By Brandon Butler | Michigan’s Pere Marquette River was my savior. I had just moved back to Indiana after spending
four years living in Montana and Colorado. Fly fishing for trout had become my greatest passion.
Returning to the Midwest, I feared, would end regular opportunities to chase salmonids. Then I
learned about West Michigan and the Pere Marquette. All my fears disappeared.
The Pere Marquette River, regularly referred to as the “PM,” is one of the premier steelhead
fishing destinations in the Great Lakes Region. It’s also the longest free-flowing, undammed
river in Michigan and is also an incredible brown trout and king salmon fishery. It’s fairly unique
because it doesn’t receive supplemental stockings of steelhead.
The main branch of the PM runs uninterrupted for 70 miles through the west-central portion of
the state. From its origin at the confluence of the Middle and Little South branches, the Pere
Marquette River rolls along through wooded hills and lowlands until completing its journey at
Pere Marquette Lake in Ludington.
“The PM is special for two reasons. First, it has a large and dependable run of fish. If you plan a
trip at the right time of year, like late fall, there will be steelhead. Second, it’s the perfect
steelhead stream with a twisting and turning course through a beautiful forest with few houses or
manmade development. It’s a feel you just don’t have on the larger rivers with big motor boats
racing around,” Kevin Morlock of Indigo Guide Service said.
History has been kind to this gem, keeping her free flowing and full of naturally reproducing
fish. One of the PM’s greatest claims to fame is being recognized as the first river in North
America to be stocked with brown trout. Today, brown trout are found in all stretches of the Pere
Marquette, however, the specially designated flies-only section from M-37 downstream to
Gleason’s Landing is regarded as the “best trout water.”
Fly fishermen find success swinging flies down and across the current and when they strip flashy
streamers. A general rule with flies is unless sight-fishing to shallow cruisers you’ll need to get
your fly slightly above the depth of fish. Sometimes fish will want your presentation just above
the bottom while other times they’ll be aggressive in the middle. Larger flies tied in leech or
bugger patterns are always a favorite. Clouser Minnows and other flashy streamers will also
trigger aggressive fish. Sink-tipped or a full-sinking fly line helps for getting your presentation
down, and split shot will drag down a floating line.
Fishermen throwing lures have options, too. Lures varying from spoons to jigs to stick baits all
work. Change up your patterns, your retrieve speeds and depths until you find a combination that
works. I like to fish from the bottom up unless it’s obvious fish are on the gravels. Counting
down your presentations helps establish a pattern of probing different depths. Spawn sacks of
real eggs are popular and work as well. When using the live bait be sure to check local fishing
regulations to know what is and is not legal on the stretch water you’re fishing.
You don’t need a boat to fish the PM, but a boat is a big advantage. A boat offers you access to
the entire river and the ability to fish spots you can’t reach on foot. A boat will also offer a higher
line of sight for spotting fishy places of fish themselves.
Wade fishing is an option, and in places is an effective means for covering a lot of the river. Most
of the PM offers a firm bottom and water isn’t too deep. There are many access areas along the
upper PM with trails to the river. The most famous of these would be the flies only waters near
Baldwin. The lower PM has fewer good places to wade.
Morlock stresses the importance of having the right gear. Steelhead demand tough equipment.
He has learned many anglers don’t understand how to fight big fish with light gear in a river. He
says they make the mistake of thinking by simply keeping pressure on the fish, that the fish is
expending energy and this just isn’t the case. After the first minute or so of the fight, the fish will
settle down, often downstream of your position. Many fish will settle into a comfortable position.
They’ll find the spot of least resistance. In effect, the angler is just holding them in the current.
You need to move them, which takes a rod with enough backbone to do so.
“Anglers can use several tricks to land a fish quickly, which is very important if you’re going to
release the fish. One, move downstream when possible, this makes it impossible for the fish to
rest on the line. Two, change the rod angle and pressure. This knocks the fish off balance and
makes them fight harder. Three, raise and lower your rod. Remember to fight the fish with a high
rod and land the fish with a low rod. When the fish is really fighting, a high rod will pull its head
up and keep it off balance, similar to someone pushing on your shoulder. When the fish slows,
you can drop your rod tip to the water and glide the fish smoothly toward you. Then at the last
second, raise the rod and sweep the fish into the net. When done properly, it is surprising how
quickly you can land a big fish,” Morlock said.
The Pere Marquette River is a timeless destination. It’s pure Michigan with the sandy bottom,
clear water, and mix of pines and hardwoods. The towns of Ludington and Baldwin have all the
amenities a traveling angler could need, making the region enjoyable to visit. The PM is a must-
fish destination for any angler who wants to tangle with strong fall steelhead.
See you down the trail…
Pic: Guide Kevin Morlock and his daughter, Aaliyah, with a beautiful Pere Marquette River
steelhead.
For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere
podcasts are streamed.
