Fishing Season: Boardman is now fully open.

Boardman River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

61

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 Conditions continue to improve. Fair weather has finally returned and levels are normal. Hendricksons, black caddis, sulfurs and mahogonies have been emerging. Instant summer this week will warm the water and bring good hatches and spinnerfalls from 6-9pm.

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 6/1/26

Warm temps and lots of sunshine will warm the water and bring on the bugs. 80's all week. Water temps will move into the 60's. Levels are good and most sections are wadable. Clarity is better as well. Hatches will pick up and spinner falls of Hendricksons, black caddis egg-layers, and the start of the sulfurs and little mahogonies around 6-9pm. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 6/1/26

Dry fly season is upon us. Black caddis egg-layers, Hendrickson spinners, sulfurs, and some mahongonies will dominate around 6-9pm. Streamers early mornings as well. Water temps will push the fish to feed now.

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):
Angel Wing Spinner rusty brown #14
Pale Morning Dun Thorax N/A #16
Elk Wing Caddis black #16-18
Light Hendrickson N/A #16
Patriot N/A #14
Betsie Special N/A #10
Adams N/A #14
Cone Head Muddler Minnow N/A #8-4
Gartside Soft-Hackled Streamer yellow, black, or white #4
Galloups Cripple rusty #16

Angel Wing Spinner

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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:

Baetis #22 (pseudocleons), black caddis #16. Hendricksons (ephemerella subvaria #14), sulfurs (ephemerella invaria #16), little mahogony (paraleptophlebia #16) Visit the STREAMSIDEORVIS.COM website for blogs, tips, photos... and more! Like us on Facebook too.

Best Time to Fish:

6-9pm

Best Stretch:

Forks to Brown Bridge

Best Access:

Robbins Bridge - upstream for streamers, downstream for nymphing