Many years ago lumbering sustained the growth of the Oscoda and AuSable communities, but today there is a huge interest in Oscoda salmon fishing, Oscoda walleye fishing and other sportfishing activities in the area.
In fact, Oscoda is considered to be one of the best places in Michigan for year round fishing activities. This includes king salmon, coho salmon, steel head trout, lake trout, bass, perch and of course walleye.
The places to be for Oscoda salmon fishing are Lake Huron, the AuSable River and other nearby lakes. However, even without the use of your own or a charter boat to move around, many locals and visitors will advise you to simply fish right off the pier at the mouth of the AuSable River!
Experienced fishermen will tell you that some of the most consistent Oscoda salmon fishing (chinook) is off the pier in early fall.
King salmon tend to make an appearance in the second half of July. They then build up in numbers over the following couple of months, until moving up the AuSable River from late September.
You may also want to try Oscoda salmon fishing straight out of the harbor where summer salmon and steel head trout can be found. As some fishermen say, even if you're struggling to get the Kings, there always seems to be some steel head around...
If you're more adventurous and want to move further out, you will have no trouble in finding a professional, experienced charter service by choosing from one of the Michigan Charter Boat Association member Captains.
Most of the Oscoda salmon fishing charter boats move around according to the season. You will find some of them aiming for the June salmon out of Oscoda, with catches often a mix including brown, lake and steel head trout.
After the July walleye action in Saginaw Bay some charters will return to Oscoda during August and September for the King salmon preparing for their spawning runs up the AuSable River.
As one Oscoda salmon fishing enthusiast said: "Remember! You can't catch 'em if you ain't on 'em!"
