Ocqueoc River

Overview

The Ocqueoc River runs from its source in the Barnhart Lakes to Lake Huron in Presque Isle County, reaching the lake about halfway between Rogers City and Cheboygan. Michigan DNR notes the river is fairly warm in summer, so resident trout are not common, but it gets a strong steelhead run each spring. Many fish stage in the deeper holes and runs between Ocqueoc Lake and Lake Huron, and spawning runs can last into May after a long, cold winter. Access points include the U.S. 23 bridge, with a DNR launch and bank and wading access; the Ocqueoc Lake Road crossing at the outlet of Ocqueoc Lake, where an electrical sea lamprey barrier sits just downstream and steelhead are at times highly visible; the Highbanks area on public forest land, with slower, deeper holes; and the Ocqueoc Falls day use area north of M-68, where ledges and slippery cobble make wading risky for beginners, especially in high spring water. The river can be dangerous in high water. Respect private land along the short reach near U.S. 23.

Regulations

From Barnhart Lakes to Lake Huron the Ocqueoc is a Type 4 trout stream, and fishing is prohibited within 100 feet of the weir. See Inland Trout and Salmon Stream Regulations in the current Michigan Fishing Regulations: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/fishing/fishing-regulations

Stocking history

Likely species (watershed)

Channel Darter, Muskellunge, 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

• Ocqueoc Lake2.2 miles · MI
• Black Lake9.7 miles · MI
• Long Lake16 miles · MI
• Swan River17.8 miles · MI
• Black River20.4 miles · MI
• Bear Den Lake21.1 miles · MI

More in Presque Isle

• Swan RiverMI
• Bear Den LakeMI
• Lake EsauMI
• Ocqueoc LakeMI
• Long LakeMI