Trip brief · Pigeon River
How to go fish the Pigeon River
The months we list for the Pigeon River are May, June, July, September. October is outside that window, so this brief is written for May, the next month we list.
May
Reading the gauge…
Flies to tie — May
Hendrickson (Ephemerella subvaria)#12-14
Hendrickson Dry, Hendrickson Nymph
Caddis (Trichoptera)#14-16
Access
Pigeon Bridge State Forest Campground
45.157, -84.465parking
Pigeon River Country Headquarters
45.170, -84.439parking
Elk Hill Campground Horse Trail (GR upper bound)
45.181, -84.424parking
Pine Grove Campground stairs (GR lower bound)
45.244, -84.447parking
Regs — check current rules before you go
Michigan DNR no longer maintains an active Blue Ribbon list; current rules are stream Types 1-4 plus Gear Restricted listings. Pigeon River (Cheboygan and Otsego Cos.): Type 2 from Old Vanderbilt Road downstream to Elk Hill Campground Horse Trail (T32N, R1W, S10; 45.1808, -84.4244). Gear Restricted from Elk Hill Horse Trail to Pine Grove Campground stairs (T33N, R1W, S17; 45.2440, -84.4467): fishing open all year; brook and brown possession last Saturday in April through September 30; rainbow open all year; artificial lures only; daily possession 2 trout, no more than 1 brown trout. Type 4 from Pine Grove stairs to East Mullett Road. Michigan fishing license required. Verify the 2026 digest and Inland Trout and Salmon map for the exact reach.
Pack list
- A current state fishing licence
- Waders and boots you have already leak-tested
- Net, nippers, forceps
- Floatant and desiccant
- Tippet in the sizes the chart asks for
- Water, sun cover, polarised glasses
Generic gear. Anything specific to this water is above.
Full hatch chart, access map and live gauge on the Pigeon River page →