Mayflies
Caddisflies
A small, pretty north-country river famous for its fall salmon run crowding into a modest channel, then a good steelhead run behind them. Intimate water where a quiet approach and a clean drift matter more than distance.
- Sand gravel
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
- Fly only
Water temperature for Steelhead
Warm — slow18°C est.ideal 4–13°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Steelhead
When
Salmon Sep–Oct; steelhead Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr
Where
A small, pretty north-country river famous for its fall salmon run crowding into a modest channel, then a good steelhead run behind them.
Why this works
Good — water clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Mayflies
Caddisflies
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 7am
12pm(now) — Grasshopper (Eastern)
Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 84%
Also:Reed Smut59%Trico (Eastern)47%
Peak emergence windowWeather boostEmergence building5 food groups active
Peak activity at 7am — Trico (Eastern) (Trico (Eastern), Weather boost)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Records-basedModerate confidence
Based on species-occurrence records, not local invertebrate surveys.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Brown DunHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Quill GordonHatch
2
2
Blue QuillHatch
2
3
2
HendricksonHatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Steelhead fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Michigan licence; verify MI DNR reach rules
- Introduced, harvestable sport fishery.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
- Platte River14 kmCoho salmon · Chinook salmon · Steelhead
- Big Manistee River40 kmSteelhead · Chinook salmon · Coho salmon
- Little Manistee River44 kmSteelhead · Chinook salmon · Coho salmon
- Pere Marquette River74 kmSteelhead · Chinook salmon · Coho salmon
- White River133 kmSteelhead · Chinook salmon · Coho salmon
Gallery · 2
Betsie Terrain map
About this water
Why this score · for Steelhead
- Temperature5828% weight
- Flow8022% weight
- Clarity9518% weight
- Feeding Time5513% weight
- Pressure757% weight
- Insect activity6412% weight
Directions
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Betsie River
A small, pretty north-country river famous for its fall salmon run crowding into a modest channel, then a good steelhead run behind them.
Water temperature for Steelhead
Warm — slow18°C est.ideal 4–13°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Steelhead
When
Salmon Sep–Oct; steelhead Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr
Where
A small, pretty north-country river famous for its fall salmon run crowding into a modest channel, then a good steelhead run behind them.
Why this works
Good — water clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Mayflies
Caddisflies
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 7am
12pm(now) — Grasshopper (Eastern)
Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 84%
Also:Reed Smut59%Trico (Eastern)47%
Peak emergence windowWeather boostEmergence building5 food groups active
Peak activity at 7am — Trico (Eastern) (Trico (Eastern), Weather boost)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Records-basedModerate confidence
Based on species-occurrence records, not local invertebrate surveys.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Brown DunHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Quill GordonHatch
2
2
Blue QuillHatch
2
3
2
HendricksonHatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Steelhead fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Michigan licence; verify MI DNR reach rules
- Introduced, harvestable sport fishery.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
Betsie Terrain map
About this water
A small, pretty north-country river famous for its fall salmon run crowding into a modest channel, then a good steelhead run behind them. Intimate water where a quiet approach and a clean drift matter more than distance.
- Sand gravel
Why this score · for Steelhead
- Temperature5828% weight
- Flow8022% weight
- Clarity9518% weight
- Feeding Time5513% weight
- Pressure757% weight
- Insect activity6412% weight
Directions
Related guides
Booking & contacts