What are the fishing regulations on the Pere Marquette River, Michigan?

Pere Marquette River fishing regulations

The Pere Marquette River is designated Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 and Type 4 trout water over 65.8 of its 63.9 mapped miles. The season on Type 1 Designated water runs Last Saturday in April–September 30th. The creel limit there is 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. 56.0 miles of it are named Blue Ribbon trout stream. The posted signs and the current digest are the authority, not this page.

Open Pere Marquette River on the map See Pere Marquette River on the live map → Every reach coloured by water temperature, with the public land and access points along it.

By designated reach

Type	Miles	Season	Creel
Type 1 Designated	0.7	Last Saturday in April–September 30th	5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling.
Type 4 Designated	35.9	January 1st–December 31st	5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater and no more than one (1) Rainbow Trout. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling.
Type 3 Designated	29.2	January 1st–December 31st	5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater and no more than one (1) Rainbow Trout. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling.

Gear and tackle

Type 1 Designated — Artificial lures and all natural bait types allowed. Aug 1–Nov 15: terminal fishing gear restricted to single-pointed hooks & jigs ≤½" from point to shank or treble hooks ≤⅜" from point to shank only when attached to artificial lures.
Type 4 Designated — Artificial lures and all natural bait types allowed. Aug 1–Nov 15: terminal fishing gear restricted to single-pointed hooks & jigs ≤½" from point to shank or treble hooks ≤⅜" from point to shank only when attached to artificial lures.
Type 3 Designated — Artificial lures and all natural bait types allowed. Aug 1–Nov 15: terminal fishing gear restricted to single-pointed hooks & jigs ≤½" from point to shank or treble hooks ≤⅜" from point to shank only when attached to artificial lures.

Minimum sizes

Brook trout: 7″
Brown trout: 8″
Rainbow trout / steelhead: 10″
Splake: 10″
Lake trout: 10″
Chinook salmon: 10″
Coho salmon: 10″
Pink salmon: 10″
Atlantic salmon: 10″

Type 1 Designated, 0.7 miles of this river.

Brook trout: 7″
Brown trout: 10″
Rainbow trout / steelhead: 10″
Splake: 10″
Lake trout: 10″
Chinook salmon: 10″
Coho salmon: 10″
Pink salmon: 10″
Atlantic salmon: 10″

Type 4 Designated, 35.9 miles of this river.

Brook trout: 15″
Brown trout: 15″
Rainbow trout / steelhead: 10″
Splake: 10″
Lake trout: 10″
Chinook salmon: 10″
Coho salmon: 10″
Pink salmon: 10″
Atlantic salmon: 10″

Type 3 Designated, 29.2 miles of this river.

Blue Ribbon water

Stretch	From	To	Miles
Pere Marquette River	Broadway Road (USFS Road 5132)	Indian Bridge	42.0
Little South Branch Pere Marquette River	Curtis Bridge	Pere Marquette River	8.9
Baldwin Creek	24th Street	Pere Marquette River	5.1

Named stretches with their own rules

Rules change every year and the posted signs are the authority, not this page. The full state tables, with the date they were read, are on Michigan fishing regulations.

More about Pere Marquette River

Pere Marquette River — live water temperature, regulations and access