But roger hinchcliff, who publishes the steelhead manifesto blog online, considers. The stretches below belleville dam to the mouth at lake erie also offer anglers the opportunity for steelhead, muskie and walleye. Most of the action on the huron occurs from flat rock down to its mouth when cold weather doesnt have the river iced over. Get the latest up to date fly fishing report for smallmouth bass. Finally, a book that shares the whole truth on great lakes fly fishing techniques with refreshing honesty. Check out over 81 recent lake huron fishing reports posted by pro anglers. Dec 17, 2008 very good book which i am still reading. Michigans least appreciated steelhead stream by robert gwizdz. They include northern pike, largemouth bass and walleye. The huron river is easily accessible to millions of folks but isnt fly fished as. Lower huron steelhead fishing michigan sportsman online. Mike schultz has served as a catalyst to grow a vibrant community of small. Dec 26, 2015 huron river a hidden gem for steelhead.
The mainstream originates in big lake and the huron swamp northwest of pontiac and flows roughly 125 miles to its mouth in the marshlands of pt. They have a decent trout population, and the clinton gets a decent spring steelhead run, but the huron river offers world class smallmouth fishing, and throws in some winterspring steelhead in the lower sections. Someone at work has been telling me about steelhead fishing in the huron, said he has caught a few out of there and he has seen a lot of people fishing for them there. When to fish in michigan calendar of rivers, species, and the best times of the year to fish michigan salmon, trout, and steelhead. These active fighters leap, make blazing fast runs, and will strike savagely even in cool springtime waters putting smiles on anglers faces with every bite. Each year, the dnr stocks approximately 60,000 steelhead smolts in the huron river between the flatrock dam and lake erie. Get the latest up to date fly fishing report for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, northern pike, muskie, walleye and steelhead fishing in huron river with the top producing flies and recommended equipment to get you into fish. Fly fishing on the huron river is becoming increasingly popular. You will fish with guide and captain tom who is a local guide and knows the waters of this ri. The ausable river foote dam to oscoda, michigan on lake huron. Apr 27, 2011 in this video i am fighting about an 8 pound steelhead on the huron river. In this video i am fighting about an 8 pound steelhead on the huron river. From the pocketwater fast moving streams of lake superior to the larger watersheds of lake michigan, our steelhead are a very unique fish. The focal point for steelhead on the huron is in the town of flat rock.
Michigan sportsman online michigan hunting and fishing resource. Schultz outfitters is the only full time fly fishing guide service working the entire huron river watershed. Favorite time of year is a september evening with the hex and ephron on the water. The dos and donts of fall steelhead fishing by john nagy. West michigan angler is a year round guide service that specializes in fishing for trout, steelhead, salmon, smallmouth bass and other game fish. Spring is a great time to target steelhead in michigan. Current fly fishing reports and conditions for huron river in michigan. Except for streams in the michigan wisconsin boundary waters, any other inland stream not classified by type is open for the entire year with an 8inch minimum size limit and a 5 fish daily possession. Im new to fishing the huron in huroc park or anywhere in the huron, but ive been following other conversation and spent the better part of 2 12 days there and talked to other fisherman and locals, plus a bait shop, unfortuantely not little dipper, but from what ive been told and heard is that the steelhead arent in the strong run yet, but should be when weather gets cold and nasty and.
Flowing 125 miles from its origin in oakland county, to the. Spring is an exciting time to go fishing in michigan steelhead, bass, cisco, lake trout, brown trout, walleye, and perch are all available in abundance in our rivers and lakes. A fly fishing trip to michigan isnt complete without visiting the au sable river system. All of our guides fish for steelhead more than 100 days a year. Oct 17, 2016 on top of steelhead, many other species can be targeted on the huron river throughout the year. Report courtesy of michigan department of natural resources.
Premier angling guide service trout, bass, salmon fishing. As mentioned previously, not too far away, the clinton river provides additional options for targeting steelhead in. Waters we fish schultz outfitters southeast michigan. The 14mile long main branch of the huron river begins at the confluence of the east branch huron and west branch huron rivers just west of milan, ohio when is the best time to fish the huron river for steelhead. Published quarterly by the huron river watershed council. And thats how we started, floating slowly downstream. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including northern pike, walleye, perch, breambluegill, brown trout, rock bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, carp and catfish here. Lower huron steelhead fishing discussion in south east michigan streams and rivers started by huronman, sep 9, 2009.
