Garden River - Private Salmon and
Steelhead Fishing
In 1998 Chuck Hawkins negotiated a fishing lease with the Garden River First Nation band of Ojibway indians. Due to this lease we are able to offer our clients truly private salmon and steelhead fishing. Our agreement with the natives allows us to take 136 anglers in late August and all of September to the Garden River (the first river east of Sault St. Marie, Canada) on the reservation. This trip is usually 85% booked by repeat clients each year. It is as close to fishing in Alaska as you can get without traveling there. It has been described by many knowledgeable anglers as the finest salmon fishing in the Great Lakes region. Below we have listed some pertinent facts about the trip. If you have an interest please Contact
Us. Also check out he fishing report during the month of Sept, we try to update this as soon as we can.
Chuck Hawkins pictured above with a group of happy anglers.
BooBoo who is pictured to the right was a common vistor in 2003. Always curious as to how we caught so many fish.
Each Adult trip is three days long, we also have kids trips available which are only two days.
Enjoy fishing without crowds while averaging plenty of fish to the net each day.
Sightings of bears are common with the occasional moose or wolf spotted. You will see eagles in their natural setting everyday. Just like Alaska but only 5 hours from Detroit.
We fish for King to 30lbs, Pinks up to 4lbs, and Pinooks to 18lbs (cross between King and Pink) salmon along with steelhead when they are available. We also encounter resident rainbows. In 2003 we landed 12 rainbows between 18 and 23 inches.
All fishing is strictly catch and release.
We have obtained 3 IGFA all tackle world records and numerous line class records, fishing this river.
Anglers of all abilities will find both challenge and success while enjoying a river valley as beautiful as anything else in the United States.
The cost for 3 days of fishing is $1,295 plus lodging for fishing that is comparable to Alaska but closer and less expensive.
View addtional pictures of Garden River Salmon, pinks and pinookshere
