***A beautiful brown trout in all of its glory. Rubber mesh nets are recommended as they are more gentle on the slime coat of a fish, ensuring proper handling. Photo Courtesy of Mike Sills.***

Springtime brings new life to the inland river with trout fishing enthusiasts eagerly waiting for the opening of the season. With its abundance of pristine rivers, Michigan offers anglers an incredible opportunity to experience some of the finest trout fishing in the country. The Second weekend in May is a weekend that a mass of anglers look forward to.

***Targeting brown trout is one of Mike Sills favorite outdoor activities.***

With the days growing longer, trout become more active in the rivers. Springtime brings great excitement of hooking into feisty brown trout as they emerge to feed voraciously on emerging insects and baitfish. Michigan boasts numerous prime fishing spots for trout enthusiasts. From the legendary Au Sable River to unnamed creeks in the backwoods of the upper peninsula, anglers have a wealth of options to explore. Teeming with life across the food chain, the ample opportunities for anglers to seduce wary trout are endless.

Successful trout fishing in Michigan's inland rivers requires a combination of skill, patience, and local knowledge. Die-hard trout anglers, Mike and Tyler, carry a similar approach in tactics on the river and share their insight so that others can yield a more successful trip.

Hot baits for trout: in-line spinners, such as Worder’s Rooster Tail, and the Mepps Aglia work very well,. Crankbaits that resemble minnows, Like the Rapala original Minnow or Countdown Series, and the Berkley Hit Stick, also get the job done to entice a hungry trout.

Mike Sills of Birch Run, Michigan, looks forward to the Michigan trout season opener with high excitement. He makes his way to a secret location annually and has a reputation of doing well after years of homing in skills and knowledge behind his approach and method. One of the biggest pieces of advice he can share with others is to be mindful of the retrieve cadence that triggers a strike. A combination of casting, twitching, and pausing works in one way or another- think of playing with the retrieving action as a means to crack the code for what they want. Small, natural-colored crankbaits, such as the original floating Rapala (F-7 & F-11), along with smaller in-line spinners are kept in the rotation of confidence baits trout have a hard time passing up.

Tyler Haggart of Mount Pleasant, Michigan, shares that his first thing to consider is whether he is searching for quality or quantity. If he is on the search for larger fish, he goes for a jerkbait or small crankbait, with not too much consideration on the color. He claims that in a stream and current scenario, they might not have enough opportunity to examine the bait. It's the action and presentation of a wounded baitfish fighting the current that's important for triggering strikes. Something that will get at least a foot or two down is all you need. His next piece of advice is to cast everywhere and anywhere. If you catch yourself thinking “there's no way there's a fish there”, you could be very wrong. general areas like log jams, deep holes, riffles etc., are great, but these fish can be caught anywhere.” Fish every inch of the water that you can. If he is in search of quantity, he uses in-line spinners as well, across a variety of different colors and blade styles. Switching just the color can be a game changer, and he recommends actively switching colors every so often until success is found with one.

***Tyler Haggart often takes a quick run & gun approach when targeting trout. “You should know if there is a trout home after a few casts”***

Spinning outfits are most often used in trout fishing scenarios to offer the ability to make precision casts, fish light line attributing to a finesse approach, and cast small baits effortlessly. The length of the rod depends on the size of the river being fished. In a small, tighter creek, something 6’ or under is much easier and far less cumbersome. If fishing a larger river, the extra length of the rod will enable anglers to cast out further and be the most efficient and effective. Depending on the size of the fish being targeted, rod power ranging from ultra-light to medium get the job done. In most situations, a medium-light is sufficient to handle bigger fish while having the ability to manage casting smaller baits effectively.

Fluorocarbon or monofilament lines ranging between four- and eight-pound test are optimal to use for castability and keeping a low profile in the water. With a smaller diameter line, the more naturally appearing the bait is. This is important to consider when trout get weary and could have reason to be line shy.

In the approach working the river, walking upstream is recommended so that anglers can sneak up on fish. Setting up for an unsuspecting ambush, this gives them time to see your lure coming towards them so that they can adjust and line up to intercept it, rather than having to chase it after it passes by.

A difficult lesson to learn in trout fishing can be knowing when to leave a spot. Unless an area looks like it has high potential, anglers will give it ten or so casts on average to see if anybody is home. For the most part, a trout will strike on the first cast, unless they fail to see it. Work areas meticulously and give them a chance to indulge on their next unsuspecting meal, but you should know pretty quickly if it is going to happen or not.

