Fishing Ontonagon River

Ontonagon County, Michigan

Fish Species

Brook troutBrown troutLake sturgeonWalleye

DNR Fish Stocking

Walleye: 744,925 totalBrown trout: 81,196 totalLake sturgeon: 9,923 totalBrook trout: 2,200 total
DateSpeciesStrainNumberAvg Length
7/3/2025 Walleye Bay De Noc 13,802 2.25"
7/2/2025 Lake sturgeon Sturgeon-Baraga 4,586 2.17"
9/23/2024 Lake sturgeon Sturgeon-Baraga 141 6.22"
9/16/2024 Lake sturgeon Sturgeon-Baraga 891 6.22"
9/28/2023 Lake sturgeon Sturgeon-Baraga 372 6.65"
9/5/2023 Lake sturgeon Sturgeon-Baraga 375 6.69"
6/27/2023 Walleye Bay De Noc 21,173 1.57"
9/27/2022 Lake sturgeon Sturgeon-Baraga 522 7.32"
9/30/2021 Lake sturgeon Sturgeon-Baraga 625 6.85"
9/15/2021 Lake sturgeon Sturgeon-Baraga 1,042 6.5"

Source: Michigan DNR Fish Stocking Database

Ice Fishing

The Ontonagon River mouth and lower stretches may develop ice in winter, but river ice is inherently unpredictable due to current and flow changes. Lake Superior itself does not freeze reliably nearshore. Exercise extreme caution — this is not a traditional ice fishing destination.

Fishing Tournaments & Competitions

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

Michigan Fishing Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish are in the Ontonagon River?

The river and its mouth offer fishing opportunities typical of Lake Superior tributaries — steelhead, salmon, and trout run the river seasonally. The launch area near the mouth is used by anglers targeting both river fish and Lake Superior species.

Data: Michigan DNR · ← Back to Ontonagon River Guide