According to Capt. Dave Engle of Best Chance Too Charters in Saugatuk, the month of August produces some of the best salmon fishing of the year on Lake Michigan. Photo by Tracy Breen.

Fishing for salmon on Lake Michigan is a favorite pastime of many anglers in Michigan. There's something exciting -- perhaps even addictive -- about getting up before sunrise and heading offshore to reel in a few king salmon. This summer, heed the king's call and head for the water of Lake Michigan, but don't feel compelled to go about business as usual. This season, trade your spoon for a fly and experience some of the best summer salmon action in our state.

Captain Dave Engle from Best Chance Too Charters out of Saugatuck spends every day during the spring and summer on his boat. He runs charters for the "average Joe" and large companies and fishes tournaments all over the Great Lakes. In fact, Engle and his partner in crime, Bill Bale, have won tournaments in every state that borders Michigan. Engle and his team are among the superstars of Great Lakes salmon fishing. Engle extensively fishes the ports on the west coast of Michigan, and he holds a wealth of knowledge about catching salmon on flies during the summer.

According to Engle, August is the best month to be on the water. "Anglers can find good fishing all summer on Lake Michigan, but in August, the fishing can be phenomenal," Engle said. "Any port on the lake during that time can offer great salmon fishing.

"During the spring, the southern portion of the lake often offers better fishing. In the fall, the north end of the lake is usually better. In August, the lake is awesome everywhere. I would have to sit down and do the math, but in August, we get our limit 80 to 90 percent of the time every day because the fishing is so good. August is the month for trolling with flies."

THE MANISTEE PORT
In August, one of Engle's favorite ports is the Manistee Port. Renowned among salmon anglers, Manistee is characterized by a large ledge that attracts the salmon.

"I like fishing out of Manistee because it is very easy to catch fish there," Engle said. "It's also a great port for novice anglers. Salmon fishing doesn't get any easier than fishing the ledge in Manistee."

If you plan on fishing the ledge out of Manistee, it is about four miles offshore and runs north-south. Although Manistee is one of the most popular places to access the ledge, it isn't the only option for accessing the ledge.

"Anglers can access the ledge from Frankfort all the way down to Ludington," Engle advised. "There are several ports where the ledge can be accessed. When we fish out of Manistee, we find the ledge and fish between 50-150 feet of water. You will find that the water is about 50 feet deep forever, and then drops off to 150 feet. That area is a great place to troll with flies. Morning is usually the best time to fish the area. I usually fish right on top of the ledge if the water is cold, or off from it a bit if the water is warm. You can fish the ledge north or south like this for miles."

A variety of lure presentations will catch fish on Lake Michigan, but when trolling the ledge in August, Engle ties flies onto his line. "King salmon seem to really enjoy hitting flies in the late summer," he said. "Trolling flies are popular because the fish like them. The newer flies are durable and there is a wide variety of color variations so when one fly doesn't work, you have many options."