St. Marys River (Little Rapids), MI Fishing Guide

Species at St. Marys River (Little Rapids)

• Chinook salmon

  staging kings stack at the river mouth ahead of the fall spawning run

  Season: Aug–Oct · Tide: moving water · Light: low light · Water: 45–58°F

• Coho salmon

  cohos follow the kings into the current seams ahead of the spawn

  Season: Aug–Oct · Tide: moving water · Light: low light · Water: 45–60°F

• Lake trout

  cold-water structure fish, shallow enough to reach the channel in spring and fall

  Season: Apr–May, Oct–Nov · Tide: moving water · Light: any light · Water: 40–55°F

• Steelhead

  the fall and spring runs stack steelhead in the current below the first barrier

  Season: Mar–May, Sep–Dec · Tide: moving water · Light: low light · Water: 38–55°F

What's biting at St. Marys River (Little Rapids), month by month

Typical seasons for this stretch of coast — a warm or late year shifts them by a few weeks. The live forecast scores today's actual conditions.

How St. Marys River (Little Rapids) fishes

This is an inshore station — bay, river or lagoon water rather than an open ocean mouth. Tide stage and water temperature drive the bite here far more than swell does.

Tides here are read from NOAA station 9076033 at 46.4860, -84.3020 — see it on NOAA CO-OPS.

Shops & partners near St. Marys River (Little Rapids)

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Common questions about St. Marys River (Little Rapids)

What fish can you catch at St. Marys River (Little Rapids)?

Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, Lake trout, Steelhead. Each has its own season, preferred tide and water-temperature window at St. Marys River (Little Rapids).

When is the best time to fish St. Marys River (Little Rapids)?

October has the most species in season (4 of 4) — Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, Lake trout, Steelhead. Seasons shift by a few weeks in a warm or late year.

Is there anything biting at St. Marys River (Little Rapids) in winter?

January, February, June, July are the quiet stretch — none of the species we track are in their window then. The bite picks back up in March.

What tide is best for fishing St. Marys River (Little Rapids)?

4 of the 4 species here feed best on moving water. Moving water is what pulls bait through the mouth, so the hours either side of a tide change usually beat dead slack.

Where are the tides for St. Marys River (Little Rapids) measured?

NOAA CO-OPS station 9076033, at 46.4860, -84.3020. What Inlet? scores the live tide, current, solunar and weather for that station.

Inlets near St. Marys River (Little Rapids)

• St. Marys River (West Neebish Island) 15 mi
• St. Marys River (Rock Cut) 16 mi
• De Tour Village 39 mi
• Mackinaw City 53 mi
• Port Inland 83 mi
• Alpena 107 mi
• Marquette 146 mi

Fishing a different inlet today? Every one has its own species roster and bite pattern.

See St. Marys River (Little Rapids) on the map

The national heat map opens centred here, every inlet coloured by today's score. Zoom in for satellite imagery and the NOAA chart — depth soundings, the channel and the bars.

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