Coho Season
By Judy Nugent
Pier fishermen from Indiana to Chicago know that early spring brings schools of Coho within casting range. In the southern most regions of Lake Michigan the young Coho come together in an annual migration.
States like Wisconsin and Michigan stock Coho in the spring in various Lake Michigan tributaries with the understanding that they will return in two years to spawn. In the past, Wisconsin use to stock nearly 400,000 yearlings. These fish are larger than fingerlings. According to Brad Eggold, DNR Lake Michigan Southeast Region fisheries supervisor, “Coho stocked in the spring average 10-14 fish per pound or 6-7 inch fish. Fingerlings are smaller at 18-20 a pound.” However, crowding in the hatcheries has forced the DNR to do more stocking of fingerlings. Where before they would stock 400,000 yearlings and 100,000 fingerlings, Eggold says now it is closer to 50/50. “Its too bad,” says Eggold, “because a RootRiver and Kewaunee study showed that the yearlings return at twice the rate.”
The current thinking is that the young, two year old Coho congregate near Indiana because they are foraging the alewives. Due to variables still not understood by the DNR, these two year old fish sometimes move up the Wisconsin shore and other springs move up the Michigan side. At this stage of their life cycle they are 1-3 pounds. By the end of the summer they can be as large as 20 pounds.
In the fall they head back to the individual river in which they were stocked. The mass migration and intermingling of Wisconsin and Michigan stocked fish is over as they head for specific streams. It is here that they die, ending a two year life cycle.
Since the 1970’s the DNR has noticed a patter in Coho harvest numbers. In years when the Chinook harvest is high, the Coho harvest is low. This is also true of other species. Says Eggold, “We see an inverse proportion. When Chinook are hot, the other fish aren’t targeted. The guys don’t go deep for Rainbows or hit the humps for Lake Trout.” Past charter boat harvests of Coho are as follows: 2000=27,000, ‘01=12,000, ’02=26,000, ‘03=13,000, and ‘04=20,000. It looks like the ’05 charter harvest should be around twelve to thirteen thousand. Regardless, since 1994 these have been above average and indicate a healthy fishery. On April 9th there is a stocking conference where it is expect there will be no changes to the current Coho management.
In April the fish will start their migration. The good news for anglers is that they can be caught near shore. Pier fishermen and boats can find school chasing after bait fish. Sometime the fish can be seen breeching the surface. Common fishing techniques include suspended worms under a bobber, suspended bait fish, or small spoons (usually 2/3 oz. green and silver or blue and silver Cleos; or small silver Krocodiles) with 6-8 pound line. Avoid fishing if your casts can’t get you beyond the “mud line.” Coho seem to avoid this murky water. Instead cast or use a boat to get just beyond the mud. Coho are looking for warmer waters near shore and will not be farther out in the lake.
With spring just around the corner, fishermen in Indiana and Chicago are already thinking of Coho. With any luck these fish will be heading up to Kenosha by April 15th.