Fishing the Pere Marquette River

The Pere Marquette is the river most traveling anglers have in mind when they plan a fishing trip to Ludington. It runs free from east of Baldwin to Lake Michigan at Ludington, with no dams anywhere on its system, and it draws salmon in late summer and fall, steelhead from late fall into spring, and resident trout all year. This guide covers the river for visitors. For the town, the charters and Hamlin Lake, see our Ludington guide.

Why it is different

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers program calls it the longest river system in the Lower Peninsula with no dams or impoundments. In 1978, the 66.4 miles from the forks of the Middle and Little South branches down to US-31 became a National Scenic River, managed by the Huron-Manistee National Forests.

It also has history that fly anglers care about. The Pere Marquette was the site of the first brown trout introduction in the United States, in 1884. Rainbow trout followed in 1885 and became a self-sustaining steelhead run. Salmon were stocked in the system only once, in Ruby Creek in 1967, and the river now has a naturally reproducing salmon population.

The federal program describes it as a nationally known fishery that draws thousands of anglers a year, within a two-hour drive of more than a million people. Expect company in the peak weeks.

The runs and the seasons

Chinook salmon. Chinook start their upstream migration in late summer and are usually in catchable numbers by mid-August. The DNR names the Pere Marquette among the state’s better inland streams for them. Before they run, they gather in the Ludington harbor, the channel and Pere Marquette Lake, and in October DNR reports have described good numbers of salmon in the South Branch of the river in northern Newaygo County.

Steelhead. Lake-run steelhead enter Michigan rivers from late October to early May. Many fall fish spend the winter in the river, and spawning comes in spring. DNR reports in November have described more anglers working steelhead in the lower river, and a spring report found fish holding in slower water as river conditions changed.

Resident trout. Brown and rainbow trout live in the river year round. A Baldwin outfitter lists rainbows, browns, a few brook trout and summer steelhead in summer; Chinook, browns and rainbows in fall; and steelhead, browns and rainbows from late fall through spring. The same outfitter points to the hex hatch, when big browns feed at night.

These are broad patterns, not a schedule. Water temperature, rain and Lake Michigan conditions move the runs from year to year, so check the DNR weekly fishing report in the weeks before you go. For the bigger picture of the fall run, see our northern Michigan fall salmon run guide and fall salmon fishing.

The river from Baldwin to Ludington

The upper river around Baldwin is the national forest stretch. For managing summer boat traffic, the Forest Service splits it into three segments: the Forks to Bowman Bridge, Bowman Bridge to Upper Branch Bridge, and Upper Branch Bridge to Indian Bridge. The first segment is the busiest, and the third is the place for more solitude. Motors are not allowed upstream from Indian Bridge on national forest land.

Most of the main stem is designated trout water, and a stretch of the Middle Branch from Reek Road up to Switzer Bridge is a Blue Ribbon trout stream. The river’s character shifts as it goes: tight, wooded reaches with rocks, logs, pools and eddies above Walhalla Bridge, then broad valleys and open marsh as it nears Lake Michigan. The lower river ends in Pere Marquette Lake, Ludington’s harbor, where a DNR report has also described good northern pike fishing in spring.

Flies-only water and special rules

The state designates the river from M-37 to Gleason’s Landing as quality fishing water: flies only, catch and release. Other stretches follow other rules, and the DNR publishes inland trout and salmon maps to show which rules apply where.

We do not restate the details here because they change. Before each trip, read the current Michigan Fishing Regulations for every stretch you plan to fish, and do not rely on last year’s rules or on what someone tells you at the river. Our fishing licenses guide covers how Michigan licenses work.

Guides, drift boats and fly fishing

Baldwin is the river’s fly-fishing town. One Orvis-endorsed outfitter on M-37 lists nine full-time guides and fishes the Pere Marquette all year, along with the Muskegon and Manistee in spring and fall. On a typical guided day you meet your guide at the shop, load the boat and float the river. The outfitter supplies rods, reels, flies and tackle, plus food and drinks; you bring waders, weather-appropriate clothing, a hat and sunglasses. Start times depend on the species and the season.

A guide makes the most sense for a first trip or a short one. You get a boat, local knowledge of the legal water and access, and someone who knows where fish are holding that week. If you fish on your own, plan around public access and expect to work harder for good water in the busy weeks. See guided vs DIY fishing, your first guided fishing trip and our fly-fishing trips page.

Access sites and permits

The Forest Service lists 11 river access sites with launches in the national forest stretch, including Bowman Bridge, Upper Branch, Rainbow Rapids, Green Cottage, Gleason’s Landing and Indian Bridge. Most charge a day-use fee per vehicle; check the bulletin board at each site. The Forest Service plows its access sites in winter, so you can reach the river all year, which matters for steelhead.

Summer watercraft permits. From the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend, every watercraft on the river between the Forks and Indian Bridge needs a permit, including tubes and stand-up paddleboards. Permits are sold on Recreation.gov from January 1, numbers are limited by segment and day, and boats may only be on the water from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you are bringing your own drift boat or canoe in summer, book early. Wading anglers do not need a watercraft permit.

Camping. On national forest land along the river, you can camp only at designated sites, such as the Bowman Bridge and Gleason’s Landing campgrounds.

Pure Ludington publishes a Pere Marquette River float map that helps you plan a drift between access points.

Etiquette on the river

• Respect private land. Much of the river corridor is privately owned. Stop only at public sites and watch for the signs marking where public land begins and ends.
• Share the water. The river is busy during the runs and with paddlers in summer. Give other anglers room, take turns at a crowded run, and do not cut in below someone working a hole.
• Pack out everything. Glass bottles and foam coolers are banned on the river, and trash goes out with you.
• Fish legally. Snagging, hooking a fish that has not taken the bait in its mouth, is illegal, and the DNR lists it among the most common violations during the fish runs. Our fall salmon run guide covers crowds and etiquette in more detail.
• Wear a life jacket. The Forest Service requires a life jacket for everyone in a watercraft, and children six and under must wear one at all times.

Planning tips

• Base in Ludington for the lower river, the harbor and Lake Michigan, or near Baldwin for the upper river and the flies-only water.
• Pack waders, layers and rain gear. Fall and spring mornings are cold. Our packing list helps.
• Leave room in your schedule. Rain and water temperature move fish, and a few days on the river gives you a better shot.