Rivers / Northwest Lower Peninsula

Betsie River

A 30-60 foot wide river with sand, gravel and clay bottom that is easily affected by rain and run-off. It hosts the earliest kings on the coast, in fishable numbers by the last weeks of August and peaking late September to early October, then coho climbing mid-October, steelhead staging mid-October with a November peak, and lake-run browns October-November. Its Hex runs two to three weeks behind the Au Sable and Manistee.

Benzonia and Thompsonville, Benzie Countyrunofflake michiganhatch offset +14 d

Find flies for May Full-year calendar

Fish by month

Chinook salmon
Earliest kings; significant natural reproduction (Michigan Sea Grant).
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Origin
wild
Confidence
A
Coho salmon
Coho climbing mid-October per Zickert.
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Origin
unknown
Confidence
C
Steelhead
October through spring; November is peak season.
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Origin
mixed
Confidence
B
Brown trout
Lake-run browns October-November; no resident trout fishery documented.
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Origin
unknown
Confidence
B

Species	Months	Origin	Confidence
Chinook salmon Earliest kings; significant natural reproduction (Michigan Sea Grant).	J F M A M J J A S O N D	wild	A
Coho salmon Coho climbing mid-October per Zickert.	J F M A M J J A S O N D	unknown	C
Steelhead October through spring; November is peak season.	J F M A M J J A S O N D	mixed	B
Brown trout Lake-run browns October-November; no resident trout fishery documented.	J F M A M J J A S O N D	unknown	B

The DNR also plants fish here that this site does not model yet: lake trout (1981–2019). See the stocking record below.

Hatching in May

Eggs in the drift

In May the drift carries white and longnose sucker, redhorse sucker and steelhead eggs, with white and longnose sucker and redhorse sucker at peak. Spawning follows water temperature rather than the hatch offset, so these months do not shift.

White and longnose sucker eggsTie on Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
May
Peak
Colors to fish
Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold, Peach
Hooks
#12–16
Redhorse sucker eggsTie on Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
May
Peak
Colors to fish
Pale Yellow, Light Gold, Cream
Hooks
#12–14
Steelhead eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
May
Drifting
Colors to fish
Apricot, Peach, Pale Yellow, Oregon Cheese, Light Pink
Hooks
#10–14
Chinook salmon eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Scrambled Eggs
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
May
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Steelhead Orange, Sockeye, Salmon Egg, Flame
Hooks
#6–10
Coho salmon eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Scrambled Eggs
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
May
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Steelhead Orange, Sockeye, Salmon Egg, Egg
Hooks
#6–12
Brown trout eggs (resident and lake-run)Tie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Blood Dot Egg
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
May
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Steelhead Orange, Egg, Oregon Cheese
Hooks
#10–14
Lake trout eggs
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
May
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Oregon Cheese, Pale Yellow, Apricot
Hooks
#10–12
Walleye eggsTie on Sucker Spawn, Y2K Egg, Micro Spawn (6 to 8 mm yarn egg)
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
May
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold
Hooks
#12–16

Egg source	Months	May	Colors to fish	Hooks
White and longnose sucker eggsTie on Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Peak	Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold, Peach	#12–16
Redhorse sucker eggsTie on Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Peak	Pale Yellow, Light Gold, Cream	#12–14
Steelhead eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Drifting	Apricot, Peach, Pale Yellow, Oregon Cheese, Light Pink	#10–14
Chinook salmon eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Scrambled Eggs	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Not drifting	Steelhead Orange, Sockeye, Salmon Egg, Flame	#6–10
Coho salmon eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Scrambled Eggs	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Not drifting	Steelhead Orange, Sockeye, Salmon Egg, Egg	#6–12
Brown trout eggs (resident and lake-run)Tie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Blood Dot Egg	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Not drifting	Steelhead Orange, Egg, Oregon Cheese	#10–14
Lake trout eggs	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Not drifting	Oregon Cheese, Pale Yellow, Apricot	#10–12
Walleye eggsTie on Sucker Spawn, Y2K Egg, Micro Spawn (6 to 8 mm yarn egg)	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Not drifting	Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold	#12–16

