Chris Izworski’s Michigan Trout Daily weekly overview for Sunday, July 5: here is what the gauges actually show across the state right now, and it tells a story of a Michigan in the grip of post-holiday high water. Three days past the Fourth, we are looking at a state where roughly half of all reporting rivers are running above normal to blown out, where July’s terrestrial season is competing hard against water temperatures and elevated flows, and where the smart angler this week knows where to go and when to fish it.

July means hoppers, ants, and beetles. It means fishing the early morning hour and the final hour before dark, when terrestrial insects are active and water temperatures have not yet climbed into the uncomfortable range. The midday heat pushes trout deep and makes them reluctant. But this week, elevated water levels across much of Michigan add another layer of complexity. Higher flows mean fish are more willing to move and feed, but they also mean that the classic summer structure—the inside bend, the seam, the pocket behind the rock—gets harder to read and fish with precision.

Upper Peninsula: High Water and Cold Water

The Upper Peninsula is running mixed, but the headline is cold water and selective blown-out conditions. The Sturgeon River at Loretto is the worst offender at 223 percent of median, making it difficult for all but the most experienced high-water anglers. The Silver River sits at 143 percent, the Salmon Trout River at 133 percent, and the Tahquamenon River at 132 percent. These are not marginal elevations. They are rivers that will reward patience and small presentations but will punish carelessness.

The good news is temperature. The East Branch Salmon Trout River is running at 53 degrees, the coldest reporting gauge in the entire state network. The Presque Isle River, by contrast, is the warmest in the UP at 69 degrees, though it is also running very low at 31 percent of median, which means it may be too warm and too thin for consistent success. Look instead to the middle ground: the Michigamme River at 109 percent, the Iron River at 112 percent, and the Ontonagon River at 80 percent are all running near or slightly above normal with cold enough water to keep fish active through the afternoon. The Sturgeon River in the UP proper, separate from the Loretto gauge, sits at a manageable 70 percent.

The UP’s advantage this week is that terrestrial hatches are happening on cold water, which slows insect activity and means the window for success is compressed but real. Fish early, fish small, fish the undercuts and the deep pockets.

Northern Lower Peninsula: Widespread High Water

The Northern Lower Peninsula is the story of the state this week, and the story is high water. The Black River near South Haven has exploded to 388 percent of median, making it essentially unfishable for trout. The Dowagiac River is at 247 percent. The Thunder Bay River is at 203 percent. These are post-storm anomalies that will take days or weeks to moderate.

But below that tier, there is a range of conditions that matters. The AuSable River, Michigan’s most fished trout stream, is running at 170 percent, which is high but not unfishable for an angler who knows how to read higher water. The Manistee River is at 147 percent. The Rifle River is at 152 percent. The Pigeon River is at 134 percent. The Sturgeon River in this region is at 133 percent. The Platte River is at 131 percent. These are all rivers that will fish, but they demand technique.

The Jordan River sits at 127 percent, which is closer to the sweet spot for early-July terrestrial fishing. The Pere Marquette River, another major destination, is holding steady at 112 percent and is running a reasonable 61 degrees in the Manistee, the coldest gauge in the Northern Lower Peninsula proper. The Muskegon River is near normal at 104 percent. The Pine River is at 109 percent. The White River is at 99 percent and the Rogue River at 98 percent.

This region has good water for this time of year, but only if you target the right stretches. The lower portions of high-running rivers often fish better than the upper portions because the water has had time to slow and settle. The Pere Marquette, Muskegon, White, and Rogue are your best bets for straightforward July dry fly fishing to terrestrials.

Southern Lower Peninsula: No Data, No Excuses

The Southern Lower Peninsula has no gauged rivers in the Michigan Trout Report network, which means you are flying without instrumentation this week. That does not mean the fishing is bad. It means you need to scout conditions in person, watch water color, talk to local fly shops, and make your own judgment call. Generally, southern Michigan’s smaller streams warm faster and run lower in July, so the early and late hour becomes even more critical.

Where I Would Go This Week

If I were planning the week ahead, I would target the Pere Marquette River for a Tuesday or Wednesday morning trip. It is running at 112 percent, which is a manageable level for July, and the water temperature at 61 degrees suggests fish will be active on terrestrials in the early light. The White River at 99 percent is another strong choice, and the Rogue River at 98 percent rounds out the safe three. All three are in the Northern Lower Peninsula, all three are near normal, and all three offer the kind of readable water where a terrestrial angler can make a difference with small hoppers and ants. Avoid the AuSable unless you specifically want to work high water. Fish early. Fish small. Plan to be off the water by 10 a.m.

For current conditions on your target river, check https://michigantroutreport.com.