Birthplace of Michigan's salmon program and a coho stronghold.
The Platte is where it all started. Michigan's coho program was born here in 1966, and the river remains a coho stronghold every fall, with the DNR hatchery and weir at its heart.
Coho are the main event, running from late September through October, with kings mixed in. The lower river and Platte Bay concentrate fish.
The run is compact and the river is small, so it draws crowds during the coho peak. Timing follows the first cool nights and fall rains.
The Platte is small water. Spawn, small spoons, and flies work the runs and holes. The lower river near the mouth and Platte Bay see the earliest staging fish.
Lower Platte River access, the Platte River Campground area, and Platte Bay provide the main access. Expect company during the coho run.
The Platte River is where Michigan's salmon program began, with the first coho planted in 1966. The DNR hatchery and weir on the river collect coho eggs each fall.