Fishing Season: Boardman is now fully open.

Boardman River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

58

Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week

THE BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW FULLY OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2026. 2026 All species fishing license will be required April 1, 2026. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com FOR SPECIFIC SEASON RESTRICTIONS, KILL AND SIZE LIMITS, GO TO: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/laws/regulations ****2026 All species fishing license will be required April 1, 2026. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com Pick your favorite time to fish. Mornings may have tricos, and midges, afternoons will bring hoppers, beetles, and ants to the waters edge, and late nights will still have leftover spinnerfalls and good mousing.

Directions open in app

Map of Boardman River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Hawkins Outfitters,
Streamside Orvis

5-Day Outlook as of 9/4/26

Heavy rain and cooler temps have stained the river and brought higher levels. Streamers will dominate the strategy for a couple of days. Rubber legged patterns and attractors will fool some fish when bright skies return. Water temps will remain in the upper 50's. Mousing is still very good after dark. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 9/4/26

Streamer fishing has taken over with the higher water. Hopper fishing in the sunshine, beetles in the shaded swampy sections, and rubberlegged patterns with ant droppers will move fish this week. Trico spinnerfalls early mornings before the sun rises above the treetops. Rain and thundershowers will bring baetis emergences to the surface. Overcast, rainy days will improve the streamer fishing.

Local Species Available Boardman 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):
Dave’s Oh-So-Iso N/A #12
Adam’s Purple Parachute N/A #14
Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper tan #12
Indicator Parachute - Trico olive #18
Yellow Sally N/A #12-14
Perfect Wing Spinner black #20
Patriot N/A #14
Betsie Special N/A #10
Ron's Yellow Skunk N/A #10
Gartside Hopper gray #10

Dave’s Oh-So-Iso

Dave's Oh-So-Iso pattern is the ultimate Iso imitation.

4.49

Item #26X9

Buy Now

Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear

Description: About Boardman River

THE BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW FULLY OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2026. ****2026 All species fishing license will be required April 1, 2026. 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:

Grasshoppers, beetles, ants. Tricorythodes (#20), Baetis #18-20. Visit the STREAMSIDEORVIS.COM website for blogs, tips, photos... and more! Like us on Facebook too.

Best Time to Fish:

1pm-6pm

Best Stretch:

Brown Bridge Quiet Area to Garfield

Best Access:

Brown Bridge Canoe Launch