Pere Marquette River Fishing Report

Here's what's happening in Northern Michigan

FEBRUARY 23, 2026

THE ROLLER-COASTER SEASON BEGINS

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PERE MARQUETTE RIVER FISHING REPORT:
We went from a good ol’ fashioned Michigan winter to Spring in a matter of a few days.  With the snap of a finger, we moved right back to Winter.  I kicked off my Late Winter/ Spring Steelhead season this week!  This time of year is what I like to call the “Roller Coaster Season.”  Last week was the first Roller Coaster ride. Monday through Thursday we saw warmer weather and a good shot of rain.  We then flipped the switch only to see temps drop below freezing bringing a few new inches of snow.  The rain and warmer weather brought the river levels back up.  Throughout the weekend we saw levels rise, drop, and then rise again. River levels are now starting to recede in the upper stretches. Steelhead fishing last week was pretty good. We are seeing more Fall/Winter fish and now a few Spring fish have been moving into the system. The high water was the right recipe to get the ball rolling on the spring run.
For flies last week it was a mix bag of tactics. We started the week on the swing, finding fish on bigger brighter flies as the river began rise. Then as water levels rose, became dirty and fast, Egg Flies in brighter hues and bigger, brighter Nymphs on or close to the bottom was the ticket.
PHOTO: (Above) Mike shakes hands with this nice steelhead which fell for some flash last week on the swung fly.
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. 😁
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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!