered off, leaving behind many decaying, nutrient-rich carcasses and the promise of a future generation that will hopefully grace the St. Mary's River in some four years from now. The 2009 salmon run was significantly inferior to the runs seen in the past several years. The number of mature fish that made it to the gravel this year was not so encouraging. This season was the first ever here on the St. Mary's River that relied entirely upon the survival and successful reproduction of our Kings, as the MDNR discontinued the St. Mary's River stocking program in 2005. There appeared to be good numbers of fish moving up the river throughout August, but fishing pressure seemed to take its toll on the population, and there were not many fresh arrivals during September to replenish the stock. One can only hope that the Kings had a successful spawning season and that the future years see better returns. The Atlantic salmon are currently occupying the prime gravel, though in the past, their spawning efforts have resulted in very little, if any, natural reproduction. This lack of successful reproduction has been associated with a thiamine deficiency in the adults as a result of their forage preferences in the Great Lakes. The LSSU Aquatic Research Laboratory is currently researching this ongoing issue. Some steelhead are currently present in the river, and it is also likely that there are a few Lake Trout and Coho's around. Additionally, there appear to be good numbers of whitefish near the Edison Soo Hydroelectric Plant. These species will be present throughout the winter as well as into the early spring. Pics:
 
 
August 20- August 28, 2009 Weather Conditions: This past week has seen cooler temperatures with highs in the upper 60's and lows in the upper 40's. Skies have been predominantly overcast, and some precipitation has fallen. Water Temp: 63-66F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Smelt Fish Species Present: Atlantic Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon
Fishing Report: The Chinook Salmon fishing has been hot! The run is well underway, and fresh fish are showing up every day. It appears that the average size of this year's Kings is a couple pounds greater than that of last year's fish. Mornings and evenings have been most productive. Some Atlantics are still being caught, but the Atlantics are now more of an exception than the norm. A few Steelhead have also been caught during the past two weeks. Thus far, there do not appear to be significant numbers of Pink Salmon in the river. If you are considering booking a trip this fall, please keep in mind that bookings will be limited to weekends only after August 31st. Book soon to guarantee availability! Pics:
 
 
 
August 11- August 19, 2009 Weather Conditions: Our week of summer weather has come and gone. Temperatures reached up into the mid 80's this past week and were accompanied by mostly clear skies. A couple thunderstorms crashed through the area this past week, bringing some much needed precipitation. Temperatures for the next week are expected to return to normal ranges. Water Temp: 64-67F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Smelt Fish Species Present: Atlantic Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon
Fishing Report: The Atlantic Salmon fishery has slowed down significantly. Fish continue to feed on smelt on top during low-light conditions (most heavily at sunset), but targeting this species has become quite frustrating. Atlantics are still hitting flies, but catching one requires a great deal of perseverance. Trolling has lost its effectiveness, and casting seems to be the only way to entice strikes. The depreciation of this fishery has been accompanied by the onset of the pacific salmon runs. Kings are now moving into the river system and are looking quite healthy. Fish up to twenty pounds have already been taken! Contrary to last year's run, these fish are well built and are providing some reel screaming runs on light spinning tackle. There are not enough fish around at this time to specifically target Kings on the fly, but continue checking this report for updates. This fall, the St. Mary's Guide Co. will be working hard on developing a fly casting program for Kings, Pinks, Cohos, and Steelhead. If you are considering booking a trip this fall, please keep in mind that bookings will be limited to weekends only after August 31st. Pics:
 
 
 
 
August 1- August 10, 2009Weather Conditions: Weather has finally been seasonable. Air temperatures have ranged from lows in the 50's to highs in the upper 70's. Despite a few heavy showers, the past week has seen fair skies for a change. Water Temp: 62-64F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Smelt Fish Species Present: Atlantic Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon
Fishing Report: The Atlantic Salmon fishing appears to be holding up better than previously reported. Though the past two weeks have seen some tougher days, the fish are still actively feeding on smelt. Cast streamers have been particularly effective at imitating these smelt, and Atlantics have been breaking surface in pursuit of their favorite forage. This equates to some potentially great angling opportunities in the next week or two. The fishery will likely slow down soon, however, so it is advisable not to wait if you are still interested in pursuing Atlantics this season! Pics:
 
 
July 10- July 20, 2009 Weather Conditions: The weather has been relatively stable for the past couple of weeks. Temperatures have ranged from the low 60's to mid 70's for highs and have seen mid 40's to mid 50's for lows. Several days of strong and gusty winds gave the fish time to relax, though this trend did not last for long. Clear skies have returned to the region for the time being, though the anticipated fair weather for the upcoming week is expected to be short lived. Water Temp: 58-62F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Smelt, Sticklebacks, Caddis Flies, Mayflies, Stoneflies Fish Species Present: Atlantic Salmon, Whitefish, Herring Fishing Report: Our appologies to all of the frequent followers of this fishing report for the long gap between posts. The fishing this past couple of weeks has been awesome! There has been no better time to be on the water this season (hence the silence on this end of things), and our last several guests have been rewarded with some excellent catches. This past weekend, one determined guest caught and released one of the largest Atlantic Salmon seen this summer, while casting streamers of his own design. What a fight! The insect activity has finally become significant, and fishermen have been picking up whitefish and herring steadily. Pics:
 
