Rivers / Upper Peninsula
Yellow Dog River
A north Marquette County brook trout stream flowing to Lake Independence and Lake Superior near Big Bay. The research found no hatch chart, run calendar or regulation Type for it; brook trout presence rests on MDNR's statement that any U.P. stream that runs clear and cold is likely to hold them.
Fish by month
- Brook trout
Brook trout destination per search summary; 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 Brook trout destination per search summary; no river-specific source retrieved. |
| wild | C |
Hatching in May
- PeakBlue-Winged OliveMay 6 – Nov 14 · peak May 22 – May 28
- PeakBlue QuillMay 6 – Jul 29 · peak May 22 – Jun 4
- PeakHendricksonMay 11 – Jun 10 · peak May 22 – Jun 4
- PeakLittle Black CaddisMay 11 – Jul 21 · peak May 22 – Jun 4
- HatchingTiny Black StoneflyJan 22 – May 21
- HatchingEarly Black StoneflyMar 14 – May 21
- HatchingEarly Brown StoneflyApr 5 – May 31
- HatchingBlack QuillMay 11 – Jul 6
- HatchingGrannomMay 11 – Aug 21
- HatchingTan CaddisMay 22 – Oct 21
- HatchingLittle Sister SedgeMay 22 – Aug 21
- HatchingLittle Yellow SallyMay 22 – Jul 21
- HatchingGreen Rock WormAll year
- HatchingMidgeAll year
Eggs in the drift
In May the drift carries white and longnose sucker eggs, with white and longnose 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
- Brook trout eggsTie on 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
- Oregon Cheese, Apricot, Peach
- 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 |
Brook trout eggsTie on Micro Spawn (6 to 8 mm yarn egg) |
| Not drifting | Oregon Cheese, Apricot, Peach | #12–16 |
DNR stocking
Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database records since 1979 for Yellow Dog River. 266 plants on record. Snapshot 2026-09-28. DNR “rainbow trout” of Michigan or Skamania strain are steelhead smolts. Open the DNR database.
Brook trout
Assinica/Maine, Owhi +3 · since 1988
- 2021
- 4,095
- 2022
- 4,400
- 2023
- 3,599
- 2024
- 4,400
- 2025
- 4,397
- 2026
- 3,800
- Latest plant
- May 15, 2026Yellow Dog River · 8.6 in
| Species | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Latest plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brook trout Assinica/Maine, Owhi +3 · since 1988 | 4,095 | 4,400 | 3,599 | 4,400 | 4,397 | 3,800 | May 15, 2026Yellow Dog River · 8.6 in |
Earlier plants, not stocked in the last five years
- Rainbow trout
- Years
- 1985–2019
- Fish planted
- 157,999
- Last plant
- May 14, 2019 · Yellow Dog River-Bushy Creek Truck Trail
- Brown trout
- Years
- 1989–2019
- Fish planted
- 135,992
- Last plant
- May 14, 2019 · Yellow Dog River-Bushy Creek Truck Trail
| Species | Years | Fish planted | Last plant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow trout | 1985–2019 | 157,999 | May 14, 2019 · Yellow Dog River-Bushy Creek Truck Trail |
| Brown trout | 1989–2019 | 135,992 | May 14, 2019 · Yellow Dog River-Bushy Creek Truck Trail |
Recent plants, by date
- May 15, 2026 1,900 brook trout (Assinica) at Yellow Dog River8.6 in
- May 15, 2026 1,900 brook trout (Assinica) at Yellow Dog River-(Washout Bridge Above 510)8.6 in
- May 22, 2025 2,197 brook trout (Assinica) at Yellow Dog River8.9 in
- May 22, 2025 2,200 brook trout (Assinica) at Yellow Dog River-(Washout Bridge Above 510)8.9 in
- May 13, 2024 2,200 brook trout (Assinica) at Yellow Dog River8.7 in
- May 13, 2024 2,200 brook trout (Assinica) at Yellow Dog River-(Washout Bridge Above 510)8.7 in
- May 23, 2023 1,800 brook trout (Assinica) at Yellow Dog River-(Washout Bridge Above 510)8.1 in
- May 23, 2023 1,799 brook trout (Assinica) at Yellow Dog River8.6 in
Gear rules
Transcribed from the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations digest. Confirm with the DNR before fishing.
- Yellow Dog River (Marquette County)
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Dog River (Marquette County) | general | Trout season | Trout stream Type not captured from the 2026 digest; fill from the DNR ArcGIS regulation-type layer.verify |