Brown Trout were first introduced into the Baldwin River in 1884. This historic stocking made Lake County the first in North America to receive the brown trout from Germany, forever making the Pere Marquette River one of the most sought after streams for fly anglers in the United States. The brown trout is one of the smartest and most difficult fish to get your hands on in Michigan. A brown trout taken on a fly is a great reward that does not come easy. These beautiful fish live in the river year-round and are known to live in the same general area their entire life.​ No matter the month there is always a technique to target the resident brown trout of the Pere Marquette.
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Eggs are on the menu in March, April, September, and October. Notice the mouth full of eggs.
Fishing salmon fry patterns in April and May can produce some magnificent fish.
Throwing mouse flies at night May - August is a fun and productive summer approach.
A brown trout that ate a dry fly during the hex hatch in June.
Steelhead were introduced into the Pere Marquette in 1883. These magnificent fish spend their time in Lake Michigan May - September. By October 15th, depending on water levels, we usually have a fishable number of steelhead making their way up the river system. Pound for pound these are one of the hardest fighting fish you will find in Michigan and truly a sight to behold.
Steelhead can be targeted October 15 - April 15 using multiple different techniques: indicator fishing using a floating line with eggs/nymphs, spey fishing with swung streamers, and stripped streamers. Conventional float fishing rods can be provided upon request. My favorite time to fish the Pere Marquette for steelhead is the second half of October and all of November. This time of year the fish are fresh out of Lake Michigan and full of energy. March and April are the peak months for steelhead fishing on the PM, this is our spring run and when the most steelhead are in the river.
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A steelhead taken on an egg fly while indicator fishing in November.
A steelhead that destroyed a swung streamer in December.
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Griffen Brandt is a graduate of Western Michigan University where he pursued a degree in Recreation Management. From a young age, he has enjoyed the outdoors and exploring local rivers and creeks. Since he could drive Griff has spent nearly all of his free time chasing the resident and migratory species that Michigan has to offer.
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Instagram: @Trout.Trip
