Rivers / Upper Peninsula
Carp River (Mackinac County)
A southeastern U.P. Lake Huron tributary named with the St. Marys as Michigan's best pink salmon water, running late August through September with odd years strongest. Steelhead are present October through May and the river is one of six where the NRC cut the spring limit to one fish March 15 to May 15 in 2022. No hatch chart was located.
Fish by month
- Steelhead
1-fish limit Mar. 15 - May 15 (NRC 2022).
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Origin
- mixed
- Confidence
- A
- Pink salmon
Late August-September; odd years strongest.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Origin
- wild
- Confidence
- B
- Chinook salmon
Inferred from basin statements.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Origin
- unknown
- Confidence
- C
- Coho salmon
Inferred from basin statements.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Origin
- unknown
- Confidence
- C
| Species | Months | Origin | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steelhead 1-fish limit Mar. 15 - May 15 (NRC 2022). |
| mixed | A |
| Pink salmon Late August-September; odd years strongest. |
| wild | B |
| Chinook salmon Inferred from basin statements. |
| unknown | C |
| Coho salmon Inferred from basin statements. |
| unknown | C |
The DNR also plants fish here that this site does not model yet: lake whitefish (through 2022), walleye (1989–1998), yellow perch (1985–1989). See the stocking record below.
Hatching in May
- PeakBlue-Winged OliveMay 3 – Nov 11 · peak May 19 – May 25
- PeakBlue QuillMay 3 – Jul 26 · peak May 19 – Jun 1
- PeakHendricksonMay 8 – Jun 7 · peak May 19 – Jun 1
- PeakLittle Black CaddisMay 8 – Jul 18 · peak May 19 – Jun 1
- HatchingTiny Black StoneflyJan 19 – May 18
- HatchingEarly Black StoneflyMar 11 – May 18
- HatchingEarly Brown StoneflyApr 2 – May 28
- HatchingBlack QuillMay 8 – Jul 3
- HatchingGrannomMay 8 – Aug 18
- HatchingTan CaddisMay 19 – Oct 18
- HatchingLittle Sister SedgeMay 19 – Aug 18
- HatchingLittle Yellow SallyMay 19 – Jul 18
- HatchingGreen Rock WormAll year
- HatchingMidgeAll year
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
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- May
- Peak
- Colors to fish
- Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold, Peach
- Hooks
- #12–16
- Redhorse sucker eggsTie on Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- May
- Peak
- Colors to fish
- Pale Yellow, Light Gold, Cream
- Hooks
- #12–14
- Steelhead eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- 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
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- May
- Not drifting
- Colors to fish
- Steelhead Orange, Sockeye, Salmon Egg, Flame
- Hooks
- #6–10
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- May
- Not drifting
- Colors to fish
- Pink Lady, Shrimp Pink, Salmon Egg, Steelhead Orange
- Hooks
- #10–14
- Coho salmon eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Scrambled Eggs
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- May
- Not drifting
- Colors to fish
- Steelhead Orange, Sockeye, Salmon Egg, Egg
- Hooks
- #6–12
- Lake trout eggs
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- 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)
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- 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 |
| Peak | Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold, Peach | #12–16 |
Redhorse sucker eggsTie on Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs |
| Peak | Pale Yellow, Light Gold, Cream | #12–14 |
Steelhead eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn |
| Drifting | Apricot, Peach, Pale Yellow, Oregon Cheese, Light Pink | #10–14 |
Chinook salmon eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Scrambled Eggs |
| Not drifting | Steelhead Orange, Sockeye, Salmon Egg, Flame | #6–10 |
| Not drifting | Pink Lady, Shrimp Pink, Salmon Egg, Steelhead Orange | #10–14 | |
Coho salmon eggsTie on Nuke Egg, Glo Bug, Scrambled Eggs |
