Rivers / Upper Peninsula

Sturgeon River (Baraga and Houghton Counties)

A designated Blue Ribbon trout stream and one of the finest steelhead rivers in the U.P., flowing through the Sturgeon River Gorge to Portage Lake and the Keweenaw Waterway. The USGS gauge near Alston reports water temperature. No hatch chart was located.

Alston and Baraga, Baraga and Houghton Countiesrunofflake superiorhatch offset +21 d

Find flies for May Full-year calendar

Fish by month

Steelhead
One of the finest steelhead rivers in the U.P.; Lake Superior timing (April-early May, 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
Brook trout
Blue Ribbon trout water; species mix not itemized in sources.
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
Brown trout
Blue Ribbon trout water; species mix not itemized in sources.
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

Species	Months	Origin	Confidence
Steelhead One of the finest steelhead rivers in the U.P.; Lake Superior timing (April-early May, November).	J F M A M J J A S O N D	wild	B
Brook trout Blue Ribbon trout water; species mix not itemized in sources.	J F M A M J J A S O N D	wild	C
Brown trout Blue Ribbon trout water; species mix not itemized in sources.	J F M A M J J A S O N D	unknown	C

The DNR also plants fish here that this site does not model yet: lake sturgeon (1998–2016), walleye (1989–2013). 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
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
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
May
Not drifting
Colors to fish
Oregon Cheese, Apricot, Peach
Hooks
#12–16
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
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
Brook trout eggsTie on Micro Spawn (6 to 8 mm yarn egg)	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Not drifting	Oregon Cheese, Apricot, Peach	#12–16
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

DNR stocking

Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database records since 1979 for Sturgeon River, West Branch Sturgeon River (Baraga, Houghton County). 117 plants on record. Snapshot 2026-09-28. DNR “rainbow trout” of Michigan or Skamania strain are steelhead smolts. Open the DNR database.

Brook trout
Jumbo River · since 2008
2020
3,500
2021
1,000
2022
3,500
2023
2,000
2024
2,000
2025
3,000
Latest plant
May 28, 2025M 38 · 5.7 in

Species	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	Latest plant
Brook trout Jumbo River · since 2008	3,500	1,000	3,500	2,000	2,000	3,000	May 28, 2025M 38 · 5.7 in

Earlier plants, not stocked in the last five years

Brown trout
Years
1979–2014
Fish planted
312,449
Last plant
Jun 9, 2014 · Sturgeon River-416166933
Lake sturgeon
Years
1998–2016
Fish planted
31,153
Last plant
Jun 7, 2016 · Sturgeon River-416166933
Walleye
Years
1989–2013
Fish planted
17,099
Last plant
Sep 5, 2013 · Us 41 Bridge

Species	Years	Fish planted	Last plant
Brown trout	1979–2014	312,449	Jun 9, 2014 · Sturgeon River-416166933
Lake sturgeon	1998–2016	31,153	Jun 7, 2016 · Sturgeon River-416166933
Walleye	1989–2013	17,099	Sep 5, 2013 · Us 41 Bridge

Recent plants, by date

May 28, 2025 1,000 brook trout (Jumbo River) at M 385.7 inleft ventral clipTribal Plant
May 28, 2025 1,000 brook trout (Jumbo River) at Hazel Road5.7 inleft ventral clipTribal Plant
May 28, 2025 1,000 brook trout (Jumbo River) at Hoover Road5.7 inleft ventral clipTribal Plant
May 15, 2024 1,000 brook trout (Jumbo River) at Herman Nestoria Rd. Crossing5.6 inright ventral clipTribal Plant
May 13, 2024 1,000 brook trout (Jumbo River) at Hoover Road5.1 inright ventral clipTribal Plant
Jun 7, 2023 1,000 brook trout (Jumbo River) at M 386.2 inadipose, left ventral clipsTribal Plant
Jun 7, 2023 595 brook trout (Jumbo River) at Hoover Road6.2 inadipose, left ventral clipsTribal Plant
Jun 7, 2023 405 brook trout (Jumbo River) at Hoover Road6.3 inadipose, left ventral clipsTribal Plant

Gear rules

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

US-41 to Prickett Dam
Tackle
general
Season
Trout season
Notes
Type 2 (last Sat. April - Sep. 30; brook 10 in, brown 12 in).
Prickett Dam to Lake Superior
Tackle
general
Season
All year
Notes
Type 3 (open all year; brook/brown 15 in, others 10 in).

Reach	Tackle	Season	Notes
US-41 to Prickett Dam	general	Trout season	Type 2 (last Sat. April - Sep. 30; brook 10 in, brown 12 in).
Prickett Dam to Lake Superior	general	All year	Type 3 (open all year; brook/brown 15 in, others 10 in).