Michigan Rivers get massive runs of wild salmon that rival Alaska. My home river of the Muskegon is one giant gravel bed where the wild king salmon natural reproduction approaches the million mark each year of wild parr produced. Swinging the Comet and Boss flies to fresh per-spawn kings in our home water pools has yielded king salmon in the 30 pound range. WE DO NOT FISH KINGS ON SPAWNING GRAVEL!
They are an amazing game fish when fresh out of the lake and not half dead on gravel. They are wonderful game fish that fight ferociously. All September and early October is the time to get fresh kings on the swings that are stacked near the surface in our home waterpools.