If you’ve ever booked a salmon charter with Captain Eric Schippa out of the Saugatuck or South Haven port, you’ve probably heard the word “trolling” tossed around a lot. But what exactly does trolling for salmon on Lake Michigan mean, and what makes it such a successful technique for landing monster kings, cohos, and steelhead?

This blog is your inside look into the exact gear and strategy we use every day aboard our charter boat to help our guests experience the thrill of landing big salmon during the summer season. Whether you’re a curious first-timer or a seasoned angler looking to understand how we get it done, this guide covers it all — from the nuts and bolts of our trolling gear to the lures, spreads, and tactics that put fish in the box.

What Is Trolling?

At its core, trolling means pulling baited lines behind a slow-moving boat. For Lake Michigan salmon fishing, trolling is the go-to technique because it allows us to cover vast areas of water at various depths and present multiple lures at once. Unlike casting or jigging, trolling is a continuous method — we’re always moving, scanning, adjusting, and adapting until we find the bite.

With salmon constantly on the move, chasing baitfish like alewives and smelt, trolling lets us match their behavior — mimicking the movement and depth of natural prey.

The Charter Setup: Our Boat and Gear

When you step aboard with Captain Eric, you’re not just heading out on a boat ride — you’re stepping into a floating, fine-tuned fishing system. Our charter boat is equipped with a wide variety of specialized trolling gear, meticulously organized to give us maximum flexibility and coverage.

Here’s what a typical trolling spread looks like on our vessel:

🎣 Downriggers

These are the backbone of our deep-water trolling system.

• What They Are: Electric or manual winches that drop a heavy weight (called a cannonball) to a precise depth. A line clip attached to the weight holds your fishing line and lure.
• Why They Matter: They let us fish exact depths where sonar shows salmon are suspended.
• Typical Depth Range: Anywhere from 30 to 120 feet down during summer.

We typically run 2-4 downriggers, with each one potentially holding a different lure — a spoon, a fly behind a flasher, or even a meat rig.

🪪 Planer Boards

Planer boards let us fish wide.

• What They Are: Floating boards clipped to the fishing line that pull the line out to the side of the boat.
• Why They Matter: They create horizontal spread, letting us cover more water and reduce the risk of tangled lines.
• Used With: Leadcore, copper, or weighted steel lines — these lines sink to specific depths depending on their length and type.

We usually run 2-3 lines per side on planer boards, with each one set at different depths. It’s a surgical technique that puts lures in multiple water columns.

🧰 Dipsy Divers (aka Slide Divers or Deeper Divers)

When we want to add more rods and fill the midwater column, Dipsy Divers come into play.

• What They Are: Weighted, circular diving discs that plane outward and downward when trolled.
• Why They Matter: They dive to specific depths without the need for downriggers.
• Where They Fish: Often 30-80 feet down, depending on the setting and speed.

We often run 1-2 divers per side, set with different angles and leads to avoid tangles and target multiple zones.

Types of Fishing Line We Use for Trolling

Each trolling line has a specific purpose, and we carefully match line types to desired depth and presentation:

1. Mono (Monofilament) – Good for shallow flat lines or topwater presentations.
2. Fluorocarbon Leaders – Attached to the end of every rig for invisibility and abrasion resistance.
3. Wire Line – Used with Dipsy Divers for greater strength and depth penetration.
4. Leadcore Line – Color-coded segments sink incrementally (each color = 10 yards). A full core (10 colors) might fish ~50 feet down.
5. Copper Line – Heavier than leadcore and sinks faster. 300’ of copper can reach ~70-80 feet depending on speed.

We might run:

• 3 colors of leadcore on an inside board
• 5 or 7 colors on a middle board
• 10 or 300’ copper on the outside

This lets us work every depth the fish might be at.

Lure Types: What Salmon Want

We match our lure choice to water conditions, time of day, and depth.

🥄 Spoons

• When Used: Early morning, low-light conditions, or when salmon are aggressively feeding.
• Popular Brands: Moonshine, Silver Streak, Dreamweaver.
• Action: Tight wobble that imitates small baitfish.
• Colors: UV, glow, blues, greens, and silvers are go-tos.

Great on downriggers or leadcore lines.

🪰 Flies Behind Flashers or Dodgers

• When Used: Mid to late morning, especially when fish are a bit pickier.
• Setup: Flashers or rotating paddles give the fly erratic motion.
• Color Combos: White/blue, green/crystal, white/glow.
• Speed Sensitivity: These rigs work best between 2.0–2.5 mph.

Ideal on wire dipsies and deep downrigger rods. Kings love them.

🥩 Meat Rigs

• What They Are: Herring strips rigged behind large flashers.
• When Used: For targeting giant mature kings, especially in late summer.
• Action: The scent and fluttering action often trigger strikes from trophy fish.
• Downside: Can be messy and more finicky to set up.

Run on downriggers or high copper lines. When the kings are finicky, meat often seals the deal.

Building the Spread

Every trip starts with a spread that targets multiple depths and lure types:

• High Spread (10–30 ft): Spoons or shallow plugs on 2-3 color leadcore lines on planer boards.
• Mid Spread (30–80 ft): Divers with flies or spoons; downriggers with spoons or flashers/flies.
• Deep Spread (80–120 ft): Deep downriggers or 300–400’ copper with flies or meat rigs.

We monitor our sonar and fish activity closely and adjust the spread every 30–45 minutes if we’re not getting hits.

What Conditions Affect Trolling Success?

Salmon behavior is heavily influenced by water temperature, baitfish presence, and lake currents. Captain Eric’s experience reading these signs is key to getting on fish.

🌡️ Thermocline Tracking

• Salmon often suspend just above the thermocline — the layer where warm surface water meets cooler deep water.
• In July and August, the thermocline often sets up between 60-90 feet.

🐟 Baitfish Movement

• We watch the sonar for clouds of alewives. Big kings won’t be far behind.
• Matching the depth of baitfish is critical to our lure placement.

💨 Wind and Currents

• Wind shifts can drastically change water temps overnight.
• Strong west winds can “flip” the lake — pushing warm water offshore and bringing cold water to the surface.

When that happens, we might find kings in 20 feet of water — or have to head 8-15 miles out.

What You’ll Experience on the Water

From the moment we leave the harbor, lines start hitting the water. Within 15–30 minutes, our full spread is out and working.

Expect a few key experiences:

• The Downrigger Pop: A sharp crack as the line releases and the rod bends heavy — king salmon!
• Planer Board Fire Drill: One of the side rods slams back, and we shout “fish on!” as the planer board bobs back.
• Double or Triple Hookups: When the fish are feeding, it’s chaos — in the best way.
• Fighting a King: Runs, head shakes, and stubborn dives. You’ll feel every moment on the rod.

Tips for First-Time Anglers

• Don’t Jerk the Rod: Keep tension on the line, but let the drag and rod do the work.
• Listen to the Mate: They’ll coach you on when to reel and when to rest.
• Bring Sunglasses and Sunscreen: Lake Michigan sun reflects hard off the water.
• Keep Cameras Ready: There’s nothing like the photo of you with your first 20+ lb king.

Book Your Salmon Charter Today

If you’re ready to see what Lake Michigan salmon trolling is all about, join Captain Eric Schippa for a charter out of South Haven. Whether you’re a family looking for a fun adventure or an angler hunting your personal best, we’ve got the gear, experience, and local knowledge to make your trip unforgettable.

From the throb of a downrigger rod to the chaos of a three-rod takedown, this is trolling at its finest.