Black River (UP): Fly Fishing Conditions & Hatch Report

By Chris Izworski  ·  Updated Friday, September 11, 2026  ·  Daily reports at Michigan Trout Daily
Flow
16 cfs
very low
Water Temp
N/A
unavailable
Gauge Height
1.9 ft
USGS gauge
Conditions
Tough
as of 1:31 PM UTC
About This River

Black River (UP), Western Upper Peninsula

Wild and remote brook trout fishery near Bessemer. Flows through the Porcupine Mountains area with stunning waterfalls. One of Michigan's most scenic trout streams.

Species present: Brook trout, Brown trout. Stream type: freestone.

Active Hatches: September 2026

What's Hatching Now

Based on current water temperature and time of year, the following insects are active or expected on the Black River (UP).

HatchLatinTop PatternsTime of Day
Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) Baetis spp. Parachute BWO #16, Sparkle Dun BWO #16 midday
Trico Tricorythodes spp. CDC Trico Spinner #20, Trico Dun #20 morning
Terrestrials Beetles, ants, hoppers, crickets Foam Beetle #12, Chernobyl Ant #10 afternoon
White Fly Ephoron leukon White Wulff #12, White Comparadun #14 night
BWO (Fall) Baetis tricaudatus Parachute BWO #16, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16 midday
Fall Caddis Neophylax spp. Orange Elk Hair Caddis #14, LaFontaine Pupa (orange) #14 afternoon
Access & Regulations
Public Access
Black River Harbor Recreation Area, multiple county road access points
Regulations
General trout regulations. Check DNR for special UP regulations.
Target Species
Brook trout, Brown trout
Stream Type
Freestone
About the Author
Chris Izworski is a Michigan angler and the founder of the Michigan Trout Report, which tracks live conditions for 110+ Michigan rivers. He publishes daily stream reports at Michigan Trout Daily.
Get a daily conditions report for the Black River (UP) every morning during trout season.
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