Fishing Season: Boardman is now closed upstream of Beitner Rd until 4/27/24. Special regs downstream of Beitner

Boardman River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

51

Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week

THE ENTIRE BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW CLOSED UPSTREAM OF BEITNER/KEYSTONE ROAD UNTIL APRIL 27, 2024. GO TO DNR WEBSITE FOR SPECIAL REGS DOWNSTREAM TO THE MOUTH: https://www.mdnr-elicense.com 2023 All Species Fishing License is required through March, 2024. Warm weekend for the trout opening day. Temps in the 50's and into the upper 60's for the weekend. Some rain will be mixed in as well. Be ready for some off-color water if it rains with a sink-tip line and your streamer box. If it's dry, look for Hendricksons when the water reaches 53 degrees. Perfect weather this week for streamer fishing. Water temps are near the magic 53 degree hatch number late afternoons. Lower river has a few steelhead and lots of suckers coming in and out daily.

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 4/22/24

Warmer temps in the mid 60's to start the week and a cooler couple of days and a warm upper 60's for the weekend Trout Opening Day. Some rain for the weekend too. Streamer fishing is the preferred tactic to start, but Hendricksons may be popping for the weekend trout opener. Levels continue to fall to near normal but weekend rain will push the levels. Water temps will warm as week progresses and fishing will improve as a result. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 4/22/24

Time to look for the silt beds that will warm the water first and fish streamers over and below them as baitfish will gather near the warming water on top of the dark, shallow silt. Predators will lay in wait below and around these waters. Wading downstream, pulling streamers, and changing streamer color every 20 minutes will be the best tactic this week. Hendricksons will generally emerge around midday when the water temps reach 53 degrees. Hendrickson spinners will come later in the day when air temps are warmest around 5 or 6pm.

Local Species Available Boardman is now closed upstream of Beitner Rd until 4/27/24. Special regs downstream of Beitner

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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):
Blue Winged Olive N/A #18
Bead Head Hare's Ear Flashback N/A #12-14
Red Quill N/A #12-14
Adams N/A #12-14
Lord's Extended Body Hendrickson N/A #12-14
Loop Winged Hendrickson Emerger N/A #14
Orvis CJ Nymph copper #14
Dark Hendrickson N/A #14
Lord's Egg Laying Hendrickson N/A #12-14
Mini D and D tan, black, white, olive #4-6

Blue Winged Olive

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Item #0338

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Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear

Description: About Boardman River

THE BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW CLOSED UPSTREAM OF BEITNER/KEYSTONE ROAD UNTIL APRIL 27, 2024. SPECIAL REGS FROM KEYSTONE LANDING DOWNSTREAM TO THE MOUTH. 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:

Ephemerella subvaria #12-14 Hendrickson, Midges #20. Baetis Blue Winged Olive #18 Visit the STREAMSIDEORVIS.COM website for blogs, tips, photos... and more! Like us on Facebook too.

Best Time to Fish:

11am-6pm

Best Stretch:

Above and below Jack's Landing at Robbins Bridge to start the week. Brown Bridge Quiet area for the weekend when the section above Keystone Road opens up Saturday.

Best Access:

Robbins Bridge