 
 
 
July 2- July 9, 2009 Weather Conditions: Weather has been unpredictable. The past week has seen daytime highs ranging from the upper 50's to the upper 70's. Afternoons have been windy. Lows have been in the upper 40's to low 50's overnight. Dry conditions have prevailed for the past several days. Water Temp: 58-60F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Smelt, Caddis Flies Fish Species Present: Steelhead (Rainbow Trout), Atlantic Salmon, Whitefish
Fishing Report: Fishing this past week has been some of the most rewarding of the season. It was a highly successful week for the St. Mary's Guide Co. and good catches were made by all of our guests. However, there were some difficult times these past few days, and the only option was perseverance. The shadfly hatch has come to a standstill, though we predict that this will resume once warmer weather returns to this region. The river has yet to see any major mayfly hatches, though some of the warmer waters have started producing fair numbers of small flies. Pics:
 
 
 
 
 
June 26- July 1, 2009 Weather Conditions: The weather this past week has been terrible! Daytime temperatures have been 15-20F below average temperatures for this time of year and have contended with record-low highs in parts of the Upper Peninsula, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A cold front stalled over the Eastern Upper Peninsula this past weekend and brought cold rain and cloudy conditions. This front was accompanied by a low and steady barometer. Moderate winds did nothing to make the weather any more pleasant. Water Temp: 50-57F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Smelt, Sticklebacks, Caddis Flies (sandy brown), Stoneflies (slate black), Mayflies (small and dark brown) Fish Species Present: Steelhead (Rainbow Trout), Atlantic Salmon, Whitefish
Fishing Report: Fishing has been tough. The latest cold front stalled fishing significantly, making hooking into anything other than a cold challenging. Every day saw at least some hookups, however, and a handful of nice fish have been taken. Despite a poor bite, fishing conditions have improved drastically since last week. Water temperatures warmed 7F this past week, and as the water reached mid 50's, a fresh pack of Atlantic Salmon sneaked up the river overnight Sunday. Caddis flies (locally called "shad flies") have started hatching in the river, and a few small mayflies and stoneflies have been seen. Significant hatches of larger mayflies are underway in some of the local bays, where water temps are much warmer than the surrounding river. Whitefish have been hitting well behind the Edison Plant. Caddis fly and larvae imitations have been working well. When stable weather returns, a hot bite is imminent. Pics:  
 
 
June 17-21, 2009 Weather Conditions: Weather has been seasonable. Temperatures have been in the mid 70's during afternoons and have dropped into the mid 50's during evenings. A few minor disturbances, in the form of brief and scattered rain showers, have passed through the region. Fog has been thick some mornings. This is most likely resultant from the increasing water temps and relatively cooler air temps in the early mornings. Water Temp: 49-52F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Smelt, Sticklebacks Fish Species Present: Steelhead (Rainbow Trout), Atlantic Salmon, Whitefish
Fishing Report: Fishing has been good. Recent catches include steelhead, Atlantics, and whitefish. The presence of whitefish behind the Edison Soo hydroelectric plant has been almost nonexistent this spring, but more whitefish are finally being caught. This is a good indication. However, fishing trends this spring and summer seem to be as much as two or three weeks late, in comparison to previous years. Hookups have been consistent this past week. On average, four to six fish have been hooked each evening during a two to three hour period of fishing. Saturday afternoon was perhaps the most productive fishing of the week. In less than two hours, five fish were hooked. During Saturday's fishing, one beautiful rainbow was boated in addition to two hefty Atlantic Salmon. All fish were taken on flies. During this excitement, a "double header" yielded one of the two Atlantics boated. The saying "dark flies for dark days/light flies for bright days" has certainly proven itself to be true this past week. There still do not appear to be any major concentrations of fresh salmon, though more seem to be showing up each day. Pics:  
 
 
June 11-13, 2009 Weather Conditions: Temperatures have finally been reaching into the lower 70's, and sunshine has been plentiful. A few isolated storm systems have moved through the region, bringing light rain and a few booms of thunder. Lows have been in the upper 40's at night. Winds have been light and variable. Water Temp: 48-49F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Smelt, Steelhead Roe, Caddis Larvae
Fish Species Present: Steelhead (Rainbow Trout), Atlantic Salmon Fishing Report: The fishing continues to get better and better. Friday was productive in the evening. During three hours of fishing, four out of five hooked fish were landed (two Atlantics and two Steelhead). Saturday evening was also rewarding. Despite scattered showers, fishing was steady. Two of six fish that bumped into our lines were boated during three hours of fishing (two Atlantics), while a third was "released" only a few yards from the boat (beautiful Steelhead). Both Steelhead and Atlantics have been taken on recent outings. More fish are showing up each day, and larger Atlantics are starting to be caught. The largest Atlantic taken this season, so far, measured 29" in length and just over 15" in girth. The estimated weight of this fish is nine pounds. It was released after pictures were taken. Pics:  
 
