Pere Marquette River Fishing Report

Here's what's happening in Northern Michigan

JANUARY 7, 2026

NOT A GREAT START TO THE NEW YEAR

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PERE MARQUETTE RIVER FISHING REPORT:
I hope everyone had a safe and Happy New Year!  I don’t have much to report on regarding Steelhead fishing on the Pere Marquette River.  I managed to spend my birthday on the river all day. I had a decent swing bite mid-morning. I found a few Trout and a nice Coho. The Steelhead, however, eluded me. Other than that, the holiday break was a little miserable for me.  The day after Christmas, I ended up getting the horrible flu that’s been going around. As if that wasn’t enough, our well pump went bad, so we had no water.
However, none of this compares to hearing the news about my friend Glen Blackwood passing away. Glen was a big impact on helping me get started as a fly fishing guide. I remember spending many days hanging out at the old log cabin fly shop in Rockford and listening to Glen tell one of his many great stories. As a young man, Glen’s stories were like hearing tales from Gene Hill or Robert Traver. Glen did so much for the fishing and hunting community. He volunteered many hours for Trout Unlimited and the Ruffed Grouse Society. He will always be remembered as an advocate for the outdoors and as someone who worked hard to protect our cold-water rivers and streams here in West Michigan. He will be missed by many! Rest in Peace, Glen.
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For anyone who might be interested I have a few Outfitters North Hooded Sweatshirts.
You can shoot me an email (outfittersnorth@hotmail.com) if you would like one. $40.00 plus shipping.
Here are the sizes still available:
  • Large – 6 left
  • XL – 7 left
  • XXL – 7 left
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YOUTUBE: I’ve started a new YouTube page! Click on the link for some new videos and click the subscribe button. https://www.youtube.com/@OutfittersNorthJeffHubbard
LIVE FLY TYING WITH THE NORTHERN ANGLER:  If you missed it – I had the opportunity to head up to Traverse City to visit good friends Brian and Matt at The Northern Angler Fly Shop. Thanks to all who joined us on YouTube for the Live event. If you missed the live event, you can still watch the full video on the Northern Angler’s YouTube Page.
If you are ever in Northern Michigan stop by their shop and say “hi!” They have a great assortment of gear, tackle and fly tying materials. You can find them online at The Northern Angler

FLY OF THE MONTH

HUB'S HEX

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HUBS HEX
As the Pere Marquette River temps start to drop in the winter months, fishing nymphs can be productive.  A staple in my fly box this time of year, is my Hex/Wiggler imitation. This fly works well when the river is cold and clear. It’s a subtle, natural looking fly which can be fished under a float or bounced off the bottom. Checkout the Hub’s Hex on my YouTube page and please like and subscribe.
Tight Lines !!
  • Thread:  140 ultra strong thread in Black.
  • Hook:  1x strong 2x long down eye size 6 or 8.
  • Tail:  Tan Grizzly Marabou. Tie in don’t cut.
  • Body:  Brown Ice Dub taper body so dubbing gets thicker toward eye of hook.
  • Collar:  Tie in smaller Mallard flank by tip and wrap towards front.
  • Eyes:  Medium Black Plastic Eyes.
  • Head:  Yellow UV Ice dub wrap in front and around Plastic Eyes.
  • Wing:  Pull rest of stem of Grizzly Marabou and tie off at eye of hook. Make thread wrap and whip finish and go fish it. 😁
Learn More About booking a trip with Outfittersnorth

I am Jeff Hubbard. I grew up in West Michigan with a real love for the outdoors. After guiding in Alaska for a few years, I returned to my favorite rivers and streams, here in Michigan. Among these, the Pere Marquette River is my favorite by far. I have spent many years next to this great river in the town of Baldwin and have a great love for this great natural scenic river. I became a professional guide in 1998, and fishing still remains a real passion to me.

I’m a licensed USFS Special Use Permit holder and State of Michigan Permit holder.  This allows me to fish the whole water shed of the Pere Marquette River.  I am fully insured and CPR Certified. I run Full and Half Day Trips, Instructional, walk and wade, or float trips.

Always feel free to drop me a note if you have any questions or ideas!  Thank you for stopping by!