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. Seasonably hot and dry this week. 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. Care should be given to play fish quickly and release carefully after a chance to recover. Late night hatches are now largely replaced with terrestrial fishing middays. Some light cahills, (stenonema vicarium), but fishing streamers early mornings, mousing late night after dark, and mostly hoppers, beetles, ants, and rubber legged attractors control most of the daytime hours. Tips of the week: The hot water temps require that you play fish quickly, and release fish quickly after making sure they are recovered. Also, when hopper fishing and find yourself wading downstream through a cedar swamp, change to a beetle. Then change back to the hopper pattern once the grassy, sunny banks reappears.
Directions open in app
Water Flow Data
5-Day Outlook as of 7/28/25
Seasonally hot temps this week. Levels are down and water temps will push the upper limits early in the week. Streamer fishing will be good as the week progresses. Hatches are waning, but the warm weather is bringing terrestrials to the river banks. Fishing midddays is best. Mousing is taking off late nights as well. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.
Techniques & Tips as of 7/28/25
Water temps are rising into the upper 60's and fish are feeding. Dry fly fishing is still the preferred method, but is now best middays when temps are high and terrestrials are moving to the river banks to drink and mate. Late night mousing after dark is starting to show some good results.
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): |
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Light Cahill | N/A | #12-14 |
Stimulator | yellow | #14-16 |
Schroeder's Parachute Hopper | N/A | #12 |
Dave's Oh-So-Iso | N/A | #12-14 |
Patriot | N/A | #12-14 |
Betsie Special | N/A | #10 |
Blue Wing Olive Parachute | N/A | #18 |
Quick-Sight Beetle | N/A | #14 |
Mouse | N/A | #4 |
Gartside Hopper | gray | #10 |
Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear
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Best Leader:
Super Strong Plus Leaders
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Best Tippet:
SuperStrong Plus Tippet in 30- and 100-meter spools
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Best Fly Fishing Rod:
5-Weight 9' Fly Rod
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Best Floating Fly Line:
WF Trout Fly Line
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Best Sinking Fly Line:
Class V Sink Tip Fly Line