Fishing Season: Boardman River is now fully open.

Boardman River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

69

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. With much warmer weather arriving, look for good hatches. A mix of sun, clouds, and only a little rain this week with much warmer temps finally looking like summer has arrived. Levels have dropped to near normal levels and water is now clear. Water temps have also risen with sunshine and warm temps into the upper 60's which is pushing the emergences of sulfurs, little mahogonies, little yellow stoneflies, and even some brown drakes. Look for isonychia this week with hex at dusk. Streamer fishing is also very good. Tip of the week: The hot water temps require that you play fish quickly, and release fish quickly after making sure they are recovered.

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 6/30/25

Hot temps this week. Levels are down and water temps are pushing the upper limits. Streamer fishing will be good as the week progresses. Sulfurs (invarias - #16) will continue but begin to wane as the smaller sulfurs arrive (dorotheas - #18). Look for them to emerge evenings and mix in with mahogonies (#16), yellow stones #14, and even some brown drakes and hex near the silt beds. Spinnerfalls will be good with evening air temps. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 6/30/25

Water temps are rising into the upper 60's's and perhaps 70's and fish are feeding. Dry fly fishing is still the preferred method early evenings until dark. Sulfur and yellow and brown stonefly activity will continue to develop as the week progresses. Watch for isonychia and hex at dusk with the much warmer air temps.

Local Species Available 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):
Real McCoy Muck Hex N/A #4
Stimulator yellow #14-16
CDC Sulphur Emerger N/A #16
Adams N/A #12-14
Robert's Yellow Drake N/A #10-14
Betsie Special N/A #10
Blue Wing Olive Parachute N/A #18
Pale Morning Dun Thorax N/A #16-18
Lord's Hex Spinner yellow #4-6
Borcher's N/A #10-12

Real McCoy Muck Hex

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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:

Hexagenia limbata #4. Sulfurs (emphemerella invaria #16), ephemerella dorothea #18, yellow stoneflies #14, brown stoneflies #10-12, brown drakes #10, little mahogonies #16, Baetis #18 if clouds and rain arrive. Visit the STREAMSIDEORVIS.COM website for blogs, tips, photos... and more! Like us on Facebook too.

Best Time to Fish:

6pm to dark

Best Stretch:

Forks Campground to Sheck's Campground

Best Access:

Ranch Rudolf Brown Bridge Road