Michigamme River
Michigamme River Overview
Much of the Michigamme River is impounded, but there is good smallmouth bass fishing throughout this warm water river.
The longest free-flowing stretch is found in the reach above the Michigamme Reservoir. There are over 20 river miles in this section, with the Witbeck Rapids area a prime spot for smallmouth. Below the reservoir, there is a relatively fast, shallow section that harbors good numbers of decent-sized smallmouth bass. A lowhead dam slows the water at Hemlock Falls, but below this falls there is another good stretch of fine smallmouth water. Walleyes and some northern pike join the bass in this river.
Access is found at road crossings and there are trails or roads back into some of the falls and rapids. The Michigamme River joins the Brule River to form the Menominee River about 10 miles northwest of Iron Mountain.
Michigamme River Character
Although the river water is calm in areas where it is impounded, where it is free to roam it typically travels with a swift current, especially in its upper reaches. The trees that stand as sentinels along its shoreline help echo the sounds of the babbling river as it flows southward. Its wildness helps assure that only those that dare traverse its waters will be rewarded with a pleasure that only they can comprehend.
Michigamme river Landscape
The shoreline of the river is typically surrounded by hearty hardwood forests or dense conifers stands of pine, spruce, and tamarack. The wilderness of the river brings you back in time, as you may not see any signs of civilization for miles along its course in area.
Michigamme river Fish and Wildlife
White-tailed deer, black bears, and a host of of other wildlife creatures make the river area their home. The secluded shorelines of its reservoirs provides ready access to wildlife seeking its cool water for refreshment. Birds are abundant in the form of ducks, geese, and eagles swooping down upon the river waters to do their own acrobatic angling from above.
Michigamme river History
Very little information about the history of the Michigamme River could be located...
Michigamme river Map
I could not locate very many good maps of the Michigamme River. Although a map found on the Outdoor Michigan website does provide some information about the river (landings, etc.).
Michigamme River Gauge
NOAA hyrdograph of Michigamme River near South Republic, MI
NOAA hydrograph of Michigamme River near Witch Lake, MI
NOAA hydrograph of Michigamme River near Crystal Falls, MI
USGS 04062500 Michigamme River near Crystal Falls, MI
Water flows at hydroelectric dams on Michigamme River
Michigamme river Shuttle and Rental Services
2181 State Hwy M69, Crystal Falls, MI
906-875-3514
Uncle Ducky Outfitters
434 E. Prospect, Marquette, MI 49855
906-228-5447, 877-228-5447
Michigamme River trips
It is difficult to determine the river gradient for this river since no accurate topograhic maps are available.
The confluence of the Michigamme River and the Brule River creates the headwaters of the Menominee River. Just upstream of this confluence is the Michgamme Falls Dam which creates the Michigamme Lake Reservoir, or also known as Lower Peavy Pond. This small impoundment of the river could be fished much like a lake. Access (L) is located at the dam site.
Immediately upstream of the Michigamme Lake Reservoir is the larger Peavy Pond Reservoir. This larger 2400 acre body of water is best known to walleye, perch, northern pike, crappie, and muskie, but largemouth and smallmouth bass also make this reservoir home. The water averages 25' deep with some deeper areas around. Lots of underwater humps, cliffs, and islands for structure. There are several boat launches on the reservoir to allow you to access and fish.
Putting in at the State Hwy 69 bridge allows you to float down the river to the Peavy Pond Reservoir and then fish its shoreline to a public access landing for take out. This would give you at least 9 miles of paddling. It appears the Glidden Rapids are encoutnered about 1/3 of mile from the put in spot but I am unsure what class rapids these are. This is a 5.5 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 28 minutes.
A shorter paddle could be done by putting in at the State Hwy 69 bridge and seeing if shoreline access on Peavy Pond is available off of Frickeltons Road instead. This would be about a 6 mile long paddle with a 6.4 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 32 minutes.
Another option, if you want to have more "skinny water" paddling is put in at the Old Hwy 69 bridge in the Mansfield Location and float down to the Frickeltons Road access on Peavy Pond. This is about a 8.5 mile long paddle with a bicycle shuttle of 9 miles taking 44 minutes.
This next trip would be a very short float with a very long shuttle. The put in spot is right below the Way Dam, which creates the Michigamme Reservoir. The take out spot is at the Hemlock Falls Dam Landing about 3 miles downstream. The bicycle shuttle is 9.4 miles long taking 48 minutes.
The Way Dam, which creates the 4800 acre Michigamme Reservoir can be fished much like a lake. It has 7 boat launches scattered around the reservoir to give you easy access to any area you wish to explore. Besides smallmouth, the reservoir also holds largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, and muskie.
A fishing trip to consider if you want to experience part of the river and the reservoir is to put in at Newberg Road Bridge and take out at the Phelan Road Landing on the reservoir. This is about a 9.5 mile long paddle trip exploring the headwaters of the reservoir with a 11.6 mile long bicycle shuttle taking about 57 minutes.
Putting in at the State Hwy 95 Bridge and taking out at the Newberg Road Bridge gives you about a 5.5 mile long float. The bicycle shuttle is 8.3 miles long taking 41 minutes.
The Whitbeck Rapids is said to be a good smallmouth fishing area. Putting in at the Whitbeck Rapids Campground allows you to hit some water that probably is not fished very much. The take out is the State Hwy 95 Bridge about 6.5 miles downstream. The bicycle shuttle is 5.5 miles taking 28 minutes.
A short trip can be done by putting in at the Lief Erickson Wayside Park on Hwy 95 and floating 4 miles down to the Whitbeck Rapids Campground. This has a short 3.6 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 19 minutes.
Some dams along the river near South Republic and the old Republic Mine make it difficult to paddle in this area.
The last segment of this river appears to have a steep gradient and a lot of moving water. The put in is at the Moose Rapids Campground located northwest of the village of Republic on River Road (County Road LG). The take out spot is near the State Hwy 95 Bridge and is about an 5.8 mile long float. This is a bicycle shuttle of 5.4 miles taking 26 minutes.