We Fished for Salmon Like Bass—and Caught 80

New October 15, 2026 11 views
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Eighty salmon on one of Michigan’s premier salmon and steelhead rivers—and fewer than five came on eggs. This year, Tom and I focused on casting crankbaits especially ThunderSticks, treating salmon fishing much like bass fishing: targeting logs, making precise casts, and getting hooked fish out of heavy cover.
The lure was only part of the equation. Tom’s trolling motor control put the boat in position so we could place our casts tight to the spots we wanted to fish. Then came the challenge of keeping powerful salmon from burying themselves in the logs.
Come along for the strikes, battles, and teamwork behind this trip. I’ll explain where we focused our efforts, how we presented our “sticks,” and why we believe those precise presentations triggered reaction and aggression strikes.
I’ve been returning to Michigan since 1980. Sharing another season with Tom—and figuring out what worked this year—is what keeps this tradition going.
Subscribe to 26-46 Outdoors for more fishing, hunting, and outdoor adventures.
Do you throw ThunderSticks during the salmon run, or are eggs your go-to? Let me know in the comments.
#SalmonFishing #ManisteeRiver #ThunderStick
26-46outdoors is about outdoor living and adventures combined with renaissance thinking, hunting, fishing, log cabin-living in the mountains of Montana half the year switching to saltwater fishing in SW Florida in the spring. My name’s Wayne Freeman. When I’m not traveling the world with a fly rod, I’m living my best outdoor sporting life on the saltwater of SW Florida at 26 degrees latitude and my Montana mountain adventures at 46 degrees latitude. I post my outdoor life adventures and everyday happenings on my YouTube Channel,
https://www.youtube.com/@26-46Outdoors.

I invite you to join me for the ride and “come outside and play”.

Check out my clothing, gear and hand-made products: https://www.26-46outdoors.com

Social Media:

Instagram:@26_46outdoors
Facebook: @26-46outdoors
TikTok: @2646outdoors

Contact me@: 2646outdoors@gmail.com

Stuff I Use
My Boats:
 Drift Boat – Clackacraft 16’ Low Profile. https://www.clacka.com 46 degrees latitude
 Offshore saltwater boat – “Big Sky Break”, Boston Whaler 330 Outrage 33’ center console w/ twin Mercury 300 hp outboards, Simrad electronics/radar – 26 degrees latitude.
https://www.bostonwhaler.com
 Flats boat – Beavertail Skiffs, 18’ Vengeance poling skiff with 115 hp Yamaha Sho, Power Pole trolling motor, Garmin electronics – 26 degrees latitude. https://www.beavertailskiffs.com
 Wooden Canoe – 1937 Oldtown 17’ Canoe. https://www.oldtownwatercraft.com
My Rec Toys:
 ATV – Polaris 550 Ranger. https://www.polaris.com 46 degrees latitude
 eBike – Freedom eBike from Wired. https://wiredebikes.com
My Primary Film Equipment
 Canon EOS R7: https://www.usa.canon.com
 GoPro Hero 4, 12, 13. https://www.gopro.com
 Voiceover microphone – Blue Yeti Studio. https://www.logitech.com
 iPhone 15 Pro. https://www.apple.com
 Drone – DJI Mini 4k. https://www.dji.com
My Primary Software
 Film editing – DaVinci Resolve 20. https://www.blackmagicdesign.com
 Graphics – Canva. https://www.canva.com

My Merch
Stuff I Make & Sell
 Fly Rods – Weezy Fly Rods. https://www.26-46outdoors.com
 Knives & Cutting Tools – Weezy Knives. https://www.26-46outdoors.com
 Custom Flies. https://www.26-46outdoors.com
My Clothing Line
 Fishing hoodies, shirts & bandannas. https://www.26-46outdoors.com
My Favorite Outdoor Stuff
 KUIU – luggage & clothing. https://www.kiui.com
 Large Packs – K4 Pack. https://www.exomtgear.com
 Day Pack – Passenger 27 L. https://www.roark.com
 Elk Camp Tent – Tent and bivy bag. https://www.montanacanvas.com