It’s a fishing day

Pere Marquette River fishing conditions · Michigan

Today 4 am to tonight 2 amSteelhead

The bite peaks at 74.

Log a trip here
Right now: 66 for steelhead, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Steelhead, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 663 am
  2. 74
  3. 74
  4. 746 am
  5. 74
  6. 74
  7. 749 am
  8. 74
  9. 74
  10. 7412 pm
  11. 74
  12. 74
  13. 743 pm
  14. 74
  15. 74
  16. 746 pm
  17. 74
  18. 74
  19. 749 pm
  20. 74
  21. 74
  22. 74Tue
  23. 74
  24. 66
  25. 663 am
  26. 74
  27. 74
  28. 746 am
  29. 74
  30. 74
  31. 749 am
  32. 74
  33. 74
  34. 7412 pm
  35. 74
  36. 74
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Steelhead range 40–55°

Wind
3 mph

From the north-northeast

Flow
489 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 8:13 am

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

5% chance of rain

Air
51°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Michigan regulations for these waters.

Steelhead

Steelhead

Oncorhynchus mykiss

74Worth the tripToday 4 am to tonight 2 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Steelhead bite in 40–55° water, best near 48°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 2–60 ft down.

Keep

10" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Michigan Type 1 trout streams: open the last Saturday in April through Sep 30; 5 trout and salmon a day, no more than 3 of them 15" or longer. Steelhead are rainbow trout under Michigan rules: 10" minimum. Type 3 runs such as the lower Manistee and Pere Marquette allow only 1 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Michigan

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

74Worth the tripToday 4 am to tonight 2 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Chinook salmon bite in 42–58° water, best near 50°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

10" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Michigan Type 1 trout streams: open the last Saturday in April through Sep 30; 5 trout and salmon a day, no more than 3 of them 15" or longer. Salmon 10" minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Michigan

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

74Worth the tripToday 4 am to tonight 2 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Coho salmon bite in 44–58° water, best near 53°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 10–120 ft down.

Keep

10" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Michigan Type 1 trout streams: open the last Saturday in April through Sep 30; 5 trout and salmon a day, no more than 3 of them 15" or longer. Salmon 10" minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Michigan

Season here: May–Oct. More on coho salmon

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

66MarginalToday 4 am to tonight 2 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Brown trout feeds less actively under bright moon. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

8" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Michigan Type 1 trout streams: open the last Saturday in April through Sep 30; 5 trout and salmon a day, no more than 3 of them 15" or longer. Brown trout 8" minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Michigan

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River489 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.34 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today8:13 am
  • Sunset today6:44 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 8:30 am–9:30 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:40 pm–2:40 pm
  • Minor solunarTonight 6:10 pm–7:10 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Michigan DNR publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The Michigan river that received the first brown trout stocked in the United States (1884) — a Wild and Scenic stream with a famous fly-only, no-kill water and powerful fall king and spring steelhead runs. Live USGS flow at Scottville.

Indian Bridge to Old US-31 is a Type 3 stream: open all year, 5 trout and salmon a day with only 1 steelhead or rainbow. Browns 15", salmon and steelhead 10". Upstream, M-37 to Gleason's Landing is flies-only and no-kill.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Ludington State Park13 mi · MichiganBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
68Marginal
Manistee River27 mi · MichiganBest today 9 am–10 pm
86Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Pere Marquette River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Pere Marquette River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Pere Marquette River?

Pere Marquette River is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Pere Marquette River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Pere Marquette River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Pere Marquette River have?

Pere Marquette River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Indian Bridge to Old US-31 is a Type 3 stream: open all year, 5 trout and salmon a day with only 1 steelhead or rainbow. Browns 15", salmon and steelhead 10". Upstream, M-37 to Gleason's Landing is flies-only and no-kill.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Pere Marquette River?

state agency regulations apply at Pere Marquette River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Pere Marquette River tidal water?

No. Pere Marquette River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.