# Weekly Michigan Trout Rollup: June 14, 2026

Chris Izworski, reporting on the state of Michigan trout water for the week ending Sunday, June 14, 2026.

The calendar says mid-June, which in a normal season means the sulphur emergence is winding down and brown drakes are appearing on the upper branches of the bigger rivers. This year follows that script with a few local variations. Water temperatures are climbing into the mid-sixties on most tailwaters and spring creeks, and the best fishing has shifted to mornings before the sun climbs too high and evenings when the air cools and something moves on the surface. Flows remain stable across most of the state, though some watersheds in the western Lower Peninsula saw a brief pulse from storms that passed through midweek. The Hex hatch is still a week or ten days off on most water, but brown drakes are showing in numbers on the Au Sable system and a few northern rivers worth the drive. If you are inclined to fish after dark, now is the time to scout.

Northern Lower Peninsula

The Au Sable remains the center of gravity. Flow at Mio sits at 720 cubic feet per second, down from the 800 range a week ago, and the gauge height is holding at 3.4 feet. That is comfortable wading for most stretches. Sulphurs are still coming off sporadically in the late afternoon between Burton’s Landing and Wakeley Bridge, though the density has dropped since early June. Brown drakes are the story now. Look for them from Stephan Bridge upstream through the braids above Grayling, roughly 9:00 p.m. to full dark. A Parachute Brown Drake in size 10 or a Spent Drake pattern if you are fishing the film later will cover most situations. The Manistee below Tippy Dam is running at 1,100 cubic feet per second, slightly elevated but fishable. Sulphurs and Isonychia are both active in the evening window, and nymphing with a Pheasant Tail size 14 or a Hare’s Ear size 12 has been steady through the afternoons when nothing is showing. The Boardman is low and clear, 85 cubic feet per second at the Traverse City gauge, and fishing well early and late. Caddis in size 14 to 16 are reliable. One specific recommendation: fish the South Branch of the Au Sable above Chase Bridge in the hour before dark. Brown drakes have been appearing there consistently, and the trout are looking up.

Western Lower Peninsula

The Pere Marquette is running at 460 cubic feet per second at Scottville, which is seasonal and comfortable. The sulphur hatch peaked two weeks ago, but you will still see scattered bugs in the evening between Indian Bridge and Gleason’s Landing. Better right now are the brown drakes appearing in the upper river near Baldwin, particularly the water between M-37 and Upper Branch Bridge. Fish a Brown Drake Comparadun size 10 or a Parachute version if the light is low. The Little Manistee is clear and wadable at 140 cubic feet per second. Caddis are active, and nymphing with a Caddis Pupa size 14 or a Copper John size 16 through the deeper runs has been productive. The Betsie is low at 95 cubic feet per second near Elberta, and the fish are cautious in the thin water. Morning sessions with small terrestrials or a Parachute Adams size 16 have been better than the evenings, when the trout seem to lock onto specific emergers that are hard to match. One specific recommendation: wade the middle Pere Marquette between Walhalla and Indian Bridge in the morning with a Sulphur Comparadun size 14 and a trailing Pheasant Tail nymph size 16. You will find fish working subsurface even when nothing is showing on top.

Upper Peninsula

The Fox near Seney is running at 210 cubic feet per second, stable and clear. Sulphurs are still coming off in the late afternoon, and the fish are selective but willing. A Sulphur Emerger size 14 fished in the film works better than a high-floating dry when the trout are being difficult. The Two Hearted is low at 65 cubic feet per second, and you will need light tippet and small flies. Caddis and small mayflies in size 16 to 18 are the standard. The Sturgeon near Nahma is clear and cool, 140 cubic feet per second, and fishing well for those willing to make the drive. Hendricksons are finished, but caddis are active and the nymphing is solid through the pocket water with a Hare’s Ear size 14 or a Prince Nymph size 12. Brown drakes have not appeared yet on most U.P. rivers, though some local reports suggest they are beginning on the upper Fox. One specific recommendation: fish the Fox below the dam at Seney in the evening. The water is technical, the fish are educated, and you will need a clean presentation, but sulphurs are still hatching there and the trout are looking for them.

For live flow data, detailed hatch windows, and daily conditions across the Michigan trout network, visit michigantroutreport.com.