There are 4 types of salmon in the great lakes, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon and Atlantic Salmon. Of these, three have been introduced from the Pacific and only one, the Atlantic Salmon is naturally occurring. Although the Atlantic Salmon has been threatened and many conservation efforts have been organized to try and recover the stocks, namely in Lake Ontario. Recovery efforts have been somewhat promising, with most work being done in restocking and stream rehabilitation.

Of all the salmon the Chinook or King Salmon is the most valued as a sportfish, with most salmon growing to an average of 10lbs, although many trophy fish in the 30-40lb range are caught annually. Hence the name "King". The Coho Salmon is also greatly prized for both sport and meat, and can offer anglers excellent sportfishing opportunities, with fish averaging 6-12lbs, and some toping the scales at 30lbs. Pink salmon are the smallest of the great lakes salmon species, averaging 3-5lbs and rarely exceeding 10lbs. The Atlantic salmon, although not as abundant as the introduced species averages 4-8 lbs, with large specimens in the mid 20lb range.

Most anglers target salmon in the spring and summer when they can be caught trolling with downriggers. The target temperature is 54C. This preferred temperature can vary in depth to very shallow in the spring and deeper in the summer. Fish are caught anywhere between 30-250 ft of water. Using a fishfinder to locate schools of bait is always productive as the salmon are generally not far behind. Lures used, include spoons, jplugs, dodgers and flies, cut herring and body baits. When salmon are shallow and high in the water column, lures trolled behind dipsy divers can be very productive. Colour choices range and change by day, although proven colours are silver, green, blue, chartreuse, pink, black and purple.

In the fall, salmon move into rivers to spawn. Fishing can be excellent this time of year with salmon congregating at river mouths. Many anglers will crowd piers and chuck spoons into the night in hopes of hooking up with a fresh run salmon.

Once the salmon enters the river, they can be caught either by drifting spawn or casting lures, like spoons, crankbaits, and spinners. The longer the salmon stay in the rivers the less willing they become at accepting an anglers offering and begin the business of spawning. Once salmon spawn they die. Eggs hatch in the spring and the young salmon will spend their first summer in the river as smolts. Once they become larger than fingerlings, they return to the big lake, where they will spend 3-4 years, before maturing and then returning to rivers to spawn.