Black River (South Haven)
Rainbow trout and chinook salmon water; 3 stockings on the 2026 record.
Van Buren County · Michigan · see it on the national map
3
stockings 2026
Jun 10
last stocked
155,307
fish reported
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Rainbow trout
Chinook salmon
Walleye
Stocking record 2026
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1 | Rainbow trout | adult | 20,101 | completed |
| May 8 | Chinook salmon | yearling | 124,639 | completed |
| Jun 10 | Walleye | fingerling | 10,567 | 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 (rainbow trout stocked 1 time 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 (chinook salmon stocked 1 time here in 2026, moving water)
| 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 |
| Beads and egg imitations | drifted under a float where bait rules allow |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pine Creek | 14 mi | Apr 27 |
| Mill Creek | 15 mi | Apr 21 |
| Brush Creek | 17 mi | Apr 27 |
| Shafer Lake | 17 mi | Apr 1 |
| Blue Creek | 19 mi | Apr 21 |
Records from Michigan DNR
(official page). Placement from USGS GNIS. Schedules change without notice.
Seasons, limits, and licenses:
Michigan fishing
regulations.