18 miles
Michigan · freestone
18 miles
Intermediate · Wade / boat
August on the hatch chart — names and sizes, not a catch report.
Filled months are when that insect is on the chart. Best months for this river are lit.
| Insect | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midge (Chironomidae) |
Hatch-chart nymphs, dries, and streamers for this river. Not a crowdsourced catch report.
Open the Paint River fly list →3 listed points. Map is Vellum land and Teal water — a desk chart, not a satellite.
USDA Ottawa National Forest campground at the North and South Branch fork, CR 657. USDA: 46.2324, -88.7176. Canoe landing and bank camping.
Named public crossing north of Gibbs City. USGS 04061100 Paint River at Gibbs City and Michigan DEQ 21MICH-360124 Paint River at USFS 137.
Live USGS gauge 04062000 Paint River near Alpha. Public access on the lower river below Crystal Falls.
Michigan DNR no longer maintains an active Blue Ribbon list; current rules are stream Types 1-4. Confirm the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations and the Inland Trout and Salmon map for Paint River in Iron County, including separate Type listings on the North Branch, South Branch, and main stem. Michigan fishing license required.
The Paint River held an 18-mile historic Blue Ribbon trout reach in Iron County from USFS Road 149 to Gibbs City. Michigan DNR no longer keeps an active Blue Ribbon list. Inland trout water is typed 1 through 4 now.
North and South branches join at Paint River Forks Campground on Ottawa National Forest. Brook trout and brown trout hold the forks. Cooks Run is a separate Blue Ribbon tributary to the South Branch and has its own row.
Live USGS gauge 04062000 reports discharge near Alpha, below Crystal Falls. Named public access includes the Forks campground, Gibbs City / USFS 137, and the Alpha gauge. Confirm the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations and the Inland Trout and Salmon map before you fish. A published hatch calendar specific to the Paint was not found.
Au Gres River East Branch
Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Steelhead · Freestone
Freestone
Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Steelhead
Freestone
Brown Trout · Brook Trout · Rainbow Trout
Baldwin River
Brown Trout · Brook Trout · Freestone
Freestone
Brown Trout · Brook Trout
Bear Creek (Manistee)
Brown Trout · Brook Trout · Steelhead · Freestone
Freestone
Brown Trout · Brook Trout · Steelhead
Freestone
Brown Trout · Brook Trout · Rainbow Trout
Brule River (Michigan UP)
Brook Trout · Brown Trout · Freestone
Freestone
Brook Trout · Brown Trout
If something here is thin or wrong, add what you know. It goes to review before it publishes.
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