This lake-run brown trout made its way up into tiny Prairie Creek. Photo by Jim Bedford

Many Michigan anglers look forward to fishing through the ice each winter, but there are also those who love fishing for trout in open streams. The main trout season closed three months ago, but our browns, brookies and rainbows continue to feed during the winter. When the Department of Natural Resources classified our trout waters a few years ago, they also opened many new streams to year-round fishing. The only catch is that, on many of these newly opened streams, the browns and brookies must be released.

Most of our Upper Peninsula streams freeze in the winter and, of course, the climate is colder across “The Bridge.” Therefore, we are going to concentrate on describing the prime winter trout fisheries in the Lower Peninsula. Utilizing the DNR’s regional management units, we will circle the L.P. in a clockwise direction, starting in the southwest corner.

SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN
The southwestern part of Michigan is blessed with a lot of trout water, and the winters are just a bit milder temperature-wise than elsewhere.

In the extreme corner of our state, the South Branch of the Galien River is stocked with brown trout. The best catch-and-release fishing is found at and just upstream from the U.S. 12 crossing. To the east, the Dowagiac River offers ample room for all types of fishing. In the lower river below the dam near Niles, you can harvest browns as long as they are 15 inches or longer. Upstream, it is catch-and-release, but some really large browns lurk in this river, so bring a camera.

Moving north, several Kalamazoo River tributaries are open to catch-and-release winter angling for brown trout. Swan Creek in Allegan County is stocked with browns, and the whole stream is open to year-round angling. It should be noted that you are required to use lures with single-pointed hooks below 118th Avenue. At the eastern edge of the county, the Gun River also offers winter angling for brown trout, with the best fishing found between U.S. 131 and 2nd Street. In Kalamazoo County, Portage and Augusta creeks are open for winter fishing for brown trout. Portage is best south of Interstate 94. Trying Augusta Creek near the Kellogg Forest just south of M-89 would be a good idea.

The Grand River basin offers even more opportunities for getting your waders wet in the winter.

Crockery Creek is open to catch-and-release fishing for brown trout throughout Muskegon County, with the best fishing found upstream from the town of Ravenna. The Rogue River is best known for its steelheading, but you will find good trout fishing for both browns and rainbows between the upper 12 Mile Road bridge and the dam in Rockford.

If you are looking for a winter meal of fresh trout, rainbows longer than 10 inches can be creeled. Buck Creek flows through the Grand Rapids suburbs of Wyoming and Grandville and offers surprisingly good fishing for brown trout. Farther upstream, Coldwater Creek in the southeastern corner of Kent County is open for winter fishing downstream from the town of Freeport. In 2005, the DNR stocked rainbows here in addition to browns, so it’s another chance at a winter fresh trout dinner. Prairie Creek in Ionia County and Fish Creek in Montcalm County are also open all year. All of Prairie is open, while Sidney Road is the upstream limit for Fish Creek. Both offer good brown trout fishing and a slight chance at a brookie.

Access to all of these streams is mostly via road crossings. Up-to-date information can be obtained from the DNR at (269) 685-6851.