 
 June 6-9, 2009 Weather Conditions: The weather has been no different than it has been all spring. Cool temperatures, rain, and overcast conditions have prevailed on most occasions. Wind was predominately out of the Northwest for the latter part of this week, and it has been quite breezy. Air temps staggered between low 40's and mid 50's. As the adage goes, "when the wind comes from the north, no fishermen go forth". This was reaffirmed by the total lack of fishing pressure this weekend. Water Temp: 47-50F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Smelt, Midges, and Caddis larvae observed.
Fish Species Present: Steelhead (Rainbow Trout), Atlantic Salmon Fishing Report: The Atlantics are here! Friday's catch yielded the first new arrival Atlantics of the season, and good fishing prevailed both Saturday and Sunday. All Atlantics were taken on flies. An occasional rainbow was taken as well, although no Coho's were observed this week. The fishing will only continue to get better from here on out as the summer hopefully arrives. Pics:    
 
 June 1, 2009 Weather Conditions: Weather is still variable. The unpredictable, unstable nature of the weather as of lately has not really helped the fishing any, though it has not hurt either. Temps have ranged from lows in the mid 30's to highs in the low 50's. A few scattered showers have been encountered. Wind continues to prevail, making for some cold days on the water. Water Temp: 43-44F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Smelt and Midges observed. Caddis larvae suspected. Fish Species Present: Steelhead, Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon Fishing Report: Fishing has been somewhat more steady than last week. A mixed bag of Cohos, Atlantics, and Steelhead was taken on the latest outing. Several hookups on the latest outing with several nice fish brought into the boat. Pics:  
 
May 25, 2009 Weather Conditions: The weather has been unpredictable and disagreeable to say the least. Almost daily fronts bringing rain and strong winds. Temps have ranged from mid 40's to low 50's as a high and have dipped down into the upper 20's and low 30's as a low. The barometer has been jumping daily. Water Temp: 43-44F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Smelt and Midges observed. Caddis larvae suspected. Fish Species Present: Steelhead, Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon, Lake Trout Fishing Report: Fishing has been hit and miss. Some days have been good, while others have been slower. Catches continue to vary in species, sizes, and quantities. Fish have been caught on every outing, and overall, fishing remains steady, while fishing pressure is essentially none on the river at this time. Pics:  
May 23, 2009 Weather Conditions: Fair skies predominate over Norther Ontario, while mild and variable winds agitate the inland lakes. Temps range from lows in the mid 40's to highs in the low 60's. Water Temp: 55-57F Insect Activity/ Forage Present: Some midges hatching, dace, dragonfly larvae Fish Species Present: Brook Trout Fishing Report: What better way to celebrate the holiday weekend than to take a trip up north into the land of "Specs". The fishing was almost as slow as it gets, but the rewards of perseverance were great. Enjoy the pics of some truly trophy Brook Trout. Pics:  
 
May 18, 2009 Weather Conditions: The weather is finally stabilizing after a tough cold front that brought everything from gale force winds to a dusting of snow. However, there have been major fluctuations in the barometer within the past 72 hours. Today's conditions included ample sunshine and temperatures in the low 50's. The barometer read 30.3 at midday and began to gradually fall late this afternoon. Light southerly winds persisted throughout the morning and into the afternoon, becoming stronger in the afternoon. Water Temp: 41-42F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: None observed. Midges, caddis larvae, and smelt suspected. Fish Species Present: Steelhead, Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon Fishing Report: Fishing was slower than previous outings but was steady, nonetheless. Again, a mixed big of Cohos, Atlantics, and Steelhead was taken, comprised of equal proportions of each species. One of the Atlantics taken appears to be a fresh run fish. The steelhead are continuing to spawn, while the Cohos are sustaining their active feeding. Flies proved to be most productive. Pics:  
 May 11, 2009 Weather Conditions: Stable weather. Fair skies and light westerly winds. Steadily rising barometer sitting at 30.10. Air temps in the mid 50's. Water Temp: 41-42F Water Flow: 1/4 Gate Insect Activity/ Forage Present: None observed. Midges, caddis larvae, and smelt suspected. Fish Species Present: Steelhead, Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon Fishing Report: Fishing was steady. A mixed bag of Cohos, Atlantics, and Steelhead was taken. Pics:  
 
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2009 Fishing Report
