Where are the best places to Fly Fish in Michigan?

Michigan, also known as the "Great Lakes State," is home to some of the best fly fishing destinations in the Midwest. With over 11,000 inland lakes and 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, Michigan offers a diverse range of fly fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. Here are some of the top fly fishing destinations in Michigan:

The Au Sable River

The Au Sable River is one of the most famous fly fishing destinations in Michigan. This river flows for 138 miles through the northern part of the Lower Peninsula and is home to a variety of trout species, including brown, rainbow, and brook trout. The Au Sable River is known for its excellent dry fly fishing, with abundant hatches of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies throughout the summer months. The river also offers some of the best streamer fishing in the state, with large brown trout eager to chase streamer patterns.

The Manistee River

The Manistee River is another top destination for fly fishing in Michigan. This river flows for 190 miles through the northern part of the Lower Peninsula and is home to a variety of trout species, including brown, rainbow, and brook trout. The Manistee River is known for its excellent dry fly fishing, with abundant hatches of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies throughout the summer months. The river also offers some of the best steelhead fishing in the state, with large steelhead migrating upstream from Lake Michigan in the fall and winter months.

The Pere Marquette River

The Pere Marquette River is a top destination for fly fishing in Michigan's western region. This river flows for 64 miles through the scenic Manistee National Forest and is home to a variety of trout species, including brown, rainbow, and brook trout. The Pere Marquette River is known for its excellent dry fly fishing, with abundant hatches of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies throughout the summer months. The river also offers some of the best salmon fishing in the state, with large Chinook and Coho salmon migrating upstream from Lake Michigan in the fall months.

The Muskegon River

The Muskegon River is a top destination for fly fishing in Michigan's central region. This river flows for 227 miles through the western part of the Lower Peninsula and is home to a variety of trout species, including brown, rainbow, and brook trout. The Muskegon River is known for its excellent dry fly fishing, with abundant hatches of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies throughout the summer months. The river also offers some of the best steelhead fishing in the state, with large steelhead migrating upstream from Lake Michigan in the fall and winter months.

The St. Mary's River

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is also home to some of the best fly fishing destinations in the state. The St. Mary's River, which flows between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, is home to a variety of trout species, including brown and brook trout. The Black River, which flows through the Ottawa National Forest, is home to brown, rainbow, and brook trout. The Two Hearted River, which was made famous by Ernest Hemingway's short story, is home to brook and rainbow trout.