DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Rifle River in Michigan

Rifle River in Michigan

The Rifle River in Michigan drains into Lake Huron and originates from Arenac and Ogemaw counties. According to the Michigan State Department of Natural Resources, the Rifle River drains an area covering about 385 square miles and flows for about 60 miles in a southeasterly direction towards Lake Huron.

Like the Au Gres River and Au Sable River in the region, the Rifle River experiences a series of topographical changes on its way to Lake Huron.

The sections near the headwaters are narrower and much steeper than the lower sections that enter broader flat areas that offer excellent fly fishing and wading anglers opportunities.

The river is renowned for its abundance of brown trout. However, that’s not all that can be caught in this gentle stream. Come fall, sparse runs of Chinook salmon and a few steelhead, along with lake-run brown trout, make an annual run up the Rifle.

If you are looking to land trophy brown trout almost all year round, your best bet would be to head out to Rifle River in Michigan. Here is a guide providing the information you need to enjoy your fly fishing trip to Rifle River.

Rifle River in Michigan

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Get Directions to the Fishing Access Points shown above with the DIY Fly Fishing Map