Fishes Jordan River
River · Antrim and Charlevoix counties in northern Lower Michigan, running north through the Jordan Valley from Deadmans Hill to Lake Charlevoix at East Jordan · Michigan
Jordan River Fishing Guides
Michigan's first designated Natural River, a small, spring-fed, exceptionally cold stream running through the Jordan Valley to Lake Charlevoix.
Gauge location. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Guides on the Jordan River
Claimed profiles take booking requests. Unclaimed profiles are built from public records so the river is never empty; the guide can claim or remove one any time.
About the Jordan River
The Jordan runs north through one of the most striking landscapes in Lower Michigan. The Jordan Valley is a deep glacial trough, wooded and steep-sided, and the river at the bottom of it is small, spring-fed and genuinely cold, gathering seep and springflow the whole way down from the high ground near Deadmans Hill to Lake Charlevoix at East Jordan. In 1972 it became the first river in Michigan designated under the state Natural River program, which shaped how the corridor has been developed and protected ever since.
For anglers it is a wading stream and a small-water proposition, not a float. Brook trout are the signature fish and the reason many people come, holding in the cold upper water and the spring seeps, with brown trout more common as the river gathers volume toward the lower valley. Steelhead run up from Lake Charlevoix in spring and again in fall, using the lower reaches below East Jordan. The stream is tight, brushy and often overhung, so short rods, careful approach and a willingness to walk are worth more here than long casting.
Access runs through a good deal of state forest land and the Jordan River Pathway, which means the corridor stays walkable even where the river itself is hard to reach. It is popular with hikers and paddlers as well as anglers, and the upper valley sees real traffic on summer weekends. The gauge near East Jordan reports discharge and stage rather than water temperature. That is a modest limitation on a river whose defining feature is how cold it stays, so anyone fishing the warmer weeks should carry a thermometer and work upstream toward the springs. Anglers should also note that much of the river is managed under restrictive Natural River tackle and season rules, so reading the current regulations for the specific reach before fishing is worth the few minutes it takes.
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Access
Jordan River National Fish Hatchery near Elmira - parking and access on the upper river.
Graves Crossing State Forest Campground - the main developed river access with parking and camping.
Pinney Bridge Campground on the Jordan River Pathway - hike-in access in the middle valley.
Deadmans Hill overlook and trailhead - upper valley access at the head of the pathway.
Webster Bridge road crossing - convenient mid-river parking and bank access.
Rogers Road crossing - lower valley access above East Jordan.
East Jordan city access at the mouth - lower river and Lake Charlevoix access for the steelhead runs.
Seasons
Spring: steelhead run up from Lake Charlevoix and the upper river opens with high, cold water.
Summer: the best brook trout months, cool and fishable when larger rivers warm, best fished with a short rod and quiet feet.
Fall: browns color up before the spawn and a second steelhead push moves into the lower river.
Winter: cold and largely inaccessible in the upper valley, with limited lower-river steelhead fishing.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Jordan River?
As of Sep 17, 5:00 am, the USGS gauge JORDAN RIVER NEAR EAST JORDAN, MI reads 192 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Jordan River?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Steelhead on the Jordan River in Michigan.
Are there fishing guides on the Jordan River?
GuidedFloats lists 2 guides and outfitters on the Jordan River. Claimed profiles accept booking requests; unclaimed profiles are built from public records and link to the business.
Where can you access the Jordan River?
Jordan River National Fish Hatchery near Elmira - parking and access on the upper river. Graves Crossing State Forest Campground - the main developed river access with parking and camping. Pinney Bridge Campground on the Jordan River Pathway - hike-in access in the middle valley. Deadmans Hill overlook and trailhead - upper valley access at the head of the pathway. Webster Bridge road crossing - convenient mid-river parking and bank access. Rogers Road crossing - lower valley access above East Jordan. East Jordan city access at the mouth - lower river and Lake Charlevoix access for the steelhe...
When is the best time to fish the Jordan River?
Spring: steelhead run up from Lake Charlevoix and the upper river opens with high, cold water. Summer: the best brook trout months, cool and fishable when larger rivers warm, best fished with a short rod and quiet feet. Fall: browns color up before the spawn and a second steelhead push moves into the lower river. Winter: cold and largely inaccessible in the upper valley, with limited lower-river steelhead fishing.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Jordan River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Michigan agency site: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/fishing/fishing-regulations