The Paint River is a Blue Ribbon trout stream in sections of its upper half and becomes a prime smallmouth river as it grows in size. The river has become part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The USDA Forest Service is responsible for administration of designated rivers to develop comprehensive river management plans (CRMP) that provide for the protection and enhancement of the rivers’ water quality, free-flowing condition and their “outstandingly remarkable values” for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.
At its lower end the Paint River merges with the Brule River in an impoundment called the Paint River Pond. Smallmouth bass become quite numerous in the Paint River when the Net River joins it. Their numbers continue to build, and the river above and below Crystal Falls is loaded with small to medium sized bronzebacks.
Like the lower Brule River, the Paint remains wadeable in the summer, but a canoe, kayak, or boat helps you cover more water. While access to the river may be limited, this just means there is less fishing pressure which can equate to better fishing for you.
The Paint River's character may often remind you of an old girlfriend; wide and wild at times, and at other times very willing to just lay quiet and enjoy the solitude with you. It may appear to be absent of life in its headwaters because of its remoteness, and quite turbulent in its lower regions, before landing flat on its feet on the bottom reach at Paint Pond.
The Paint River drains tannic swamplands than impart a rusty tinge to its color, although the water at times is also very clear. The name "Paint" stems from the Ojibwe word "Miskua" which translates into "it is red".
The forests along the river include aspen, jack pine, red pine, black spruce, balsam fir, and northern hardwood.
The Paint River wildlife is as diverse as the river itself. White-tailed deer, black bear, and partridge are often hunted for in the region.
The River has high quality wetlands and springs used by American bittern, the great blue heron rookery, muskrat, beaver, mink, wood ducks, wood turtles, mergansers, swamp sparrow, yellow warbler, common yellowthroat, and many other wetland wildlife species.
The upper reaches is considered a “seasonal” trout fishery, available to trout only during the cool spring and fall months, but as the river flows south it becomes more of a smallmouth habitat, along with rock bass, northern pike, and muskie.
The river was used to float logs downstream during the historic logging days of old. Today, the river is a mainly a recreational source.
No adequate maps of the river were located.
USGS 04062000 PAINT RIVER NEAR ALPHA, MI
32 West Adams Street, Iron River, MI 49935
906-284-3438
2181 State Hwy M69, Crystal Falls, MI
906-875-3514
Since no river maps could be located that identified river miles or show accurate topographic elevations it is impossible to provide accurate distances of river floats or river gradients. Trip lengths were measured on Google Maps using the measuring feature.
The Paint River Pond is formed by a dam on the river and is located at the confluence of the Brule River. This reservoir can be fished much like a lake. No trips are shown for the river headwaters between the Paint River Pond and the Little Bull Dam located above the Little Bluff Rapids due to the numerous large rapids that appear to be in this area.
A float to consider in the lower reach is putting in at the boat landing in Crystal Falls located at the Hwy 69 bridge and floating 7 miles down to the landing located at the Little Bull Dam upstream of the Little Bluff Rapids which is also the tailwaters of the Peavy Pond. The bicycle shuttle is 9.3 miles long taking 45 minutes.
Putting in at Erickson's Landing, which is located just west of US Hwy 141 and taking out at Clarks Landing, which is actually located on the east bank of the dam gives you a 5.5~ mile long float. The bicycle shuttle is 5.8 miles long taking 34 minutes.
This next float puts in at Erickson Landing (L) which is about 2 miles west of US Hwy 141 on Sheltrow Road and the take out is just upstream of the Dam north of Crystal Falls on the west shore giving you about a 5.5 mile trip. The bicycle shuttle is 5.8 miles long and takes 34 minutes.
This trip puts in at the bridge on the Bates-Amasa Road (County Road 643) and takes out 7.2 miles downstream at the Erickson Landing (L). A bicycle shuttle of 14.2 miles would take 1:20 to complete so you may want to consider a vehicle shuttle which would only take 19 minutes.
If take out access to the river could be made at the US Hwy 141 bridge the above trip could be extended to 9.2 miles and the bicycle shuttle shortened to 12 miles taking 1:05 to complete or 13 minutes with a vehicle.
About 2 miles upstream of the Bates-Amasa Road bridge, the Upper and Lower Hemlock Rapids, which are rated as Class III rapids, occur on the river which typically can be hazardous to paddle through. For this reason, no trip is shown for this segment of the river.
Upstream of the Hemlock Rapids it appears that a trip can be accomplished by putting in on the North Branch of the Paint River and floating down to take out 7.5 miles downstream on the Main Branch of the Paint River. This requires a 5.2 mile long bicycle shuttle along some back country roads taking about 27 minutes.
An even longer float at 14.5 miles could be done by putting in at what is known as "Fishing Site No. 1 Road" along the North Branch and taking out on the Main Branch. About 3.7 miles downstream of the put in spot you may have to portage around Chipmunk Falls and the Snake Rapids also are encountered about 6 miles from the put in spot. It appears that there are numerous spots were the river narrows which may increase its velocity but also areas where it widens to give you once again a slow calm river to fish. This has a 13.7 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 1:11 to complete or 34 minutes with a vehicle.
The last suggested trip actually puts in at Cable Lake Road bridge on the West Branch of the Net River and it slowly meanders a mile to its confluence with the East Branch of the Net River which are the headwaters of the North Branch of the Paint River. The take out spot is 6.7 miles downstream at the Fishing Site No. 1 Road. This is a 8.2 mile long bicycle shuttle taking 43 minutes.