Situated in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the St. Marys River is the sole outlet of Lake Superior. This river system travels eastward nearly 100 miles to Lake Huron. Historically, many revere the St. Marys River to be a world class Salmon and Trout fishery. In 1987, Lake Superior State University, Edison Sault Electric Co., and Michigan's Department of Natural Resources collaborated in an effort to introduce a healthy and viable Atlantic Salmon fishery in the St. Marys River system. Since then, 40,000 Atlantic Salmon are annually reared and released by Lake Superior State University's aquatic research laboratory inside the Sault Edison hydro plant. This successful program has created a premier annual run of adult Atlantic Salmon!

Late every June, the 2-5 year old Atlantic Salmon make the voyage upstream from Lake Huron through the St. Marys River. These adult Atlantics stage behind the Sault Edison hydro plant--which makes for a premier fishery from June through August! Thanks to LSSU's aquatic research lab, we can view these fish when they arrive at the Edison plant online by accessing the web cam placed underwater in the St. Marys River (web cam link)!

Averaging 2-8 pounds, the Atlantic is thought of by many anglers to be the hardest fighting sport fish in the world. These silver-beauties fights are impressive, leap after leap, as they have anglers hooked for life! Many find themselves comparing all other fish to the Atlantic once they have experienced the fight! During the beginning of the Atlantic run, heavy populations of spawning baitfish are present in the St. Marys. Stripping large baitfish imitation patterns on sink tips can provide for some exciting strikes! Shortly after the baitfish schools leave the river system, the Hexagenia hatch occurs in mid-July causing the Atlantics to switch their diet from baitfish to insects. During this time, indicator nymphing is very productive for the Atlantics and tasty resident Whitefish. The Atlantics annual spawning occurs in late October in the St. Marys rapids, which is located slightly upstream from the Sault Edison hydro plant. After spawning, the adult Atlantic returns to Lake Huron; unlike their related Pacific Salmon, the Atlantic does not die after spawning. Because of this, Riversnorth promotes Catch & Release to help sustain the healthy population of Atlantic Salmon we have today.

Riversnorth Guide Service proudly offers full-day guided outings for Atlantic Salmon on the St. Marys River. Your guide is U.S Coast Guard licensed Captain Brad Petzke--after hooking his first Atlantic, he realized his life would never be the same! Being an Upper Peninsula resident, no other U.S. licensed guide spends more time on the St. Marys River system pursuing the Atlantic Salmon.

This is a truly, very unique fishery that we have here in the Upper Peninsula. Anglers travel to the far reaches of the world and spend thousands to fly-fish for Atlantic Salmon--when we literally have one of the most reliable annual runs available right here in Michigan! The experience of hooking up with “the leaper” will leave you speechless as your reel screams and he cartwheels airborne down the river!