Current Works, LLC

 

The Boardman River is a gem when one considers its proximity to Traverse City. Starting as two rivers - the North and South Branches near the villages of Kalkaska and South Boardman, they merge and become one, flow north and eventually drains into the West Grand Traverse Bay. The river generally runs clear and cooler resulting in insect hatches that can be delayed behind its neighboring rivers.

There are a number of sections of this river, but the consistent drawback is the lack of access. There are places to fish this river and one that is willing to do some research and a little extra hiking may find you some great water. There are a number of dams and impoundments on the Boardman that make up the different sections of the river and also impact the fishery bellow them.  For the nostalgic, history buff or interested angler - one of the most popular used dry fly pattern used, The Adams, was originally developed for angler Charles Adams who fished The Boardman River.

 

The upper section includes both the North and South Branches of the Boardman and where they come together, the "Forks" and downstream to Brown Bridge Pond. This is the smaller water of the Boardman which experiences fair to good hatches. Ranch Rudolph is in this section of water and there are a number of places to access the river including some State of Michigan campgrounds: The Forks, Shecks Place, Trail Camp and Brown Bridge Road. The river averages 25 feet in width and flows quickly over a gravel bottom. Not good with a roll cast? You will be soon.

 

Below Brown Bridge Pond to Sabin dam is quick, cool water that offers some deeper holes along it’s gravely bottom. Hatches of Brown Drakes and Grey Drakes can offer the fly angler some great fishing close to town. The "valley" is one of the most scenic in the state and it is hard to believe that a place this nice can exist so close to Traverse City. This is some great water and I like to guide it wading through some private access.

 

The water bellow Sabin dam is the upstream limit for Steelhead and Salmon and their migration. In Traverse City, a fish weir is lowered at the end of summer to keep salmon from entering the river, however some make it upstream prior to and after they remove the weir in Mid-fall and offers some fishing for the migrating and spawning fish. The water below the dam is slower and has a lot of silt. While it doesn't appear to be very "trouty" some fish do make it their home despite water temperatures that climb into the 70's.

Bellow Boardman lake, there is a short dam and fish ladder which creates another section of river before it enters the lake. While considered "Urban Fishing" steelhead anglers catch fish throughout the fall, winter and spring - often on their lunch break or just after work. In the warmer months, anglers can find smallmouth, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Pike, Carp, Walleye and who knows what else swimming in it. Not a bad place to cast a line when in town with a limited schedule. Anglers can be found in the surf – where the mouth of the Boardman meets the Bay. Swinging flies or casting baitfish patterns can bring a steelhead, salmon, Lake Trout, Cisco, or Smallmouth Bass to hand.