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Fishing Jordan River: what the data says
A cold, spring-fed trout stream in the Jordan Valley and Michigan's first designated Natural River (1972), flowing ~17 miles northwest to the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix at East Jordan. famous for wild brook trout, with brown trout, stocked steelhead and fall chinook and coho runs. The river tops out around 8 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Brook Trout fishing at Jordan River
Spring brook trout on Jordan River hold shallow, usually 1 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 8 ft. Current seam (mile 9.9) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring brook trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 1 to 8 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Brown Trout fishing at Jordan River
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 8 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 9.9), a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 8 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Steelhead fishing at Jordan River
Start shallow in spring: steelhead sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 1 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 9.9): a current seam around 4 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Jordan River
Start shallow in spring: chinook salmon sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 9.9): a current seam around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Coho Salmon fishing at Jordan River
Start shallow in spring: coho salmon sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Current seam (mile 9.9) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring coho salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Small spoon, slow troll |
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.1): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.7): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.5): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Current seam (mile 9.9): current seam, around 4 ft
- Current seam (mile 11.8): current seam, around 4 ft
Common questions
How deep is Jordan River?
Jordan River is about 8 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Jordan River?
Anglers target chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, brown trout, brook trout on Jordan River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Jordan River?
Current seam (mile 9.9) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Jordan River?
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Deer Lake · Sixmile Lake · Lake Charlevoix · Intermediate Lake · Saint Clair Lake · Wilson Lake
See how Jordan River stacks up: best chinook salmon lakes in Michigan · best coho salmon lakes in Michigan · best steelhead lakes in Michigan · best brown trout lakes in Michigan
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