Question for those familiar with Michigan

[Desmond Wiles]

On April 28 & 29 I'll be in Toledo, OH on business. My last appointment will be late afternoon across the border in Temperence, MI. For those of you familiar with the southern parts of Michigan I'd like to get some advise on waters to fish. From what I understand most the great trout fishing is up north, which would more than likely be too far. Is there anything within 2-3 hours of the Ohio border? I'll have my 6 wt with me, and common NW trout flies. Along with available waters, what would be the best flies to tie up before heading out? If I can't hit any decent streams, I might be able to pack my float tube and find a lake, but would prefer to not mess around with a tube and just fish from the bank or off a dock. Thanks in advance guys!

[cmtundra]

http://www.midwesttroutfishing.com/states/michigan.htm

http://www.michigantroutstreams.com/...ntroutstreams/

http://www.flymartonline.com/article106.html

Within your driving radius, you'll have access to trout & steelhead rivers in both Michigan and Ohio. Toledo after all, is on Lake Erie -which supports runs of steelhead and salmon. I don't know about MI, but OH steelhead season runs through Apr 30 -which you'd catch just in time. Do a google search & you should come up with more links than what I posted.
In 2-3 hours from Toledo, you could be in a lot of places in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan. Hell for that matter, you could make PA or KY in about 3 hours from Toledo, although I doubt that'd be worth it. You've got plenty of opp's for fishing around or IN lake Erie, & with the brief nature of your trip, I'd limit the driving to maybe an hour or so.
Another option would be to book a Lake Erie charter. I'm sure there are some that cater to fly fishers. Most of your more pristine trout rivers in MI will be a good ways north, but you can go a long ways in 2-3 hrs.

[Bob Triggs]

Look Up member "Michigan Guy".

Then go out and buy a helmet and safety glasses because you are going to need em!

[Michigan Guy]

Hey desmond!!

I would love to tell you were to go but, I'm sure if I tell you one thing, some guy who has been somwearz' else will want to tell ya something way different.

Trust me on this one. If ya got some time for maybe a 3 hour drive or so:
Go to the Pere Marquette .....you WILL catch steelhead....its got beauty' scenery and lots of chrome!! Use a size 4-6-8 white/black/brown wooly bugger or an egg sucking leech or an EGG pattern...usually the later' is the best.

Find where the crowds are and go down stream of the people. It s just as crowded as it is here (let the responses begin).

http://steelheadsite.com/reports/mic...ges/31698.html

This is a post that my buddy added to a Michgan Site.

[Bob Triggs]

Matt, I knew we could count on you!

[Chad Theismann]

Hello, it's been a couple of years since I lived in Michigan, and when I was there I always tried to get to the Pere Marquette. I would second what Michigan guy said, I would add think small with the egg patterns. It's a beautiful river, super fun to fish- can be crowded though. If you go, think about renting a canoe and floating so you can get some uncrowded water. The Macdougalls to Sulak float is great, also the float from Rainbow Rapids, can't remember the takeout. Steelheadsite.com site guys are helpful, also I would highly recommended visiting Baldwin Bait and Tackle in Baldwin. The P.M. is great, but it is 4-4.5 hours from Toledo. Other good options, the Muskegon River- big river- good spey river, Rogue River- just north of Grand Rapids- smaller river- can get quite busy at times, and Prarie Creek- near Ionia- small river. If you go to the steelheadsite.com and ask for info, don't mention Prarie Creek, generally, those guys don't like to talk about small out the way creeks. Prarie Creek is probably 2.5 hours from Toledo. All these rivers have fewer fish than the P.M., but fewer people as well. You could also think about hitting the Huron River- about .5 hour from Toledo- not many fish in there and it is crowded with snagger types. Tons of other possiblities too in Ohio and some in Indiana too, just don't know them.
Have a great trip! Good luck, Chad

[Michigan Guy]

And listen to chads words.........he is wise in the ways of Michigan.

Well put Chad T. You sound like you know your stuff!!!! And it sounds like you have fished the P.M. .....its my favorite fiver in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!

Have a great day

[Desmond Wiles]

Thanks a lot guys. I would really love to head up to the northern parts and check out the P.M., but just don't have the time. Maybe next time I'll stay over on the weekend. Unfortunately my plans may be sabatoged do to another appointment added to my schedule, so I don't know if I'll have the time to even hit the Huron. I may just do some exploring for my next trip to the area. Thanks for the input!

[troutfly247]

You should check out the steelhead in Ohio. After all, it is considered 'steelhead alley.' They stock a ton of fish in lake erie. You might also be better off heading towards PA. I know from where I live in michigan its about a 3.5-4 hour drive. Check out Elk River. Also, there are creeks all along loaded with steelhead.

[sjterry]

I have no idea if it is open, but the Huron River through Ann Arbor has a good population of small mouth bass. My largest was 21 inches, about 6.5 lbs. there are also a few Pike in it. The Port Clinton area has some great small mouth fishing along the shores of the lake, but your probably a week or two early for it. Otherwise, the Rifle, PM, and the rivers further north and west in MI are your best bets. the River that runs right through Toledo (name starts with an M i think) has fish but it is really dark water. It has a huge mayfly hatch in july/august and lots of hungry carp.

[salt dog]

The Maumee River runs through Toledo, emptying into Lake Erie; Toledo is a port city, sitting on the bay formed at the meeting of the lake and the River.

White Bass move up the Maumee River to spawn in the spring, but its been so long (25 yrs) that I can't remember if that is in late April or May. Walleye migrate up river in early spring, i.e., March - early April. If you fish the White Bass spawning run a loud 2" surface streamer with lots of flash will get 1/2 to 2 pound white bass jumping out of the water to hit the fly. 20- 25 fish in a couple of hours is average if your timing is right. The water is heavy with sedimentation, and you'll need to go upstream a bit to get out of the urban area to adequate wading access and a bit nicer scenery.

Overall, you might have better fishing going for bass and pan fish on their spring spawning beds in the many ponds throughout northern Ohio and Southern Michigan. Central Michigan, and its rivers, if open, will provide what trout or steelhad action is available. Spring is a long time coming in the great lakes country, and its still cold there in April, and beginning of the mud season.

Good fortune.

[Randy Knapp]

Been to Michigan a few times and always did well because of info from the forums of the following site:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com

Randy

[Kundzja]

You don't have to drive hours up into Michigan. There are several short rivers E of Toledo going all the way over to PA in Ohio and NW PA, within two hours of Toledo. The Ohio fish vary in average size, mostly much smaller in Ohio/PA streams, by PNW standards, getting larger the further toward PA you get, supposedly. Get the book by Zupinski? re steelheading the Midwest and read it before you go if you can. If you insist on going to MI: A friend who travels back, annually, to fish the Pere Marquette, alleges there are precise techniques required to be consistently successful that are at variance with our swinging streamer approach, here. There are lots of fish in that system, some of which are quite large. There are one or two rivers in Ohio big enough to permit that approach/technique; it is rarely used, however, nymphing being, by far, more popular. Some articles suggest going to these rivers when conditions are adverse to avoid crowds and significantly increase odds of success - if you are an ardent PNW steelheader, you are, presumably, inured to inclement weather- some of these rivers can be combat/elbow-to-elbow/"Gong show" fishing condtions. There are also steelhead and salmon WEST of Toledo. I've read of 20 lb steelhead being caught on flies in Indiana rivers of all places!
The Elk and other PA streams (Beaver Crk?) have, occasionally produced huge fish. The PA state record comes close to or over 20 lbs.

[Michigan Guy]

Its-only-elbow-to-elbow-if-you-fish-right-next-to-someone-right??......