Big Sable River
Brown trout and coho salmon water; 7 stockings on the 2026 record.
Mason County · Michigan · see it on the national map
7
stockings 2026
May 13
last stocked
139,721
fish reported
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Brown trout
Coho salmon
Chinook salmon
Stocking record 2026
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 6 | Coho salmon | adult | 15,951 | completed |
| Apr 7 | Coho salmon | adult | 14,918 | completed |
| Apr 30 | Chinook salmon | yearling | 99,452 | completed |
| May 13 | Brown trout x 2 sections | adult | 1,900 | completed |
| May 13 | Brown trout x 2 sections | adult | 2,800 | completed |
Gear for this water
It has been a while since the trucks came. The holdovers have spread out and wised up; downsize and fish natural.
For the trout (brown trout stocked 4 times here in 2026, moving water)
| Waders or wet-wading boots | stocked stream fish stack in the obvious pools; getting to the next one is the edge |
| Light spinning rod | 5 to 6.5 ft light or ultralight; short rods cast under branches |
| Inline spinners | 1/16 to 1/8 oz silver or gold; swing them across the current seams |
For the salmon and steelhead (coho salmon stocked 2 times here in 2026, moving water)
| Trolling flies and dodgers | for landlocked salmon in the lakes, early and late in the day |
| Medium spinning rod | 8 to 9 ft with 8 to 12 lb line; big water, big runs |
| Spoons and spinners | 1/4 to 1/2 oz metal; cast across and swing through the run |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Pere Marquette River | 5.9 mi | Apr 28 |
| Hamlin Lake | 6.0 mi | Jun 2 |
| Hackert (Crystal) Lake | 9.6 mi | Jun 2 |
| Big S Br Pere Marquette River | 17 mi | Apr 29 |
| Little Manistee River | 17 mi | May 6 |
Records from Michigan DNR
(official page). Placement from USGS GNIS. Schedules change without notice.
Seasons, limits, and licenses:
Michigan fishing
regulations.