Fishing Season: The Boardman is now closeD upstream of Beitner/Keystone. Fishing is open downstream of Keystone.

Boardman River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

34

Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week

THE BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW CLOSED TO FISHING UPSTREAM OF BEITNER/KEYSTONE ROADS. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com 2023 All Species Fishing License is required through March, 2025. Fishing above Beitner/Keystone is now closed. Heavy snowfall this last week has been replaced with warm above freezing temps that have made levels rise and wading difficult. Cold temps and snow to start this week and some warmer temps late in the week. Streamer fishing is fair in the Robbins Bridge area as cooler water temps pushes browns and brookies to gravel. Nymphing and Euro techniques have been effective at Robbins as well. Some post-spawn browns are still aggressive now. Some streamer anglers are finding late run coho at river mouths and shoreline on Grand Traverse Bay. Don't forget that September 30 was the last day of fishing upstream of Beitner/Keystone Roads. Fishing will remain open downstream of Beitner/Keystone Roads.

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 12/24/24

Winter has finally shown it's snowy face, but a brief thaw later this week will have levels rising and water stained. Levels will rise and access is a little difficult later this week. Post-spawn streamer fishing is good now. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site. Remember that fishing season ended Monday, September 30 upstream of Beitner/Keystone Roads. Fishing season remains open downstream of Beitner/Keystone Roads.

Techniques & Tips as of 12/24/24

Streamer fish mornings to start the week. Euro techniques will prevail as well. When rain and snow arrive, change to streamers all day.

Local Species Available The Boardman is now closeD upstream of Beitner/Keystone. Fishing is open downstream of Keystone.

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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):
Hot Head Euro Pheasant Tail N/A #16
Lightning Bug pearl, silver #14-16
Gold Bead Hare's Ear Nymph N/A #14
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer N/A #4-6
PMX yellow, peacock, or #10-12
Mini D&D olive, white, black #6
Lynch's Double D Streamer N/A #4
Bead Head Zug Bug N/A #14-16
Hi-viz BWO N/A #20
Gartside Soft-hackle Streamer yellow, black, white #4-6

Hot Head Euro Pheasant Tail

These attention getting fluorescent bead head nymphs will turn tails in fast water.

2.99

Item #7T55

Buy Now

Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear

Description: About Boardman River

BOARDMAN RIVER FISHING IS NOW CLOSED UPSTREAM OF BEITNER RD. AND KEYSTONE LANDING. Special fishing regulations wil take effect downstream of Beitner/Keystone Roads October 1, 2024. Check Michigan DNR fishing regs. 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:

Midges when air temps rise above freezing. Visit the STREAMSIDEORVIS.COM website for blogs, tips, photos... and more! Like us on Facebook too.

Best Time to Fish:

mornings to 5pm

Best Stretch:

Robbins Bridge (Jack's Landing)

Best Access:

Cass Road Robbins Bridge