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Ford River Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

A quiet UP trout stream: the Ford runs brook trout and smallmouth through hardwood country to Green Bay.

3/5

Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Flow

64 cfs

Air / High

68 / 70 F

Wind

E 7 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 04059500, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view

Friday

4

September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

3/5Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Ford River rewards those who follow the bait as the water cools. The river is running 64 cfs, on the rise. Today brings cloud cover, wind E around 7 mph, steady pressure near 1013 hPa and a high of 70. Water sits around 54 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Rainbow troutGood

Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown troutGood

Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

Tomorrow: Warmer at 75 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from Ford River near Hyde.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 04059500.

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp68 F

High / Low70 / 62 F

WindE 7-13 mph

Pressure1013.2 hPa, steady

Sky / Rain100% cloud, 63%

Sunrise / Sunset07:13 / 20:21

MoonLast Quarter, 50%

Water temp (seasonal)~54 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Showers, 70/62 F, wind 9 mph, rain 63%

Fair or better. Cloud and a rain chance can stretch the morning bite well past breakfast: keep moving baits tied on.

Species guide

The species that matter on Ford River: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Rainbow trout illustration

Rainbow trout

Best: Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct

The workhorse of western rivers: riffles, seams and dry-fly eats. Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown trout illustration

Brown trout

Best: Sep-Nov

Wary, predatory and nocturnal by preference. The big ones eat streamers. Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

When to come: the Ford River calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Rainbow trout

Brown trout

SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 54 F (estimated, not a reading).

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Ford River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data

Thu, Sep 3

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 78 F, wind to 9 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 82 F, wind to 11 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Rainbow trout led the card at excellent. High of 85 F, wind to 10 mph.

Before you go

License

Michigan requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Michigan license. Trout and bass limits per current DNR regulations; some reaches have special trout rules.

Access

Road crossings and forest land access along the river; mouth area near Ford River village.

About this water

A 70-mile Upper Peninsula river entering Green Bay south of Escanaba, Delta County, Michigan.

Fishing Ford River: the full guide

A modest river with variety

The Ford River flows about 70 miles through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Green Bay south of Escanaba, a modest river that changes character along its length. The upper reaches hold wild brook trout in cold, cedar-shaded water; the middle river adds browns and smallmouth; and the lower river near the mouth sees fish moving up from the bay, including walleye and pike.

Trout upstream

Wild brook trout hold the upper river and tributaries, fished with small spinners, worms and flies in tight water that demands careful approaches. The tannic, dark water and overhanging cedar make for classic UP small-stream fishing, with solitude essentially guaranteed on weekdays.

Smallmouth and the lower river

The middle and lower river warms into good smallmouth water, with rocky runs and deeper holes holding fish through summer. Walleye and pike push up from Green Bay seasonally, and the mouth area fishes well in spring. Access requires some exploration: this is not a signposted destination river.

Delta County logistics

Access is via road crossings and state and commercial forest land, with limited formal facilities. The town of Ford River sits at the mouth, with Escanaba minutes north providing services. Bring bug protection in early summer. The river sees light pressure, which is much of its appeal.

Common questions

Is it a trout or bass river?

Both, by reach: brook trout in the cold upper water, smallmouth in the warmer middle and lower river.

How is the access?

Informal: road crossings and forest land rather than developed sites. Exploration is part of the experience.

Is it crowded?

Rarely: light pressure is much of the river’s appeal, particularly on weekdays.

Is fishing good at Ford River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Nearby waters

Escanaba River10 mi Little Bay de Noc10 mi Menominee River36 mi Manistique River52 mi Oconto River65 mi Kewaunee River88 mi

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