Trout can typically be found in similar habitats within rivers, but they may have slight preferences based on their behavior and environmental needs. Trout often migrate within a river system depending on factors like water temperature, food availability, and spawning requirements. It's essential to understand the specific characteristics of the river you're fishing and to adapt your approach accordingly to target these species effectively.

Brown trout tend to prefer slower-moving water with deeper pools and undercut banks. They are more territorial than other fish. They may be found in deeper holes or under submerged structures like logs or around boulders. They are also known to be more nocturnal and may be more active during low light conditions or at night. Some of the best brown trout fishing of the year takes place during the early summer months during the twilight hours.

**“There is so much to learn about these fish. Discovering components to the mystery keep myself and other anglers on our toes to figure them out”**

Showing off his 22” personal best brown trout, Mike Sills believes that even though trout can be sensitive, they are still tough and strong-willed to survive.

Michigan is renowned for its abundance of trout rivers, offering anglers a diverse range of fishing experiences. The Great Lakes state is home to 20,000 miles of trout streams, 850 of them being considered Blue Ribbon or of highest quality. In order to meet these recognized standards, they must be 1.) one of Michigan’s best trout streams, 2.) be able to support excellent stocks of wild resident trout, 3.) have the physical characteristics to permit fly casting but be shallow enough to wade, 4.) produce diverse insect life and good fly hatches, 5.) have earned a reputation for providing excellent trout fishing experience, 6.) and possess top-notch water quality

The Au Sable River is perhaps Michigan's most famous trout river, known for its crystal-clear waters, abundant water life with baitfish and bugs, and an abundance of quality trout. It offers a variety of fishing opportunities, from wade fishing in the upper system, to drift boat fishing in the lower stretches.

The Manistee River is another top trout destination, with miles of prime trout habitat winding through the Huron National Forest in northern Lower Peninsula. It's known for its scenic beauty, limitless fishing opportunities, and healthy populations of fish.

The Boardman River near Traverse City is a favorite among anglers for its accessible fishing access and productive trout habitat. If you are visiting the area, it does not take too much effort to walk around town and take a chance at a fish.

In the Upper Peninsula, the Fox River, Cooks Run, and the Manistique River are excellent fisheries in the north land. All three have marvelous windows for targeting brown trout with flowing cool water, ample insect life, and scenic views.

***Will Thornton appreciates the thrill of the chase and the adventure that comes with trout fishing. He makes several trips to Michigan’s upper peninsula every year to get in his fix.***

As stewards of Michigan's natural resources, trout anglers play a vital role in preserving the health and vitality of the state's inland rivers. Remember when handling trout to be gentle and be quick. It is crucial to wet your hands or wear a wet fish handling glove when dealing with any kind of trout. This practice helps maintain the integrity of the trout’s protective slime coat so that they can survive better and continue to thrive. Rubber landing nets are also important so that they are gentler on their body as well. Trout generally feed in water temperatures ranging from 44-67 degrees Fahrenheit Practicing catch-and-release fishing, respecting regulations, and participating in conservation efforts, help ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the joy of trout fishing in some of Michigan's most sacred waters.

Trout regulations in the state of Michigan can be quite specific. It is the responsibility of the angler to know the rules behind the fine details of when anglers can fish, where to access river sites, what baits are/are not allowed, size and creel limits, and more. For current Michigan DNR trout regulations, please refer to the following links.

Gerneral Rules: https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/Fisheries/Mgt/Trout_Stream_River_Lake_Explanations.pdf?rev=8dc8686fb8834f3385be187f6a401bcc

Regulation by Map:

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/fishing/maps

The thrill and adventure that comes with trout fishing is what drives the spirit of many outdoor enthusiasts. While trout can be caught year round, the spring and summer months can be the most accessible and productive months to spend time on a river bank, making memories to last a lifetime.

It is with significant gratitude and appreciation to Henry Wallison, Will Thornton, Tyler Haggart, and Mike Sills for their contribution to this article. All photos have been used with expressed permission.

Mike Sills operates a large Facebook following titled The Michigan Outdoorsman. He does this as a means to connect his passion of the outdoors with anybody who has an interest in activities from morel picking, to duck hunting, to trout fishing, to turkey hunting, and anything in between. Please consider checking out his page and giving him a follow as support.

https://www.facebook.com/MichOutdoorsman/