Fishing Season: Boardman is closed upstream of Beitner until 4/25/26

Boardman River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

37

Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week

THE BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW CLOSED UPSTREAM OF BEITNER/KEYSTONE ROADS UNTIL APRIL 25, 2026. BELOW BEITNER/KEYSTONE ROADS, FISHING IS CLOSED OCTOBER 1, 2025 TO KILLING BROWN TROUT, BROOK TROUT AND ATLANTIC SALMON BUT OPEN TO ALL OTHER TROUT AND SALMON. FISHING IS ALSO CLOSED FROM FRONT STREET BRIDGE TO THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE JUST DOWNSTREAM OF THE WEIR WHILE WEIR IS IN PLACE. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com 2025 All Species fishing license is required now. FOR SPECIFIC SEASON RESTRICTIONS, KILL AND SIZE LIMITS, GO TO: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/laws/regulations 2025 All species fishing license is now required. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com Temps in the 40's early this week will make the February thaw attract anglers to the river. Much improved temps will help access and eliminate shelf ice. Streamer fishing will now take over as ice-free guides are now possible. Euro tactics and swinging flies are also good tactics.

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 2/16/26

Much warmer as temps will climb in the upper 40's this week. A little snow late in the week, but otherwise, a great week for winter fishing. Levels are little higher but water remains mostly clear. Streamer fishing, swinging flies and Euro techniques are best. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 2/16/26

Pulling streamers will dominate as ice-free guides make it easy and productive with warmer water temps. Fish deep, and slow, or fish below the silt beds that will be pushing warmer water in the sunshine early this week.

Local Species Available Boardman is closed upstream of Beitner until 4/25/26

  • Fish Icon

    Brook trout

  • Fish Icon

    brown trout

  • Fish Icon

    — brown & rainbow trout

  • Fish Icon

    king & coho salmon

  • Fish Icon

    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
Lightning Bug N/A #16
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer white, olive, black #6-4
Bullet nymphs N/A #16
Betsie Special N/A #10
Blue Wing Olive Parachute N/A #18
Cone Head Muddler Minnow N/A #8-4
Gartside Soft-Hackled Streamer yellow, black, or white #4
Perdigons purple, olive #16

Angel Wing Spinner

Image Not Found

Item #63EC

Buy Now

Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear

Description: About Boardman River

THE BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW CLOSED UPSTREAM OF BEITNER/KEYSTONE ROADS UNTIL APRIL 25, 2026. BELOW BEITNER/KEYSTONE ROADS, FISHING IS CLOSED OCTOBER 1, 2025 TO KILLING BROWN TROUT, BROOK TROUT AND ATLANTIC SALMON BUT OPEN TO ALL OTHER TROUT AND SALMON. FISHING IS ALSO CLOSED FROM FRONT STREET BRIDGE TO THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE JUST DOWNSTREAM OF THE WEIR WHILE WEIR IS IN PLACE. 2025 All species fishing license is now required. 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. 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