Fishing Season: The Boardman River is now fully open.

Boardman River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Temperature 70°

Temp:

70°

Water Temp:

68

Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week

THE ENTIRE BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW OPEN. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com 2023 All Species Fishing License is required through March, 2025. Time to consider moving to midday attractor/terrestrial fishing. Ants and beetle patterns have been highly successful in the upper Boardman valley. Mousing and some large bugs continue to provide good fishing at dark. Midday attractor fishing is improving with some very warm temps returning. Morning streamer fishing is good in low light.

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 7/23/24

Water is clear and lowered to normal levels. A little overnight rain to start the week and a few pop up storms afternoons. Cooling mid-week and seasonal 80's for the week's end. Lots of sun this week will provide good hopper/beetle/rubber-legged fishing. Fish will still feed on slowing emergences and spinnerfalls evenings this week. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 7/23/24

Streamer fish the early mornings to start the week. Midday attractor/rubber-legged patterns and terrestrial fishing for the noon to 5pm fishing. Water is now clear and near normal levels. Streamer fish early mornings in low light, then turn to small hoppers and rubber-legged patterns.

Local Species Available The Boardman River 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):
Quick-Sight™ Beetle N/A #14
Blue Wing Olive Parachute N/A #18-20
Schroeder's Hi-Vis Hopper tan #12
Skilton Quick Sight Ant N/A #16
PMX yellow, peacock, or #10-12
Arron's Ant N/A #16
Patriot Dry Fly copper #14
Dave's Oh-So-Iso N/A #12
Yellow Stimulator N/A #14
Gartside Pheasant Hopper N/A #10

Quick-Sight™ Beetle

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Item #0410

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Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear

Description: About Boardman River

THE BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW FULLY OPEN. 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:

Sulfur (ephemerella dorothea #18), Little yellow stoneflies #14, baetis (#20) when overcast or rainy, grasshopper #12, beetles #14, ants #14-16 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:

Forks, Brown Bridge

Best Access:

Brown Bridge Road