Ultimate Lake Michigan King Salmon Fishing Showdown

Chasing Kings: Salmon Fishing on Lake Michigan

There’s a moment when you hook into a King Salmon, and the world stands still. Then, chaos erupts. The reel screams, your arms tense, and adrenaline surges. This is the battle every angler lives for.

In this episode of Lund’s Ultimate Fishing Experience, we join Nick Nault and his dad, Gary, seasoned guides from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Their usual stomping grounds? Chasing walleye and smallmouth bass in Green Bay. But today, the hunt is on for the silver torpedoes of Lake Michigan—King Salmon. And the action is on fire.

The Early Bite and the Offshore Chase

Normally, the salmon bite ramps up in late June, but an unseasonably warm spring has brought the action early. The Naults push five miles offshore to the steeply breaking Bank Reef, where the currents stir up baitfish, drawing the kings into a feeding frenzy.

With ten lines in the water, they run a strategic spread—downriggers deep, Dipsy divers cutting through the mid-column, and planer boards keeping high-riding baits in the mix. It’s a waiting game, but not for long.

“There’s one!” Nick shouts. The reel shrieks. A steelhead rockets skyward, flipping wildly. The battle is on. His dad works the rod like a pro, bringing the shimmering fish boatside. First fish in the box, and the day is just getting started.

Fire Drills and Fumbling Fish

With the sun climbing, the kings turn aggressive. Suddenly—double hookup! Lines cross, fish dart, the boat rocks with movement. It’s pandemonium.

“This one’s not happy with us,” Nick mutters, his rod buckling under the power of a big king.

“You want me to drive?” Gary asks, sensing the chaos brewing.

“Turn us a little, we’ve got a boat moving in!”

The battle rages. One fish spits the hook, but the other—a brute—makes it boatside. The net slips under, and with a collective heave, the salmon hits the deck. “That’s a 20-pounder easy!” Nick grins. “That’s what we came for.”

Strategy Shift: Finding the Pattern

Not every fish makes it to the box. Some spit hooks, others wrap lines into hopeless tangles. But patterns emerge. Every caught fish has come on either a flasher-and-fly combo or a spoon. The kings are feeding higher than expected, around 20 feet down.

“We’re bringing the downriggers up, adjusting the divers,” Nick says. “They’re telling us where they want to be—we just have to listen.”

The adjustments pay off. Another double hookup. Then another. Steelhead, small kings, and bruisers all join the tally.

The Final Battle

As the day wanes, one last rod buckles violently. Line peels off the reel in a furious run.

“This one’s got energy,” Gary grunts, struggling to turn the fish.

“Don’t lose him! We need this one!” Nick shouts, net in hand. The fish surges, cutting left, then right, weaving through the spread. It’s chaos. And then—

“Got him!”

A final lift, and a massive king comes aboard. Cheers echo across the deck. The box is full. The battle is won.

Why the Lund 2175 Pro-V Stands Tall

Between the net fumbles and fire drills, one thing stands out—this Lund 2175 Pro-V is built for battle. The IPS hull slices through chop, the massive deck offers elbow room for multi-rod chaos, and the SportTrak system keeps gear locked in without a single drilled hole. For both walleye jigging and big-water trolling, it’s the ultimate workhorse.

The Magic of King Salmon Fishing

Not every trip gifts you with a 20-pound king. Not every hookup makes it to the net. But that’s the magic. The uncertainty. The heart-pounding fights. The screaming reels. It’s what keeps anglers coming back, time and time again.

Today, the Naults conquered the kings of Lake Michigan. Tomorrow? The adventure continues.

So, are you ready to chase your own silver torpedo?