Paint River: Fly Fishing Conditions & Hatch Report

By Chris Izworski  ·  Updated Monday, April 27, 2026  ·  Daily reports at Michigan Trout Daily
Flow
N/A
gauge unavailable
Water Temp
N/A
unavailable
Gauge Height
N/A
USGS gauge
Conditions
[object Object]
as of 11:33 PM UTC
About This River

Paint River, Iron County, Upper Peninsula

Central UP river system with wild brook trout. Flows through the Ottawa National Forest. Multiple forks converge in the Crystal Falls area. Good access and quality fishing.

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

Active Hatches: April 2026

What's Hatching Now

Based on current water temperature and time of year, the following insects are active or expected on the Paint River.

HatchLatinTop PatternsTime of Day
Midge Chironomidae Mercury Midge #20, Zebra Midge #20 midday
Little Black Stonefly Capniidae / Leuctridae Little Black Stonefly #14, Black Stonefly Nymph #14 afternoon
Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) Baetis spp. Parachute BWO #16, Sparkle Dun BWO #16 midday
Hendrickson Ephemerella subvaria Hendrickson Dry #12, Red Quill #12 afternoon
Early Brown Stonefly Rhyacophilidae Elk Hair Caddis (brown) #14, Hare's Ear Nymph #12 morning
Grannom Caddis Brachycentrus spp. Elk Hair Caddis #14, X-Caddis #14 afternoon
Access & Regulations
Public Access
Crystal Falls area, Ottawa NF roads, M-69
Regulations
General trout 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 Paint River every morning during trout season.
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