Chris Izworski’s Michigan Trout Daily weekly overview for Sunday, May 10: here is what the gauges actually show across the state right now. May is running with a split personality this week. The Upper Peninsula is dealing with serious runoff in two major systems, the northern Lower Peninsula is holding mostly stable with one or two live wires, and the southern Lower Peninsula remains ungauged but presumably fishing within reason given the moderate conditions we’re seeing to the north. Across all sixty-two gauged rivers in the Michigan Trout Report network, this is a week where location matters more than usual. The good news: caddis hatches are building statewide, sulphur spinners are starting to show in evening hours, and trout remain actively feeding. The bad news: if you’re planning a trip to certain corners of the state, you may be waiting out high water rather than fishing through it.
Upper Peninsula: Two Rivers Blown Out, Many Running Cold and Stable
The Tahquamenon River is running at 201 percent of median, and the Cisco Branch Ontonagon River is at 181 percent. These are your blowouts. If you were planning either of those, shift to Plan B. The Pine River near Rudyard is running high at 134 percent but not unmanageable; if you know that system and have experience with elevated flows, it is still worth considering. Across the rest of the eastern and central UP, the picture is considerably more favorable. The Salmon Trout River is running near normal at 118 percent of median and reporting the coldest water in the state at 42 degrees Fahrenheit, which is excellent for early May. The Black River in Schoolcraft County is right at 104 percent. The Michigamme River sits at 100 percent, dead normal. The Brule River is at 92 percent, the Iron River at 94 percent, and the Silver River at 83 percent. All are fishable, all are running cool enough to keep trout actively feeding. Five gauges are offline across the UP, so you may have other systems running under the radar, but the reportable data shows a region where you have plenty of stable options alongside the two systems to avoid. Temperatures range from that 42-degree Salmon Trout to 45 degrees on the Escanaba River. This is ideal trout water right now.
Northern Lower Peninsula: One Live Wire, One Problem Child, Mostly Business as Usual
The Pine River near Oscoda is your hot rod this week at 151 percent of median, running high but not blown out. The Clam River is at 139 percent, also elevated but fishable if you know how to work higher flows. Neither is blown out like those UP systems, but both warrant adjusted technique and patience. The AuSable River, the state’s most famous trout water, is sitting at 109 percent of median and holding stable. The Manistee River is at 122 percent, still near normal despite the slightly elevated reading, and reporting 45 degrees, which is ideal for caddis emergence and evening sulphur activity. The Pere Marquette River is at 108 percent. The Jordan River is at 114 percent. The Pigeon River is at 110 percent. All of these are solid, fishable, and running the kind of conditions where May hatches actually show themselves properly. The one real problem child is the Au Gres River, which is running at 56 percent of median and likely low enough to concentrate fish but potentially too clear and slow for easy sight fishing. The Muskegon River is at 87 percent, slightly below normal but not problematic. Seven gauges are offline in this region, meaning you have unmeasured systems that may be running beautifully. Water temperatures in the northern Lower Peninsula range from 45 degrees on the Manistee up to 56 degrees on the Muskegon River, which is warming but still manageable. This is a solid week for the core of Michigan’s trout country.
Southern Lower Peninsula: No Gauge Data, No Cause for Concern
The southern Lower Peninsula has no gauged rivers reporting to the Michigan Trout Report network, which means no hard data but also no red flags. If the northern and central parts of the state are running near normal to high, it is reasonable to assume the southern systems are in similar shape. Plan your trips based on local reports and seasonal expectations, knowing that May conditions statewide are generally favorable for trout activity.
Where I Would Go This Week
I would target the Salmon Trout River in the UP if I could reach it. At 118 percent of median with water at 42 degrees, it is running perfectly for early May caddis and sulphur activity, and it is cold enough that trout will feed actively through midday. If the UP is too far, I would fish the Manistee River in the northern Lower Peninsula. At 122 percent with 45-degree water and plenty of stable habitat, it checks every box for a solid May week. Both systems are reporting near-normal to slightly elevated flows, meaning the water will be manageable and the hatches will show themselves. Stay away from the Tahquamenon and Cisco Branch Ontonagon for now; wait until those systems come back down. For more detailed conditions on individual rivers, visit https://michigantroutreport.com.