Michigan Flies

Rivers / Upper Peninsula

Big Huron River (Baraga County)

A Lake Superior brook trout river in the Huron Mountains and one of the 2015 coaster brook trout restoration areas (20-inch minimum, one fish), where spawning migrations of coasters into streams begin in mid-July. Wild spring steelhead peak April to early May with a November fall window. No hatch chart was located.

Skanee, Baraga Countyrunofflake superiorhatch offset +21 d
Find flies for FebruaryFull-year calendar

Fish by month

  1. Brook trout

    Resident brook trout plus coasters entering from mid-July through fall spawning; restoration regulations.

    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
  2. Steelhead

    April to early May and November.

    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
    B
  3. Pink salmon

    Inferred from Lake Superior tributary surveys.

    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
    C

The DNR also plants fish here that this site does not model yet: arctic grayling (1991). See the stocking record below.

Hatching in February

Eggs in the drift

In February the drift carries steelhead eggs. Spawning follows water temperature rather than the hatch offset, so these months do not shift. The spawners have left, but eggs are still washing out of the redds. They go pale as they age, so rows marked Washing out list the pale colors.

  1. 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
    February
    Washing out
    Colors to fish
    Cream/Dead Egg, Light Pink
    Hooks
    #10–14
  2. 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
    February
    Not drifting
    Colors to fish
    Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold
    Hooks
    #12–16
  3. 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
    February
    Not drifting
    Colors to fish
    Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold, Peach
    Hooks
    #12–16
  4. 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
    February
    Not drifting
    Colors to fish
    Pale Yellow, Light Gold, Cream
    Hooks
    #12–14
  5. Pink salmon eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug
    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D
    February
    Not drifting
    Colors to fish
    Pink Lady, Shrimp Pink, Salmon Egg, Steelhead Orange
    Hooks
    #10–14
  6. Brook trout eggsTie on 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
    February
    Not drifting
    Colors to fish
    Oregon Cheese, Apricot, Peach
    Hooks
    #12–16
  7. 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
    February
    Not drifting
    Colors to fish
    Oregon Cheese, Pale Yellow, Apricot
    Hooks
    #10–12

DNR stocking

Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database records since 1979 for Huron River, East Branch Huron River, West Branch Huron River (Baraga County). 64 plants on record. Snapshot 2026-09-28. DNR “rainbow trout” of Michigan or Skamania strain are steelhead smolts. Open the DNR database.

  1. Rainbow troutsteelhead strain

    Michigan · since 1983

    2019
    13,998
    2022
    17,995
    2023
    18,500
    2024
    17,998
    2025
    17,975
    2026
    14,595
    Latest plant
    May 20, 2026Dave Cella Steelhead Stocking Site · 7.2 in

Earlier plants, not stocked in the last five years

  1. Brook trout
    Years
    1993–1995
    Fish planted
    103,244
    Last plant
    Aug 7, 1995 · Huron River
  2. Coho salmon
    Years
    1980
    Fish planted
    75,020
    Last plant
    May 6, 1980 · Huron River
  3. Arctic grayling
    Years
    1991
    Fish planted
    25,230
    Last plant
    Sep 10, 1991 · West Branch Huron River
Recent plants, by date
  • May 20, 2026 14,595 rainbow trout (Michigan) at Dave Cella Steelhead Stocking Site7.2 in
  • May 8, 2025 17,975 rainbow trout (Michigan) at Dave Cella Steelhead Stocking Site7 inadipose clip
  • May 15, 2024 9,000 rainbow trout (Michigan) at Dave Cella Steelhead Stocking Site8.6 inadipose clip
  • May 15, 2024 8,998 rainbow trout (Michigan) at Dave Cella Steelhead Stocking Site8.6 inadipose clip
  • May 15, 2023 18,500 rainbow trout (Michigan) at Dave Cella Steelhead Stocking Site6.6 inadipose clip
  • May 12, 2022 8,996 rainbow trout (Michigan) at Dave Cella Steelhead Stocking Site7.8 inadipose clip
  • May 12, 2022 8,999 rainbow trout (Michigan) at Dave Cella Steelhead Stocking Site7.8 inadipose clip

Gear rules

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

  1. Big Eric's Bridge to Lake Superior
    Tackle
    general
    Season
    Trout season
    Notes
    Brook Trout Restoration Area: 20 in minimum, 1 fish for brook trout, lake trout and splake.