Pere Marquette River

Pere Marquette River Guided Fly Fishing 

Salmon / Trout / Steelhead

The Pere Marquette River is one of the finest trout, steelhead, and salmon fisheries in the Great Lakes region.  It is a tributary of Lake Michigan and is located on its east shore (enters lake Michigan in Ludington Michigan . The river is known as the birthplace of Brown trout in the United States, being the first place German browns were planted in the United States. This river is a superb trout fishery that can produce resident trout over 20” on a regular basis.  The Lower sections of the river can produce some great days of fishing for Northern Pike. Wild steelhead enter the river from Lake Michigan in early fall (October) and provide excellent fly fishing throughout the winter months, until they're joined by the main (spawning season) steelhead run in March and April.  Salmon enter the river in late summer (August) and provide good  - great streamer action. Salmon angling will remain through mid-fall (Oct), until the cycle renews and steelhead enter in October again to feed on salmon roe. Quality hatches of mayflies, caddis, and stoneflies exist in this river, which provide tremendous dry fly angling for the river’s resident trout. The Pere Marquette River is known for many great hatches, the most famous being Grey Drakes and Hex’s!

The Little South and Middle Branch meet to form the main  branch of the Pere Marquette in Marlborough near James Road.  A couple of miles below this junction, the Baldwin River flows in on the north side of the river while the Big South Branch flows in many miles downstream on the south side of the river.  Kinney and Waldon creeks are a couple of other tributaries that feed the Pere Marquette and contribute to its great water quality.

Trout angling is excellent on the Middle Branch and upper main stream of the Pere Marquette. The lower sections of the river are know for large brown trout on streamers and the famous "Michigan Hex Hatch" The Middle Branch is small averaging approximately 25 feet in width.  Sand, gravel, and silt make up much of the bottom of the river.  A few boulders, fallen trees, and a lot of sharp bends help to create seams and holding water for the trout. In the main Stream area or “Flies Only” There are impressive resident browns that reach twenty inches and above in this area, but can be very smart, and feed best after daek!  The water in this section is some of the best that the Midwest has to offer, though during peak seasons can become very crowded

 (spring & Fall).

The upper Pere Marquette has a special regulations area approximately 8 miles long that is designated artificial flies only ("Flies Only Section"), catch-and-release.  This area extends from M-37 to Gleason’s Landing.  Check the special regulations for details on this section and others located on the Pere Marquette.  

Gleason’s Landing, Rainbow Rapids,  and to the Wahalla area is a long and extremely productive section of river.  Here the river has very deep pools, strong runs and riffles which hold steelhead and large resident trout very well.  Drifting a  nymph or egg pattern can produce a  steelhead or a nice resident brown!  Throwing a streamer into a maze of wood can produce a trout of a lifetime! The potential of this river is enormous.  Below Gleason’s Landing, the river gains more volume and depth.  The river’s speed increases and wading becomes even more difficult.  Most anglers float fish this section of river.

Access to the river is fairly easy to find and is located in many areas.  The upper river and especially the upper regulations area have several access points. (M-37, Ledge hole, Green Cottage, Clay Banks, Gleason’s landing)  Route 10, M-37, and other side roads will lead you to the river and its access points, as well as bridge and access spots around Branch, and Wahalla. Farther down stream, areas such as Indian Bridge, Custer, and Scottville provide good access for thoose looking to hit fish early in the run.  

Hatches on the Pere Marquette river can be exceptional and bring up some very sizable trout through the spring and summer from Wahalla bridge area to M-37 Bridge upstream.  Late May through early July is usually the peak of the dry fly fishing, followed by night fishing with mouse and waking patterns.  Mayflies on the river include Hedricksons, Sulphurs, Blue-winged Olives, Gray Drakes, Brown Drakes, and Hexagenia Limbata (“Michigan Caddis,” one of the largest mayflies) along with a few other less significant ones.  Stoneflies include a variety of species with Little Black Stones being most popular especially as nymphs for steelhead in the early portion of the season.  Caddis are abundant and include a variety of species as well.  Large brown trout can be found gorging themselves on any of these insects.  The”Hex” hatch is one of the most popular for big fish especially on the lower river below Wahalla bridge at night.  Terrestrials are also an important part of the summertime fishing, and fish as any other stream  with terrestrials during the warm months of summer (July & Aug). Streamer fishing the undercut banks and expansive log structures always moves fish, and is just another great option the Pere Marquette offers. The Pere Marquette is a Chinook salmon factory. Millions of Salmon fry hatch out during the late spring and early summer, making a feast for the trophy trout on this "Blue Ribbon Trout Stream".

Steelhead can be caught on a variety of different flies.  Eggs & Nymphs are usually the most popular, but streamers can produce well, as do fry patterns.  Hex's caddis, and stones fly nymphs all work as well.  Wet flies and spey flies in various colors and patterns, as well as leech patterns are also very effective when conditions allow.  Never leave home without some "Big Flies" in your box too.  Match fly size with river conditions.

The Pere Marquette is a dynamic fishery for trout, steelhead, and salmon.  The size of the fish this river holds is outstanding.  The Pere Marquette is one of the strongest water resources the state of Michigan has. Many anglers come to this river to fish each season to try for either its first class trout fishing during the spring and summer or its salmon & steelhead fishing during the fall, winter, and early spring.

Although the access and wade fishing is good on this river, the use of a guide will always provide a safe, exciting educational experience, and put you on the best fishing the river has to offer at that time of year.