It’s a fishing day

Pere Marquette River fishing conditions · Michigan

Now until 8 pmSteelhead

The bite peaks at 84.

Log a trip here
Right now: 84 for steelhead, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap 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. 844 pm
  2. 84
  3. 84
  4. 847 pm
  5. 74
  6. 74
  7. 7410 pm
  8. 74
  9. 74Sun
  10. 741 am
  11. 74
  12. 74
  13. 744 am
  14. 74
  15. 74
  16. 747 am
  17. 74
  18. 74
  19. 7410 am
  20. 74
  21. 74
  22. 741 pm
  23. 74
  24. 74
  25. 744 pm
  26. 74
  27. 74
  28. 747 pm
  29. 74
  30. 74
  31. 7410 pm
  32. 74
  33. 74Mon
  34. 741 am
  35. 74
  36. 74
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Steelhead range 40–55°

Wind
7 mph

From the west-southwest

Flow
508 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:28 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
46°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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

84Worth the tripNow until 8 pm

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 2–60 ft down.

Keep

10" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 10" minimum; open all year, 5 trout and salmon a day with no more than 3 trout 15" or longer and only 1 rainbow trout (steelhead); special artificial-lure rules Aug 1–Nov 15.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Pere Marquette River, Indian Bridge to Old US-31 (Type 3)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

84Worth the tripNow until 8 pm

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 15" minimum; open all year, 5 trout and salmon a day with no more than 3 trout 15" or longer and only 1 rainbow trout (steelhead); special artificial-lure rules Aug 1–Nov 15.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Pere Marquette River, Indian Bridge to Old US-31 (Type 3)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

49Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

10" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 10" minimum; open all year, 5 trout and salmon a day with no more than 3 trout 15" or longer and only 1 rainbow trout (steelhead); special artificial-lure rules Aug 1–Nov 15.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Pere Marquette River, Indian Bridge to Old US-31 (Type 3)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

49Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 10–120 ft down.

Keep

10" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 10" minimum; open all year, 5 trout and salmon a day with no more than 3 trout 15" or longer and only 1 rainbow trout (steelhead); special artificial-lure rules Aug 1–Nov 15.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Pere Marquette River, Indian Bridge to Old US-31 (Type 3)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. More on coho salmon

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River508 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.08 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:28 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:30 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 4:00 pm–5:00 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:40 pm–12:40 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:40 am–7:40 am

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 8 pm
90Go
Manistee River27 mi · MichiganBest now until 8 pm
100Go

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.