Fishing Season: Boardman is now fully open.

Boardman River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

52

Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week

THE BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW FULLY OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2026. 2026 All species fishing license will be required April 1, 2026. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com FOR SPECIFIC SEASON RESTRICTIONS, KILL AND SIZE LIMITS, GO TO: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/laws/regulations ****2026 All species fishing license will be required April 1, 2026. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com Conditions continue to improve. Fair weather has finally returned and levels are beginning to lower. Water is still a little stained and in the low 50's, so Hendricksons have been emerging sporadically, but fish continue to be lethargic with cold overnight temps. North Branch is warmer and producing Hendricksons. Streamer fishing is still best until water temps reach 53 degrees or better. Wading is still difficult.

Directions open in app

Map of Boardman River

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Hawkins Outfitters,
Streamside Orvis

5-Day Outlook as of 5/11/26

Levels continue to improve and most sections are cautiously wadable. Clarity is better as well, but water temps remain in the low 50's. Conditions will be good for streamer fishing as levels drop over the next several days as we wait for more normal levels to make wading easier and 53 degrees to get Hendrickson going. Late this week should warm water and get fish feeding on Hendricksons. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 5/11/26

Now that the upper water is open for the summer, wading is improving and fishing will improve. Steamer fishing remains the high percentage approach, but nymphing will be good as well. Keep moving and fish the deeper holes and jams. Once water temps get into the mid 50's and overnights temps warm, look for Hendricksons to emerge regularly and fish to begin rising to the surface to feed.

Local Species Available Boardman is now fully open.

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    Brook trout

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    brown trout

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    — brown & rainbow trout

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    king & coho salmon

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    smallmouth below Union St dam

Streamside Michigan's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Angel Wing Spinner olive/brown #20
Bead Head Stonefly black #10-12
Red Quill N/A #12-14
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer white, olive, black #6-4
Bullet nymphs N/A #16
Betsie Special N/A #10
Dark Hendrickson N/A #14
Cone Head Muddler Minnow N/A #8-4
Gartside Soft-Hackled Streamer yellow, black, or white #4
Perdigons purple, olive #16

Angel Wing Spinner

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Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear

Description: About Boardman River

THE BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW FULLY OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2026. ****2026 All species fishing license will be required April 1, 2026. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com The beautiful Boardman River, birthplace of the Adams fly, starts east and south of Traverse City and ends as it flows into the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay in Lake Michigan. Self-sustaining populations of rainbow, brown and brook trout inhabit all sections of the river, but have higher populations of brook trout in the uppermost sections. Favorite hatches include Hendricksons and black caddis in May, sulfurs, brown drakes and isonychia in June, with gray drakes and the famous hex hatch in late June and July. Late July and August terrestrial, trico, and baetis fishing rounds out the summer. Aggressive fall spawning browns chase large streamers and attracters in September as well. The upper Boardman River closes the end of September while the lower river below Sabin Dam remains open all year. In October, the lower river fills with Lake Michigan coho and Chinook salmon. The salmon run culminates in late October with a fall run of steelhead. Steelhead fishing continues all winter and peaks in March and April. These enormous 8 to 15 pound lake-run rainbow trout draw anglers from around the world. The easy gradient and sand and gravel bottom makes wading comfortable with numerous public access points. Both arms of Grand Traverse Bay have wadable flats that will host schools of spawning Great Lakes carp and smallmouth in months of May and June.

Nearest Airport:

Cherry Capital Traverse City (TVC)

Hatches:

Baetis #22 (pseudocleons), tiny black stoneflies along the banks. Hendricksons (ephemerella subvaria #14) once water temps hit 53 degrees. Visit the STREAMSIDEORVIS.COM website for blogs, tips, photos... and more! Like us on Facebook too.

Best Time to Fish:

noon to 5pm

Best Stretch:

Robbins Bridge to Nature Center

Best Access:

Robbins Bridge - upstream for streamers, downstream for nymphing