Signature hatches

Hex

Jun 24 – Jul 24

Michigan's biggest hatch and the last of the Au Sable's Big Five: 4-8 duns emerging in the dark from silt banks on muggy nights from about 10 pm, with spinner falls one to three nights after the first duns. Peak on the Au Sable Holy Water is June 20-28 (Mio Trophy Water is the classic Hex water), Manistee June 25-July 5, Pere Marquette June 10-25, Muskegon tailwater June 8-20, and the U.P. two to three weeks later (Superior Flies peak July 5-21). Fish a Hex dun or spinner such as Robert's Yellow Drake, McCoy's All Day Dun or a Boondoggle Hex on a short 6-foot 2X leader, and a Hex wiggle nymph or Spring Wiggler year-round; trout in prime habitat may see up to 2,000 nymphs a day outside the hatch. Watch water temperature from June 10 and expect the hatch within days once the Au Sable holds 62-65 F.

DNR stocking

Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database records since 1979 for Betsie River. 511 plants on record. Snapshot 2026-09-28. DNR “rainbow trout” of Michigan or Skamania strain are steelhead smolts. Open the DNR database.

Rainbow troutsteelhead and resident strains
Michigan, Rogue River +3 · since 1980
2021
—
2022
20,499
2023
19,420
2024
21,900
2025
20,400
2026
20,500
Latest plant
Apr 13, 2026Black Bridge · 7.9 in
Brown trout
Harrietta, Plymouth Rock +6 · since 1979
2021
65,298
2022
66,798
2023
61,200
2024
63,390
2025
64,493
2026
70,982
Latest plant
May 14, 2026Co Line Br. · 4.4 in

Species	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026	Latest plant
Rainbow troutsteelhead and resident strains Michigan, Rogue River +3 · since 1980	—	20,499	19,420	21,900	20,400	20,500	Apr 13, 2026Black Bridge · 7.9 in
Brown trout Harrietta, Plymouth Rock +6 · since 1979	65,298	66,798	61,200	63,390	64,493	70,982	May 14, 2026Co Line Br. · 4.4 in

Earlier plants, not stocked in the last five years

Lake trout
Years
1981–2019
Fish planted
690,643
Last plant
Apr 23, 2019 · Coast Guard Station

Species	Years	Fish planted	Last plant
Lake trout	1981–2019	690,643	Apr 23, 2019 · Coast Guard Station

Recent plants, by date

May 14, 2026 3,999 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at Co Line Br.4.4 in
May 14, 2026 4,000 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at M-1154.4 in
May 14, 2026 4,000 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at Orsini Access4.4 in
May 14, 2026 3,999 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at Kurick Rd4.4 in
May 14, 2026 3,998 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at Red Bridge4.4 in
May 14, 2026 4,000 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at Black Bridge4.4 in
Apr 13, 2026 20,500 rainbow trout (Michigan) at Black Bridge7.9 in
Apr 1, 2026 25,990 brown trout (Wild Rose) at Coast Guard Station7.7 in

Gear rules

Transcribed from the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations digest. Confirm with the DNR before fishing.

Kurick Rd. to M-22
Tackle
gear restricted
Season
All year
Notes
Type 4; Homestead Dam closures (Nov. 16 - July 31 within 100 ft; Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 within 300 ft); Betsie-wide special artificial-lure rules; listed salmon river with single-hook rules Aug. 1 - Nov. 15.

Reach	Tackle	Season	Notes
Kurick Rd. to M-22	gear restricted	All year	Type 4; Homestead Dam closures (Nov. 16 - July 31 within 100 ft; Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 within 300 ft); Betsie-wide special artificial-lure rules; listed salmon river with single-hook rules Aug. 1 - Nov. 15.