Michigan’s 5 Best Rivers for Fly Fishing

Michigan is known for its big old lakes, and its rivers are often forgotten. But that’s where I go to find a singular solitude and a multitude of fish.

Michigan’s fly fishing peaks unfold with the change of seasons. Match the hatch, and you’ll catch plenty.

Au Sable River

One of my favorite memories is fishing on the Au Sable River, while staying at the North Branch Outing Club near Grayling. Trout swim beneath the sunlight filtering through canopies of cedar and pine. The historic lodge has hosted famous visitors, like Henry and Edsel Ford, Thomas Edison, the Dodge Brothers, and even European royalty.

Each bedroom is packed with old photos and vintage decor. Attached to the lodge is an old fly shop, very Orvis-focused, with an elderly Englishman working behind the counter. Be careful, or you’ll find yourself in here for hours, chatting longer and spending more than you planned. This place is iconic, and the fishing is incredible. If you catch a reservation in the fall, they’ll even take you grouse hunting with double-barreled shotguns.

In this river, you’ll find bright yellow-spotted brown trout and skinny boats made out of old logs. Have a cigar. Drink a beer. The river is long and this can easily become quite the day trip. But you won’t go hungry: The club is also famous for their charcuterie boards.

Pere Marquette River

Venturing west, the Pere Marquette River winds through the Manistee National Forest, with riffles and pools teeming with wild steelhead and aggressive resident trout. Fly fishing here is always an adventure, and you can fish it year-round. 

There are always fish to be caught: salmon, steelhead, sturgeon. The river is divided into sections, each fishing differently. The upper Manistee is loaded with trout. Below the Tippy Dam, you’ll find migratory fish. Come in the spring to chase steelhead on egg pattern flies. In the summer, you can target brown and rainbow trout, or find hidden pockets to catch walleye, smallmouth bass, and pike.

Early fall is the best time to visit, but you’ll need to book ahead—people crawl out of the hills for salmon season. Coho and King Salmon take over the river to spawn, turning the water into a frenzy of orange eggs and hungry brown trout. The salmon, in their final act, swim upstream to die, their bodies are decaying, but they are still aggressive. During the fall, steelhead trout return to feast on the eggs left behind by the salmon, and the cycle continues.

Muskegon River

Beyond the beaten paths lie Michigan’s hidden gems, where fly anglers can explore some overlooked species. The Muskegon River is the prime example. Widely known for its steelhead runs, the Muskegon also offers exciting smallmouth bass fishing during warm summer evenings.

This has been my favorite bass location and, for me, topwater poppers mimicking frogs are the hot ticket. It’s hard to beat catching a bass on a topwater with a fly rod. Pure aggression from a fish that fights outside its weight class. It never gets old.

Sturgeon River

Fishing the Sturgeon River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula always feels like a true escape. You’re in the beautiful loneliness of the U.P. It’s a great place to do a paddle trip and a perfect place to throw a fly.

The Sturgeon is a state-designated blue-ribbon trout stream, with clear, cold waters that can move quickly in some spots. Its waters provide wonderful conditions for brook trout—colorful, aggressive, and a ton of fun to catch. The river’s varied terrain, a mix of fast-moving sections and calmer pools, challenges fly folk to adapt different strategies as we make our way down river.

I’ve loved fishing this river with dry flies. Watching from the surface a trout rise out of the depths to slurp up your fly is pure magic. The serene environment and unspoiled wilderness make it a perfect spot to unplug.

Manistee River

The Manistee River, large and diverse, provides a wide slew of fishing experiences, depending on where you go. Known for producing big fish, the river is home to trout, steelhead, salmon, smallmouth bass, and pike, making it a great fly river.

In spring, steelhead dominate. As summer rolls in, the river shifts to trout and smallmouth. Fall brings the salmon run, with Coho and King Salmon taking over the river as they spawn, attracting not only the salmon but also the trout that feed on their eggs.

The Manistee is diverse. It’s got fast-flowing sections near the headwaters and deep, slow pools further downstream. Something for everyone. And this river was once home to the world-record brown trout (41 pounds, 7 ounces).

Boardman River

The Boardman River is a first-class trout fishery that moseys through Traverse City. Rolling hills, apple and cherry orchards, and excellent fishing. Access is easy. It’s also home to both wild and stocked brown and brook trout.

It’s a river of contrasts. In some places you’ll find fast riffles. In others, you’ll find deep pools, with trout lurking in the shadows. Each time I head toward the Boardman, I find a new place to explore.

I’ve done well here with streamers and nymphs, especially in the river’s upper sections. Make sure you’ve got your roll cast mastered though, because it can get tight in spots with lots of overhanging trees.

I love the Great Lakes. They’re one of the best parts of living in Michigan. But to overlook our rivers is to miss out on some of the best fly-fishing experiences in the country. In my mind, rivers are like arteries, carrying bits of wildness and natural beauty through every corner of our state. 

These are just a few of my favorites, but there are plenty of others waiting to be discovered. Get out there. Explore. And take a moment to truly appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us.

James Zandstra is an experienced outdoorsman with a passion for the Mitten State. Follow his work on X @TheFairChase1.