Great Lakes

Steelhead and salmon runs in New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania tributaries of the Great Lakes, and the Hex and June hatches on Michigan trout streams from the Michigan DNR. Each row is charted only for the months its source gives; where a source names an insect but gives no months, it is not charted. Conditions vary by water and year: use this to plan, then ask a local shop.

10sourced rows
7sources
3states

Hundreds of mayflies floating on the calm surface of a wide river below a low bluff, in black and white — A mayfly hatch on the Green River at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Wyoming (Tom Koerner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Photo: Tom Koerner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Month by month

Hatch
Fish run

Great Lakes: months each hatch, run or season occurs, by source
Event, where, source	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Hex (Hexagenia)Hatch · Northern Michigan rivers[1] Michigan DNR	January: no	February: no	March: no	April: no	May: no	June: yes	July: yes	August: no	September: no	October: no	November: no	December: no
Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisfliesHatch · Michigan trout streams[2] Michigan DNR	January: no	February: no	March: no	April: no	May: no	June: yes	July: no	August: no	September: no	October: no	November: no	December: no
Steelhead out-migration after spawningFish run · Erie County tributaries (Elk, Walnut and Twentymile creeks), Pennsylvania[3] Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission	January: no	February: no	March: yes	April: yes	May: no	June: no	July: no	August: no	September: no	October: no	November: no	December: no
Steelhead spawningFish run · New York Great Lakes tributaries (Washington strain)[4] New York State DEC	January: no	February: no	March: yes	April: yes	May: no	June: no	July: no	August: no	September: no	October: no	November: no	December: no
Steelhead spawningFish run · Michigan Great Lakes tributaries[5] Michigan DNR	January: no	February: no	March: yes	April: yes	May: no	June: no	July: no	August: no	September: no	October: no	November: no	December: no
Fall salmon run (weir operation)Fish run · Little Manistee River weir, Michigan[6] Michigan DNR	January: no	February: no	March: no	April: no	May: no	June: no	July: no	August: yes	September: yes	October: yes	November: yes	December: no
Chinook and coho salmon spawning runFish run · New York Lake Ontario / Lake Erie tributaries[7] New York State DEC	January: no	February: no	March: no	April: no	May: no	June: no	July: no	August: no	September: yes	October: yes	November: yes	December: no
Brown trout fall runFish run · New York Great Lakes spawning streams[7] New York State DEC	January: no	February: no	March: no	April: no	May: no	June: no	July: no	August: no	September: no	October: yes	November: yes	December: yes
Steelhead runFish run · New York Great Lakes tributaries[7] New York State DEC	January: yes	February: yes	March: yes	April: yes	May: yes	June: no	July: no	August: no	September: no	October: yes	November: yes	December: yes
Steelhead runFish run · Michigan Great Lakes spawning streams[5] Michigan DNR	January: yes	February: yes	March: yes	April: yes	May: yes	June: no	July: no	August: no	September: no	October: yes	November: yes	December: yes

Hex (Hexagenia) June to JulyHatch · Northern Michigan rivers · [1] Michigan DNR
Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies JuneHatch · Michigan trout streams · [2] Michigan DNR
Steelhead out-migration after spawning March to AprilFish run · Erie County tributaries (Elk, Walnut and Twentymile creeks), Pennsylvania · [3] Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
Steelhead spawning March to AprilFish run · New York Great Lakes tributaries (Washington strain) · [4] New York State DEC
Steelhead spawning March to AprilFish run · Michigan Great Lakes tributaries · [5] Michigan DNR
Fall salmon run (weir operation) August to NovemberFish run · Little Manistee River weir, Michigan · [6] Michigan DNR
Chinook and coho salmon spawning run September to NovemberFish run · New York Lake Ontario / Lake Erie tributaries · [7] New York State DEC
Brown trout fall run October to DecemberFish run · New York Great Lakes spawning streams · [7] New York State DEC
Steelhead run October to MayFish run · New York Great Lakes tributaries · [7] New York State DEC
Steelhead run October to MayFish run · Michigan Great Lakes spawning streams · [5] Michigan DNR

What each source says

The source's own words behind every row, so you can see exactly where the months come from.

Hex (Hexagenia), Northern Michigan rivers (June to July): Many anglers eagerly await the Hex hatch on northern Michigan rivers each summer, although it’s tough to pinpoint exactly when it will happen. Fly anglers wait anxiously in June and July for the hatch to begin – when it does it often lasts for two to three weeks.[1]
Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies, Michigan trout streams (June): Many aquatic insects, like mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies, found in trout streams emerge during June, making it an exciting time to fish with dry flies that float on the water’s surface.[2]
Steelhead out-migration after spawning, Erie County tributaries (Elk, Walnut and Twentymile creeks), Pennsylvania (March to April): During March and April, steelhead are migrating back to Lake Erie after spawning.[3]
Steelhead spawning, New York Great Lakes tributaries (Washington strain) (March to April): Spawning usually begins in mid-March and continues through late April.[4]
Steelhead spawning, Michigan Great Lakes tributaries (March to April): The fall-run fish are typically the first to spawn, often in March, followed by the spring run fish in April.[5]
Fall salmon run (weir operation), Little Manistee River weir, Michigan (August to November): Fall Salmon The weir is usually put in place on, or about August 15th, and removed on, or about November 15th.[6]
Chinook and coho salmon spawning run, New York Lake Ontario / Lake Erie tributaries (September to November): Coho, Chinook Salmon May through August: deepwater offshore. September through November: spawning streams, stream mouths, inshore.[7]
Brown trout fall run, New York Great Lakes spawning streams (October to December): Mid-October through early December: Spawning streams.[7]
Steelhead run, New York Great Lakes tributaries (October to May): October to early May: inshore shallows, spawning streams. Peak stream fishing is typically mid-November and again in early April.[7]
Steelhead run, Michigan Great Lakes spawning streams (October to May): Lake steelhead enter their spawning streams from late October to early May.[5]

Use it on the water

Pick flies with the fly finder, check an insect with the fly identifier, and read the flow and temperature on each water page before you go.

Michigan watersWater pages
New York watersWater pages
Pennsylvania watersWater pages

Sources

Every fact on this page is our paraphrase of the page cited beside it, read on the date shown. Rules and seasons change: check the agency's current regulations before you fish.

Weekly Fishing Report: June 18, 2015 (Weekly Fishing Tip: Planning for the Hex hatch) Michigan DNR, read Nov 3, 2026.
Weekly Fishing Report: June 6, 2024 Michigan DNR, read Nov 3, 2026.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater, March/April 2026 (incl. 'Season's First Sip -- Strategies for Early Spring Hatches', C. A. Shane) Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, read Oct 24, 2026.
Guide to Steelhead Fishing in Great Lakes Tributaries (PDF) New York State DEC, read Oct 24, 2026.
Steelhead (Michigan species) Michigan DNR, read Oct 24, 2026.
Little Manistee River Weir Michigan DNR, read Oct 24, 2026.
I FISH NY Guide to Great Lakes Fishing (PDF) New York State DEC, read Oct 24, 2026.

Great Lakes

Month by month

What each source says

Use it on the water

Sources

Other regions