Fishing Season: Boardman River 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. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com 2025 All Species fishing license is required now. A mix of sun, clouds, and rain this week with temps rising in to the 60's and even 70's. Levels though are dropping to near normal levels and water is clear. Water temps have also risen with sunshine and warm temps. Look for silt beds and fish below them as warming sunshine will push warm water off these beds and small baitfish and large predators looking for them will look to ambush them. Water temps will rise into the low to mid 50's kicking some Hendricksons to emerge. Hendrickson activity has been reported in the warmer gravel sections around Brown Bridge Rd. and below. Upper river is still cold and tribs are keeping it cold.

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 5/5/25

Warmer with a little wet weather. Levels are down and temps look very good. Streamer fishing will be good as the week progresses. Keep an eye open for some Hendricksons to emerge midday as water temps rise into the low 50's. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site. Remember that tradtitional trout season reopened in the upper river April 26, 2025.

Techniques & Tips as of 5/5/25

Water temps are rising into the mid to mid 50's's and fish are beginning to metabolize. Boardman and Grand Traverse Bay river mouths are attracting steelhead as heavy flows dump into the Bay. Warmer temps in the 60's and 70's for the week will help water temps and make streamer fishing the preferred method after levels drop and water clears. Nymphing and Euro techniques will still be a good choice as well. Streamer fish to start the day and be ready to change over to a floating line, 5x, and a Hendrickson emerger mid-afternoon if Hendricksons begin to emerge and some rising fish show up. Hendrickson activity is likely to develop as the week progresses. Some duns and spinners have been seen, but sparsely.

Local Species Available Boardman River is now fully open.

  • 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):
Dark Hendrickson N/A #12-14
Lightning Bug pearl, silver #14-16
Gold Bead Hare's Ear Nymph N/A #12-14
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer N/A #4-6
Zebra nymph black #18
Mini D&D olive, white, black #6
Blue Wing Olive Parachute N/A #18
Bead Head Zug Bug N/A #14-16
Lord's Extended Body Hendrickson N/A #12-14
Gartside Soft-hackle Streamer yellow, black, white #4-6

Dark Hendrickson

Image Not Found

Item #0341

Buy Now

Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear

Description: About Boardman River

BOARDMAN RIVER FISHING IS NOW FULLY OPEN. 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:

Hendricksons (ephemerella subvaria) #12-14, Baetis #18 when clouds and rain arrive midweek. 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 (Jack's Landing)

Best Access:

Cass Road Robbins Bridge