Fox River Michigan Fly Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Spring Fed Freestone River
Species
Brook Trout (Wild and Stocked)
Size
Small to Medium
Location
Upper Peninsula
Nearest Town
Seney
Season
Last Saturday of April through
September 30th.
Access:
Good in some areas but hiking or a
canoe required in the upper parts
Non-Resident License
State of Michigan
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
The fishing season follows the standard Michigan trout season in all areas except the Special Regulations may apply to some sections and tributaries. Be sure
and check the with the DNR.
Spring:
Springtime is a good time for fly fishing the Fox River because of the plentiful aquatic insect hatches.
Summer:
The action may slow down some during the Summer but the water stays cool and trout can be caught.
Fall:
Early Fall is a good time to fish the Fox River.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Fox River Michigan
The Fox River starts near Lake Superior but flows south to Lake Michigan. It runs almost parallel with the East Branch of the Fox River. The two join to become the Manistique River. Both the main Fox River and the East branch of the Fox are loaded with brook trout.
The Fox River was made famous by Earnest Hemingway. He traveled to Seney in 1919 and fished the North Branch of the Fox River. A story in his book “The Big Two-Hearted River was about Seney. The Fox River is one of the best brook trout streams in Michigan. The East Branch of the Fox River above Michigan 28 and the main stem of the Fox River pass
through undeveloped land owned by the state and have a good population of wild brook trout.
Although the name “Fox River” implies its a decent size stream, it and the East Branch Fox River are small streams. They are fed with a huge supply of ground water that rarely gets above 68 degrees. The bottom consist mostly of sand but there’s plenty of fallen wood
in the streams that provide hiding places for the trout.
The banks are lined with Alders that shade and help keep the spring fed water cool. There is always a good bit of current flowing in the river and paddling a canoe isn’t exactly easy. Access to the remote waters of the East Branch is almost impossible without a canoe.
One reason the streams rank high on Michigan’s Brook trout stream list is because unlike most other streams in the state, the Fox river doesn’t have any steelhead or salmon to compete with the brook trout. Brook trout are stocked in the main stem to supplement the population of wild trout but the East and North Branches have only wild trout.
The stream has a very good population of a large variety of aquatic insects and matching the naturals is always the best approach to use.
Flies:
We always recommend “Perfect Fly” Trout Flies. We have specific imitations of every important insect that hatches on the Fox River. Our flies are the most realistic and most effective imitations you can buy. If you haven’t already done so, we hope you give them an opportunity to perform for you. You’ll be glad you did.