Michigan Guided Fly Fishing, Light Tackle Trips | Manistee River | Pere Marquette River

Seasons For Fly Fishing Michigan

When to fish for Steelhead, Trout, and Salmon

Michigan's rivers are small, short and shallow, and few are navigable. The principal ones include the Au Sable, Thunder Bay, Cheboygan, and Saginaw, flowing into Lake Huron; Ontonagon, and Tahquamenon into Lake Superior, and the St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, Grand, Manistee, Muskegon, Pere Marquette, Betsie, Platte, Boardman, and Escanaba into Lake Michigan. The state has more than 11,000 inland lakes and more than 36,000 miles (58,000 km) of rivers and streams for fly fishing, and no point in Michigan is more than 6 miles (10 km) from an inland lake or more than 85 miles (137 km) from one of the Great Lakes.

Michigan fly fisherman are fortunate to be surrounded by more than 36,500 miles of rivers and streams, 12,500 miles of which are classified as cold water trout streams. Great Lakes salmon and steelhead fishing ranks among Michigan’s premier fly fishing opportunities.

*** Spring Steelhead: The spring run of Steelhead starts the season off. Late February will start bringing Steelhead into the rivers. The run will last until the early parts of May. Peak season falls between March 25 and April 25. This is the time of year that the largest numbers of Steelhead are in the rivers

*** Early Trout: Called early Trout season because not much is going on as far as hatches for big fish. Streamer fishing at this time can be awesome! This time of the year produces some monsters on streamers. Sometimes this bite will start before the state opener for Trout has happened. Certain sections of water on rivers have been opened for extended season fishing. The number of people on the stream is low, but the action can be high. Best dates are April 15 – May 15.

*** Match the Hatch: Trout season and all of its glory has arrived; multiple hatches, fish rising, warm weather. Hatches of Mayflies, Stones, and Caddis fill the air. The season starts out with smaller flies and the hatches are during the warmer portions of the day. As the summer moves on, the bugs become larger and the hatch and spinner falls become later in the day to dark. Around the later part of June, the Hex start to hatch and the window for night fishing opens. Best dates for matching the hatch are May 20 – July 4. This also the time for Carp & Smallmouth in Grand Traverse Bay!

*** Night Fishing: Night fishing can be a great way to catch big Trout during the hottest of summer. Throwing a mouse and having a large Brown chase it down will make anyone’s heart pound a little harder. Best dates are June – July.

*** Late Summer: Hoppers, ants, and inchworms are all part of a Trout’s diet at this time of the year. Fishing from early dawn until the peak of the heat in the afternoon is a very pleasant way to Trout fish. Drumming Trout from the undercut banks and structure can be fantastic. Best dates are July 15 – Aug 25.

*** Salmon Season: Salmon season is a popular season. Salmon are big fish, and are in big numbers. The Salmon guide season will start in late August and run into October. The earlier in the season, the stronger the Salmon are. Best dates are Aug 25 – Oct 10.

*** Fall Steelhead: Fall Steelhead season is one of my favorites. Chrome bullets jumping into the air again and again! The Steelhead follows the Salmon up stream to feed on roe (eggs). Fall colors are at a peak at this time of the year and so is the fishing! Hard days and long cast can come with this assignment, but the rewards are awesome! Best dates are Oct 15 – Nov 15.