Fishing Cheboygan River

Cheboygan County, Michigan

Fish Species

Chinook salmonRainbow troutWalleye

DNR Fish Stocking

Walleye: 608,287 totalChinook salmon: 434,265 totalRainbow trout: 135,136 total
DateSpeciesStrainNumberAvg Length
5/8/2025 Rainbow trout Michigan 12,696 7.24"
5/7/2025 Chinook salmon Michigan 74,017 3.74"
6/13/2024 Walleye St. Marys River 145,033 1.89"
5/7/2024 Chinook salmon Michigan 75,254 3.7"
6/13/2023 Walleye St. Marys River 150,847 1.77"
5/8/2023 Chinook salmon Michigan 76,936 3.5"
6/16/2022 Walleye St. Marys River 151,532 1.75"
5/12/2022 Chinook salmon Michigan 37,010 3.62"
6/16/2021 Walleye St. Marys River 118,723 2"
6/23/2020 Walleye St. Marys River 42,152 2"

Source: Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database

Ice Fishing

As a flowing river, the Cheboygan River does not freeze uniformly and ice conditions can be unpredictable — river ice is generally unsafe compared to the connected lakes. For ice fishing, nearby Mullett Lake and Burt Lake are better bets with more reliable freeze-up.

Fishing Tournaments & Competitions

Check for upcoming registered bass, walleye, and muskellunge tournaments on Cheboygan River.

Michigan Fishing Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish are in the Cheboygan River?

The Cheboygan River is best known for its fall salmon run — salmon stack up below the dam and spillway, and fishing can be excellent when the run is on (typically September–October). The river system also holds walleye, northern pike, and panfish. Because it connects Mullett Lake to Lake Huron, you're fishing water that's part of a much larger ecosystem.

Data: Michigan DNR · ← Back to Cheboygan River Guide