First Week 2026 of August Salmon - Grand Haven and Muskegon

This is more of an update than a specific report. But I got out twice for kings this week with 2 different fishing methods. I'm pleased to report that I caught my first jigging fish of the year in Muskegon. This is the warning to be ready because salmon fever is going down soon!

However it was a totally different deal than the fish staging to run. These were fish that were actively feeding on alewives. They were in tight because of a lake flip and they were on the bait. I was around the pierheads and there were 2 different temperatures of water. Warm from Muskegon Lake on top and cold from the flip on the bottom. You can see in the picture how the alewives didn't want to leave that top layer of warm water (unless a salmon was slashing through). I caught both kings and cohos and had a good test run on the new P-Line colors. Glow/UV wonderbread red head was getting bit!

I also got out for an incredibly quick trolling trip in Grand Haven. We stayed in less than 50 feet of water with a small spread in all the traffic. Riggers and plugs were the deal with all our bites. Which wasn't very many, we quit at 8 but I certainly expected a little faster action between the cold water and bait in tight.

Plugs and jigging mean one thing that they're coming. Don't wait until you hear about it next because it will be too late. Although there are enough fish in the system that every day will have opportunity once it starts. It's going to be a fun one!