Rivers / Upper Peninsula
Tahquamenon River
A large, tannin-stained eastern U.P. river flowing to Whitefish Bay over the Tahquamenon Falls. The research located no hatch chart, run calendar or regulation Type for it; the only species claim available is MDNR's basin-level statement that clear, cold U.P. streams are likely to hold brook trout, which applies to its tributaries more than the main stem.
Fish by month
- Brook trout
Inferred from MDNR's basin-level statement; no river-specific source retrieved.
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Origin
- wild
- Confidence
- C
| Species | Months | Origin | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook trout Inferred from MDNR's basin-level statement; no river-specific source retrieved. |
| wild | C |
The DNR also plants fish here that this site does not model yet: walleye (through 2024), lake trout (1996–2000), muskellunge (1982–1989), yellow perch (1987), tiger muskellunge (1980–1983). See the stocking record below.
Hatching now
Eggs in the drift
Right now the drift carries brook trout 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.
- Brook trout eggsTie on Micro Spawn (6 to 8 mm yarn egg)
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- October
- Washing out
- Colors to fish
- Cream/Dead Egg
- Hooks
- #12–16
- White and longnose sucker eggsTie on Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- October
- Not drifting
- Colors to fish
- Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold, Peach
- Hooks
- #12–16
| Egg source | Months | October | Colors to fish | Hooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Brook trout eggsTie on Micro Spawn (6 to 8 mm yarn egg) |
| Washing out | Cream/Dead Egg | #12–16 |
White and longnose sucker eggsTie on Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn, Scrambled Eggs |
| Not drifting | Pale Yellow, Cream, Light Gold, Peach | #12–16 |
DNR stocking
Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database records since 1979 for Tahquamenon River. 128 plants on record. Snapshot 2026-09-28. DNR “rainbow trout” of Michigan or Skamania strain are steelhead smolts. Open the DNR database.
Brown trout
Soda Lake, Plymouth Rock +4 · since 1980
- 2021
- 3,785
- 2022
- 4,000
- 2023
- 3,600
- 2024
- 3,697
- 2025
- 3,997
- 2026
- 3,800
- Latest plant
- May 11, 2026Upper Falls Stairway · 7.5 in
Walleye
Bay De Noc, St. Marys River · since 1987
- 2021
- 500,000
- 2022
- 24,946
- 2023
- 500,000
- 2024
- 519,690
- 2025
- —
- 2026
- —
- Latest plant
- Jun 21, 2024Middle Of Lower River · 1.3 in
| Species | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Latest plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brown trout Soda Lake, Plymouth Rock +4 · since 1980 | 3,785 | 4,000 | 3,600 | 3,697 | 3,997 | 3,800 | May 11, 2026Upper Falls Stairway · 7.5 in |
Walleye Bay De Noc, St. Marys River · since 1987 | 500,000 | 24,946 | 500,000 | 519,690 | — | — | Jun 21, 2024Middle Of Lower River · 1.3 in |
Earlier plants, not stocked in the last five years
- Brook trout
- Years
- 1983–1998
- Fish planted
- 47,320
- Last plant
- May 13, 1998 · Cr 442 Bridge (Hatchs)
- Lake trout
- Years
- 1996–2000
- Fish planted
- 410,080
- Last plant
- Oct 10, 2000 · Lower M-123 Bridge
- Muskellunge
- Years
- 1982–1989
- Fish planted
- 68,776
- Last plant
- Sep 8, 1989 · Dollarville Dam
- Tiger muskellunge
- Years
- 1980–1983
- Fish planted
- 3,886
- Last plant
- Aug 2, 1983 · Dollarville Dam
- Yellow Perch
- Years
- 1987
- Fish planted
- 9,841
- Last plant
- May 20, 1987 · M-123 Bridge
| Species | Years | Fish planted | Last plant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook trout | 1983–1998 | 47,320 | May 13, 1998 · Cr 442 Bridge (Hatchs) |
| Lake trout | 1996–2000 | 410,080 | Oct 10, 2000 · Lower M-123 Bridge |
| Muskellunge | 1982–1989 | 68,776 | Sep 8, 1989 · Dollarville Dam |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1980–1983 | 3,886 | Aug 2, 1983 · Dollarville Dam |
| Yellow Perch | 1987 | 9,841 | May 20, 1987 · M-123 Bridge |
Recent plants, by date
- May 11, 2026 3,800 brown trout (Wild Rose) at Upper Falls Stairway7.5 in
- May 13, 2025 800 brown trout (Wild Rose) at Upper Falls Stairway7.7 in
- May 13, 2025 3,197 brown trout (Sturgeon River) at Upper Falls Stairway4.9 in
- Jun 21, 2024 19,690 walleye (Bay De Noc) at Middle Of Lower River1.3 inoxytetracycline
- May 13, 2024 3,697 brown trout (Wild Rose) at Upper Falls Stairway8 in
- May 10, 2024 500,000 walleye (St. Marys River) at Middle Of Lower River0.1 inoxytetracyclineTribal Plant
- May 22, 2023 500,000 walleye (St. Marys River) at Middle Of Lower River0 inoxytetracyclineTribal Plant
- May 11, 2023 3,600 brown trout (Wild Rose) at Upper Falls Stairway7.5 in
Gear rules
Transcribed from the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations digest. Confirm with the DNR before fishing.
- Tahquamenon River (Luce and Chippewa Counties)
- Tackle
- general
- Season
- Trout season
- Notes
- Trout stream Type not captured from the 2026 digest; fill from the DNR ArcGIS regulation-type layer.verify
| Reach | Tackle | Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tahquamenon River (Luce and Chippewa Counties) | general | Trout season | Trout stream Type not captured from the 2026 digest; fill from the DNR ArcGIS regulation-type layer.verify |