Chris Izworski: Michigan Trout Daily Weekly Overview: Sunday, July 12, 2026

Chris Izworski’s Michigan Trout Daily weekly overview for Sunday, July 12: here is what the gauges actually show across the state right now as the terrestrial season settles in and summer heat begins its midday squeeze on trout habitat.

We are in the heart of July, which means hoppers, ants, and beetles are the dominant food forms, and the weekly rhythm is shaped entirely by temperature and light. Fish early, fish late, and resign yourself to slower midday periods as trout retreat to deeper pools and spring-fed runs. The data from all 62 gauged Michigan trout rivers tells a story of uneven conditions across the state: the Upper Peninsula is dealing with genuine high water in a few drainages, the Northern Lower Peninsula is running elevated across most of its major systems, and Southern Michigan remains ungauged and therefore opaque. What matters this week is flow and temperature in tandem. Neither tells the whole story alone.

Upper Peninsula

The UP is experiencing the most volatile conditions of any Michigan region right now. The Cedar River has blown out to 237 percent of median flow, making it essentially unfishable for trout work. The Salmon Trout River sits at 150 percent of median and should be approached with caution; these are high-water conditions that reward patience and good wading sense. Most of the region’s other major systems, however, are in reasonable shape. The Ontonagon River is right at the low end of normal at 70 percent of median, the Silver River at 99 percent, and the Tahquamenon River also at 99 percent. The Michigamme River is running 108 percent of median, which is solid water. The Iron River is at 90 percent of median, and the Brule River, which straddles the UP-Wisconsin border, is at 78 percent. These near-normal flows are fishable and should hold decent populations given the season.

The low-water systems warrant attention. The Black River in the UP proper is running at just 54 percent of median; the Presque Isle River at 53 percent. The Sturgeon River in the UP is notably low at 42 percent of median, while the Black River in Schoolcraft County sits at 69 percent. Low water in July often concentrates trout and can produce excellent dry fly fishing in early morning and evening, provided you fish small terrestrials and approach carefully. Temperatures offer some relief: the East Branch Salmon Trout River is the coldest reporting gauge in the entire state at 57 degrees Fahrenheit, while the Presque Isle River is the warmest in the UP at 76 degrees. That 19-degree spread speaks to the diversity of thermal habitat across the Peninsula.

Northern Lower Peninsula

The Northern Lower Peninsula is running elevated across most of its marquee systems. The AuSable River is at 142 percent of median, the Manistee River at 137 percent, the Pigeon River at 149 percent, and the Thunder Bay River at 155 percent. The Sturgeon River (Northern Lower Peninsula) is at 142 percent, and the Rifle River at 135 percent. These are high flows, but not blowout flows. They remain fishable with adjusted technique: heavier nymphs, deeper presentation, and a willingness to fish closer to structure. The Pere Marquette River, a legendary driftless-influenced system, is at 116 percent of median, which is manageable. The Jordan River sits at 118 percent, the Platte River at 124 percent, and the Pine River at 107 percent. All are within the range where a competent angler can find fish.

Some systems are running low. The Little Muskegon River is at 57 percent of median, the Au Gres River at 63 percent, Wolf Creek at 69 percent, the Pigeon River in Ottawa County at 59 percent, and the Tittabawassee River at 68 percent. These are excellent candidates for focused terrestrial fishing at dawn and dusk. The Muskegon River itself is at 89 percent of median, near-normal and worthwhile. Temperatures across the Northern Lower Peninsula are more moderate than the UP: the Manistee River is the coldest at 59 degrees Fahrenheit, while the Muskegon River is the warmest at 72 degrees. This is solid thermal habitat for July.

Southern Lower Peninsula

No gauges are currently reporting from Southern Michigan, which means any fishing decisions there will need to be made on local knowledge, visual assessment, and recent rainfall. This is a limitation worth noting and planning around.

Where I Would Go This Week

If I had one morning to fish this week, I would head to the Manistee River at first light. It is running elevated at 137 percent of median, but the temperature is cold at 59 degrees, and early-morning terrestrial fishing on a high-water system often produces outsized results because trout are less spooky in broken water. If the Manistee felt too pushy, I would drop back to the Platte River at 124 percent of median, which is easier to read and wade, or to one of the low-water systems like the Little Muskegon at 57 percent if I wanted to target concentrated, pressure-sensitive fish with small hoppers and ants during the prime evening window. The Pere Marquette at 116 percent of median is always worth a look in July, especially if the weather stays mild.

For detailed conditions on individual rivers and real-time gauge data across all 62 Michigan trout streams, visit https://michigantroutreport.com.