Houghton Creek Michigan Trout Fishing
The Rifle's most famous tributary. A 37-inch brown trout caught here in 1952 held the state record for years. Cold, spring-fed, excellent spawning habitat.
Houghton Creek is the most celebrated tributary in the Rifle River system. A 37-inch brown trout caught here in 1952 held the Michigan state record for years. The creek flows through the Rifle River Recreation Area, with cold spring water maintaining ideal trout temperatures even in summer.
The upper station in the Recreation Area receives some pressure from park visitors, but most anglers stick close to the campground. Walking upstream through the woods reveals lightly fished water with wild browns holding in every bend. Small dry flies (#16-20 Adams, BWOs) and nymphs are the standard approach. The creek is also an important brown trout spawning tributary in fall.