Michigan

Here's a satelite shot of Michigan. Michigan has a lower peninsula and an upper peninsula (called the U.P.) People living in the U.P. are called Yoopers and those living in the Lower Peninsula (below the Mackinac Bridge) are called Trolls.
As you can see it is a land of many lakes and rivers in the North of USA, so therefore a paradice for trout and salmon!
As you can see it is a land of many lakes and rivers in the North of USA, so therefore a paradice for trout and salmon!
Michigan and Sweden (Similar yet dissimilar in many ways)
Many people ask me many questions about my reason for being in Sweden, why Sweden, what is better Sweden or Michigan, my plans for working in the future and many more questions along those lines. What I can say however is that Michigan and Sweden are definitely alike yet different in many ways. Like Sweden, Michigan is FULL of water, and trout! However there are many differences in the fishing, regulations, etc. After reading an interesting article in Trout and Salmon magazine where a British man compared fly fishing in England to fly fishing in USA, I was compelled to write something about differences between Sweden and my home.
Some of the differences regarding fishing in Michigan and Sweden:
Some of the differences regarding fishing in Michigan and Sweden:
- In Michigan there are no clubs that own the rivers, sections of the rivers, lakes, etc. As we say, "god put the water and fish here for everyone to enjoy." Thats exactly how it is. No one owns the water and a fishing license entitles you to fish all water in Michigan. However, access to land may be tricky. In Sweden, you dont have to worry about "No-Tresspassing Signs" and Shotguns =)
- In Michigan the fishing license costs around $28 for one year, again for every body of water and river. That is about 200 SEK for a whole year and every and any water you want to fish. In Sweden however, you must purchase a fishing license for every stream, and each stream may be divided into several sections where it can costs much more than 200 SEK per day.
- Fishing is done in Michigan on a first come first to fish basis. In Sweden however, people begin upstream and fish downstream.
- Dry fly fishing is generally done downstream, not upstream in Michigan.
- Fishing for salmon and steelhead is done with long leaders, and small flies using a deaddrift. Spey rods and swinging flies are not the norm though they are becoming popular.
- Finally, Put and take streams are nearly non-existent in Michigan. On the contrary stream habitat reconstruction and restoration is more important and should be concentrated on to enable wild populations and comeback potential for trout. This has not worked however for one of our native fish, the grayling, which I describe below.
The Arctic Grayling, Now Extinct in Michigan

Once abudant throughout Michigan, the Arctic Grayling is now extinct and has been for over 50 years. Attempts to reintroduce the grayling have failed. The stories goes as follows. Michigan becomes a tourist attraction for many southern and eastern businessmen to fish for grayling. Many learn of the wonderful rivers, and soon they also start focusing on the trees along the river. Trees are floated downstream, streams are altered to speed up the logging process, erosion increases and trout and grayling habitat disappears. End of the line, grayling extinct. Just so you know, there is even a town in Michigan named after our once abundant fish, Grayling, Michigan.
The State Fish (Brook Trout or "Brookie")
Manistee River
The Manistee River is my "birthplace" in regards to fly fishing. I would say this began around the time I was 11 years old (not sure exactly) on our annual trips to hunt grouse(partridge) and fly fish near the CCC bridge of the Manistee River. I found fly fishing quite frustrating and confusing at first, but this was due to bad flies, bad equipment and little interest. I now start people out with everything "right" so they can have a better experience. As the years progressed, I became better and better at fly fishing and eventually recieved my own fly rod. In middle school I fly fished a lot in many of the lakes around Flint, as well as some of the streams for suckers, chubs, bass and bluegills. This "honed" my casting until I began making my own money and could afford a "real" fly rod. This then led to me getting my licence around 16, and all else was history....I was at the Manistee nearly every weekend and most of the summer fishing for brook and brown trout in this legendary river.
There are many great sections of the Manistee, and it varies from a log jammed creek, to sand lined deep sections to perfect rocky dry fly pools. Lots of bends and submerged logs make great trout habitat, and there is NO sight fishing here, except for some pools. I could write my own book about the Mansitee, however you should explore this area on your own and find your own pools. They change every year!
You have possibly heard of the famous "hex hatch" in Michigan. The hexagania flies are GIGANTIC mayflies that bring out the biggest beasts in the river to feed on the surface. Check out the video below from the Manistee River.
There are many great sections of the Manistee, and it varies from a log jammed creek, to sand lined deep sections to perfect rocky dry fly pools. Lots of bends and submerged logs make great trout habitat, and there is NO sight fishing here, except for some pools. I could write my own book about the Mansitee, however you should explore this area on your own and find your own pools. They change every year!
You have possibly heard of the famous "hex hatch" in Michigan. The hexagania flies are GIGANTIC mayflies that bring out the biggest beasts in the river to feed on the surface. Check out the video below from the Manistee River.
Pere Marquette River
A video of me fighting a salmon on the Pere Marquette River
Other Great Rivers in Michigan
- Au Sable
- Paint Rier
- Jordan River
- Boardman River
- Black River
- Salmon-Trout River
- Paint Creek
- Muskegon River
- Little Manistee River
- Ontanogan River
"The finest gift you can give to any fisherman is to put a good fish back, and who knows if the fish that you caught isn't someone else's gift to you?" Lee Wulff