The paint creek and clinton river are pretty good too. The manistee river, or the big river as known in these parts of the country, is an awesome river to fish for steelhead and salmon. The book, fly fishers huron river is no longer in print, but im working on a second edition. Schultz outfitters is the only full time fly fishing guide service working the entire huron river. Steelhead fishing in the ohios huron river is best in the spring.
This guide gives anglers a chance to understand michigan s fish migrations, when to fish, and what rivers at a given time. Fly fishing the manistee river in this section is excellent for trout with trophy size fish fairly common. Tips and insight for fishing on the mighty huron river and northern trout streams. Selected list of michiganrelated titles found in the angling. Northern michigan fly fishing orvis endorsed trout. Planning ahead fishing the home waters huron river watershed. Overall detroit river is slow still but we ares still. The huron river is located just minutes from metro detroit, and is truly a gem of a smallmouth stream. Huron river is tributary of lake erie that receives a spring run of stray little manistee steelhead. Their love of river fishing and the huron brought about awareness of. Huron river not as plentiful as other steelhead spots, but its a wellkept secret. The huron offers great fishing opportunities for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, catfish and carp throughout much of the river system. Like the ohio steelhead tributaries, it is primarily a late winterearly spring fishery. When nick isnt on the river fishing he enjoys taking clients bird hunting accompanied by his two bird dogs sage and ruffy.
You can wade some below the dam in flat rock, but a boat is best for the lower river. The huron river is best fished by canoe or kayak, but there are. A section of the huron river in livingston county, michigan. Heavy rains should keep bringing more in from lake huron. Been fishing steelhead around the great lakes for many years and the author knows what he is talking about i especially like how he pointed mark out from honor, michigan who fished the mouth of the platte a lot and i had a friend who always said that guide mark caught fish, always. As mentioned previously, not too far away, the clinton river provides additional options for targeting steelhead in southeast michigan during the autumn months. Steelhead caught here range from 2 to 10 pounds or larger. The very popular rivers huron, muskegon, and rogue. The huron river is a milelong 210 km river in southeastern michigan, rising out of the huron swamp in springfield township in northern oakland county and flowing into lake erie on the boundary between wayne county and monroe county. There is a lowhead dam here that temporarily concentrates the fish. Currently mixture of dropbacks and some bright chrome steelhead in the river now. Starting in southeast michigan, both the huron and clinton rivers are good winter steelhead streams. The michigan portion of lake erie has a large tributary called the huron river that has been receiving successful plantings of little manistee strain steelhead by the michigan dnr, averaging about 60,000 since 1998 65, 959 in 2008.
Fishermen will find a variety of fish including northern pike, walleye, perch, breambluegill, brown trout, rock bass, smallmouth bass. Michigan spring fishing trips northern michigan fishing. This guide gives anglers a chance to understand michigans fish migrations, when to fish, and what rivers at a given time. The huron river is best fished by canoe or kayak, but there are plenty of parks for walk in access as well. Waters we fish schultz outfitters southeast michigan fly. But below the dam at flat rockand now, thanks to a fish ladder completed in 1997, upstream from there roughly 16 miles all the way to belleville damthe huron offers steelhead fishing within an easy drive of half of michigan s population. Subscribe contact us help newsletters staff directory apps. By the 1880s, the huron river was considered peculiar among the rivers in the. The huron river is a milelong 210 km river in southeastern michigan, rising out of the. Except for streams in the michiganwisconsin boundary waters, any other inland stream not classified by type is open for the entire year with an 8inch minimum size limit and a 5 fish daily possession. Huron river the huron river is located just minutes from metro detroit, and is truly a gem of a smallmouth stream. Waters are very high but is in great shape for steelhead fishing. March, april and september through december being prime time. Michigans least appreciated steelhead stream by robert.
Michigan spring fishing trips northern michigan fishing guides. Tips and insight for fishing on the mighty huron river and. Nov 20, 2014 huron river geddes pond steelhead were caught up near the golf course and a couple walleye were taken down near the mouth. April 21st john with beautiful au sable river steelhead. The manistee river has a special regulation section that is located from michigan m72 downstream to the ccc bridge. P fly fishing for steelhead in the upper peninsula is quite different from anything you have ever experienced before. On top of steelhead, many other species can be targeted on the huron river throughout the year. Michigans longest river, flows through the secondlargest city of grand rapids and has a solid run of steelhead. Overall detroit river is slow still but we ares still early.
