The last two prime winter trout rivers in northwest Michigan both flow into Lake Charlevoix. The Boyne River can be fished from the P.H. Dam down to its mouth at the lake. More water is open to winter fishing in the Jordan River where you can fish from Graves Crossing down to Lake Charlevoix. Both streams are in Charlevoix County and contain browns, brookies and rainbows, with only the rainbows over 10 inches being fair game for the creel.

The DNR number to call for conditions and additional information on these rivers is (231) 775-9727.

NORTHERN LAKE HURON
The winters are pretty rugged near the tip of the L.P., but two streams will usually be open for trout fishing when the weather breaks.

The Sturgeon River is open from Afton Road in the town of Wolverine down to Burt Lake. Brown trout predominate here, but you will also find many small rainbows and perhaps a large one that has come up from the lake. To the east, the lower Pigeon River is open from M-68 down to Mullet Lake. It’s mostly browns here, too, along with some brookies and rainbows.

In Presque Isle County, the Ocqueoc River is open to fishing from Barnhart Lake all the way to Lake Huron. The best trout fishing is found in the middle part of the stream, but since it’s much more prone to freezing than the Pigeon and Sturgeon, you need to wait for a lengthy period of mild weather.

You can fish for winter trout in all of the flies-only reaches of the Au Sable from Burton’s Landing to Wakeley Bridge and its South Branch (Chase Bridge to mouth) and North Branch (Sheep Ranch to mouth) in Crawford County. All three streams tend to stay ice-free, except in very cold weather. Both brook and brown trout are present, and the brookies tend to bite better in the winter. Catch-and-release rules are in effect for all three streams in winter.

For more information on these northern Lake Huron streams, contact the DNR at (989) 732-3541.

SOUTHERN LAKE HURON
Even though we are moving south, river ice becomes a big concern for the two rivers in Southern Lake Huron that are open to year-round trout fishing, so it’s important to wait for a prolonged mild spell and call ahead before you drive to the East Branch of the Au Gres River or the Rifle River.

The East Branch of the Au Gres is open all year downstream from M-55, and the best trout fishing is found in the first few miles below M-55 where there is a public access site. The Rifle River is open for winter fishing downstream from Sage Lake Road. Again, the best fishing is in the upper part of the stream, especially above M-55. Brown trout predominate in both rivers, and in the winter you can keep those that are over 15 inches.

You can reach the DNR in this management unit at (989) 684-9141 for current fishing information.

LAKE ERIE DISTRICT
Options for winter trout fishing are a bit limited in this part of Michigan, but are improving with the recent commencement of stocking in the Clinton River. This is Michigan’s “banana belt,” but the rivers can still freeze, so waiting for a stretch of mild weather is still a good plan.

On the Clinton River, you’ll find the best trout fishing in Oakland County between Squirrel and Hamlin roads, where they are stocking, and in the first two miles below Dequindre Road at the Oakland/Macomb county line. The browns must be released, but below Dequindre, you can keep rainbows over 10 inches. Upstream, the Clinton is classified as a warmwater stream, so from here you can keep some browns for a meal.