Pere Marquette River

Overview

The Pere Marquette River begins east of Baldwin and enters Lake Michigan at Ludington. With no dams or impoundments, it is the longest free-flowing river system in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. In 1978, 66.4 miles of the river, from the junction of the Middle and Little South branches down to U.S. 31, were designated a National Wild and Scenic River. The federal river program describes a nationally known fishery with large populations of resident trout and runs of steelhead and salmon from Lake Michigan that draw thousands of anglers each year. The Pere Marquette was the site of the first brown trout introduction in the United States, in 1884. Rainbow trout planted in 1885 became a self-sustaining steelhead population, and salmon now reproduce naturally in the river. Forest Service access sites are plowed in winter. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, a watercraft permit is needed to launch or take out at those sites, and camping on National Forest land in the corridor is allowed only at designated sites.

Regulations

Parts of the river have flies-only and other gear restrictions, and trout and salmon rules vary by section. See the current Michigan Fishing Regulations and inland trout and salmon maps: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/fishing/fishing-regulations

Stocking history

Likely species (watershed)

Muskellunge, Ninespine Stickleback, Popeye Shiner, Silver Lamprey

Likely species come from USGS Aquatic GAP ranges for the whole watershed (HUC8). They show what may be here, not a count of this water.

Nearby waters

• Big Sable River5.9 miles · MI
• Hamlin Lake8.4 miles · MI
• Pentwater River11.8 miles · MI
• Big South Branch Pere Marquette River13 miles · MI
• North Branch Pentwater River13.6 miles · MI
• Lake Michigan15.2 miles · MI

More in Mason

• Lake MichiganMI
• Big Sable RiverMI
• Big South Branch Pere Marquette RiverMI
• North Branch Pentwater RiverMI
• Hamlin LakeMI