| Not drifting | Steelhead Orange, Sockeye, Salmon Egg, Egg | #6–12 |
Lake trout eggs |
| Not drifting | Oregon Cheese, Pale Yellow, Apricot | #10–12 |
Walleye eggsTie on Sucker Spawn, Y2K Egg, Micro Spawn (6 to 8 mm yarn egg) |
| Not drifting | Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold | #12–16 |
DNR stocking
Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database records since 1979 for Carp River, South Branch Carp River (Mackinac County). 370 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, Shasta · since 1980
- 2021
- —
- 2022
- 9,490
- 2023
- 9,500
- 2024
- 9,499
- 2025
- 9,499
- 2026
- 8,999
- Latest plant
- May 26, 2026East Lake Road · 7.8 in
Brown trout
Harrietta, Plymouth Rock +5 · since 1979
- 2021
- 10,895
- 2022
- 9,975
- 2023
- 8,996
- 2024
- 9,400
- 2025
- 9,993
- 2026
- 9,500
- Latest plant
- May 6, 2026USFS 3458 Bridge · 4.1 in
Lake whitefish
since 2022
- 2021
- —
- 2022
- 89,498
- 2023
- —
- 2024
- —
- 2025
- —
- 2026
- —
- Latest plant
- Nov 26, 2022Carp River Road, 1st Bank · 0 in
| Species | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Latest plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rainbow troutsteelhead and resident strains Michigan, Shasta · since 1980 | — | 9,490 | 9,500 | 9,499 | 9,499 | 8,999 | May 26, 2026East Lake Road · 7.8 in |
Brown trout Harrietta, Plymouth Rock +5 · since 1979 | 10,895 | 9,975 | 8,996 | 9,400 | 9,993 | 9,500 | May 6, 2026USFS 3458 Bridge · 4.1 in |
Lake whitefish since 2022 | — | 89,498 | — | — | — | — | Nov 26, 2022Carp River Road, 1st Bank · 0 in |
Earlier plants, not stocked in the last five years
- Brook trout
- Years
- 1982–2001
- Fish planted
- 124,730
- Last plant
- May 18, 2001 · Ozark Grade Bridge Site
- Chinook salmon
- Years
- 1980–1985
- Fish planted
- 422,133
- Last plant
- May 21, 1985 · Old PAS
- Coho salmon
- Years
- 1979–1980
- Fish planted
- 150,130
- Last plant
- May 1, 1980 · Old PAS
- Atlantic salmon
- Years
- 1991–1995
- Fish planted
- 88,325
- Last plant
- May 24, 1995 · Old PAS
- Walleye
- Years
- 1989–1998
- Fish planted
- 1,323,535
- Last plant
- Oct 31, 1998 · Old PAS
- Yellow Perch
- Years
- 1985–1989
- Fish planted
- 11,793
- Last plant
- May 9, 1989 · Old PAS
| Species | Years | Fish planted | Last plant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook trout | 1982–2001 | 124,730 | May 18, 2001 · Ozark Grade Bridge Site |
| Chinook salmon | 1980–1985 | 422,133 | May 21, 1985 · Old PAS |
| Coho salmon | 1979–1980 | 150,130 | May 1, 1980 · Old PAS |
| Atlantic salmon | 1991–1995 | 88,325 | May 24, 1995 · Old PAS |
| Walleye | 1989–1998 | 1,323,535 | Oct 31, 1998 · Old PAS |
| Yellow Perch | 1985–1989 | 11,793 | May 9, 1989 · Old PAS |
Recent plants, by date
- May 26, 2026 8,999 rainbow trout (Michigan) at East Lake Road7.8 in
- May 6, 2026 1,900 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at USFS 3458 Bridge4.1 in
- May 6, 2026 1,900 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at USFS 3332 Bridge4.1 in
- May 6, 2026 2,400 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at Ozark Grade Bridge Site4.1 in
- May 6, 2026 1,900 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at M-123 Bridge4.1 in
- May 6, 2026 1,400 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at East Lake Road4.1 in
- May 5, 2025 1,996 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at USFS 3458 Bridge4.7 in
- May 5, 2025 4,497 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at USFS 3332 Bridge4.7 in
Gear rules
Transcribed from the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations digest. Confirm with the DNR before fishing.
- Carp River (Mackinac County)
- Tackle
- general
- Season
- Trout season
- Notes
- Trout stream Type not captured from the 2026 digest; steelhead limit 1 fish Mar. 15 - May 15.verify
| Reach | Tackle | Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carp River (Mackinac County) | general | Trout season | Trout stream Type not captured from the 2026 digest; steelhead limit 1 fish Mar. 15 - May 15.verify |