You have to drive back through a small subdivision to get to it. The manistee river has great runs of steelhead through the fall and winter. Fly fishing for salmon and steelhead of the great lakes is the first book to present a complete panorama of fly fishing strategies for locating, hooking, and landing the migrant salmon and steelhead of the great lakes tributaries. Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need. Southeast michigan rivers the huron and clinton rivers stand out as top winter steelhead streams in michigans most populous region. Huron river steelhead casco fishing report fishingbooker.
The huron river fly fishing club is putting up new signs along the river. Try fishing a stretch of the hurons productive waters i love to explore. Fly fishing for manistee river steelhead is possible from september through april. Premier angling guide service offers guided fly fishing trips for salmon, steelhead and smallmouth bass in northern michigan. Huron river a hidden gem for steelhead lansing state journal. Fly fishing archives huron river watershed council. The lower end gets pretty slow so bobber fishing from shore would be your best bet. If the clean water rule is rolled back and repealed by the us epa, michigan will be under even. Ric lawson 07062018 fly fishing follow the huron river water trail to adventure. The lake superior steelhead average 36 lbs of pure. More detailed information on fly fishing for great lakes steelhead can be found in john nagys classic book steelhead guide, fly fishing techniques and strategies for lake erie steelhead.
The last stretch of the ausable from foote dam to lake huron is most famous for its great steelhead and salmon fishing. North bay charter llc ii invites you for a fishing adventure made for up to 2 anglers on the rivers huron, clinton, st clair, and detroit river in s. The michigan dnr fishing page is a good place to start for finding detail from the state on specific fishing spots with restrictions on seasons and equipment. Tips and insight for fishing on the mighty huron river and northern. The huron river fishes best when the river is flowing between 150250 cfs.
In addition to thirteen parks, game areas, and recreation areas, the river passes through the cities of dexter, ann arbor, ypsilanti, belleville, flat rock. This article has 11 of the best places to fly fish in michigan plus maps and. Michigan tributary maps huron river steelhead alley online fishing licenses. Locally, it is commonly called the big huron river to distinguish it from the nearby little huron river. Fly fishing for salmon and steelhead of the great lakes. Carp are incredibly strong fish and they require stout tackle to bring them to hand.
Try fishing around the deep hole, the points, the bridge on the north end of the lake, and weedlines. Michigan spring steelhead fishing sport fish michigan. Categories uncategorized tags ice fishing, michigan fishing report, northern michigan fishing report, steelhead fishing. Michigan spring steelhead fishing book your spring steelhead fishing trip today. Another much larger huron river is in southeast michigan. These fish head out to lake erie to grow and mature and then return to the river to spawn. Southeast michigan rivers the huron and clinton rivers stand out as top winter steelhead streams in michigan s most populous region. Au sable river, betsie river, rifle river, manistee river. Watch for bald eagles and the endangered kirtlands warbler. Lake gets some props with fair to good largemouth bass fishing, too. When to fish michigan steelhead steelhead salmon guide. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including breambluegill, rainbow trout, carp, walleye, catfish, brown trout, crappie and smallmouth bass here. Michigans many great rivers make for a unbelievable fly fishing experience with names like the au sable, manistee, huron muskegon, and rogue.
West michigan angler is a year round guide service that specializes in fishing for trout, steelhead, salmon, smallmouth bass and other game fish with both fly fishing gear and light spin tackle. Huron river ohio steelhead fishing map diy fly fishing. Ausable steelhead are in the river 8 months of the year. Steelhead will be scattered, but you are likely to have the river to yourself. The huron river responds quickly to rain events and typically takes 2 to 3 days to clear and return to normal flow levels following a rain event. Mar 02, 2015 while there are no native steelhead to lake huron, theres an abundance of wild populations that thrive in this clear, clean great lake. The pristine waters of lake huron are sure to provide the excitement of world class fresh water fishing for steelhead, yellow perch, walleye, chinook king, atlantic salmon and many other freshwater species.