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

By Chris Izworski  ·  Updated Thursday, September 10, 2026  ·  Daily reports at Michigan Trout Daily
Flow
21 cfs
very low
Water Temp
N/A
unavailable
Gauge Height
3.35 ft
USGS gauge
Conditions
Tough
as of 12:09 PM UTC
About This River

Sturgeon River (UP), Western Upper Peninsula

One of Michigan's premier brook trout streams. Flows through the Ottawa National Forest: cold, clear, and remote. The native brook trout here are wild and beautiful.

Species present: Brook trout. Stream type: UP headwater.

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 Sturgeon 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
Ottawa National Forest roads, US-45 crossings
Regulations
Special brook trout regulations apply: check DNR. Artificial lures only in sections.
Target Species
Brook trout
Stream Type
UP Headwater
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 Sturgeon River (UP) every morning during trout season.
Michigan Trout Daily →