The Middle Branch Ontonagon River is a freestone river in Michigan, listed as Blue Ribbon by Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow.
Middle Branch Ontonagon River is a freestone river in Michigan.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Middle Branch Ontonagon River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Middle Branch Ontonagon River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Middle Branch Ontonagon River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.
Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Duck CreekThe Boardman River in the Brown Bridge Quiet Area, near Traverse City. Photo: Phoenix-Five, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Duck Creek.
Michigan · about 11 mi
Blue RibbonRepresentative photo · not East Branch Ontonagon RiverThe Pere Marquette River in autumn, Manistee National Forest. Photo: Yetiwriter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not East Branch Ontonagon River.
Michigan · about 13 mi
Fly-fishing onlyRepresentative photo · not South Branch Paint RiverThe Manistee River, Michigan. Photo: Eric Schmuttenmaer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Branch Paint River.
Michigan · about 14 mi
Blue RibbonRepresentative photo · not Cooks RunThe Black River in Cheboygan County, Michigan. Photo: SweetCanadianMullet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Cooks Run.
Michigan · about 16 mi
Blue RibbonRepresentative photo · not Iron RiverThe Au Sable River from the Highbanks, Huron-Manistee National Forests. Photo: Jessica Piispanen / USFWS, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Iron River.
Michigan · about 30 mi
Blue RibbonRepresentative photo · not West Branch Sturgeon RiverThe Muskegon River near Newaygo, Michigan. Photo: Marc Steensma, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not West Branch Sturgeon River.
Michigan · about 30 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Blue Ribbon Trout Streams list (Michigan Department of Natural Resources, read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
No guide within 40 miles yet.
No shop nearby yet.
The hatch and season chart for this water's region.
2 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Michigan DNR.
Hex (Hexagenia) (June to July) · Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (June)
None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.
No hub within 40 miles
A practical checklist for fly fishing small mountain trout streams: a short 3–4 weight rod, light line, a few buoyant dries and simple wet-wading gear, with estimated prices and where to buy.
7′6″–8′6″ rod, 3–4 weight, floating line · Brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Middle Branch Ontonagon River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge MIDDLE BRANCH ONTONAGON RIVER NEAR PAULDING, MI. Water type is our own classification.
Limited data: Normal flow for the date: no water temperature here
No water temperature here.
At MIDDLE BRANCH ONTONAGON RIVER NEAR PAULDING, MI (USGS 04033000) Provisional USGS data
USGS 04033000 · NWS PAUM4
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 2:45 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 4:15 PM EDT to Nov 5, 2:45 PM EST; ranging 108 to 142 ft³/s; latest 141 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS Water Data API continuous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2:45 PM EST | 141 | 4.54 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 PM EST | 142 | 4.55 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 PM EST | 141 | 4.54 |
| Nov 5, 11:45 AM EST | 141 | 4.54 |
| Nov 5, 10:45 AM EST | 141 | 4.54 |
| Nov 5, 9:45 AM EST | 140 | 4.53 |
| Nov 5, 8:45 AM EST | 140 | 4.53 |
| Nov 5, 7:45 AM EST | 138 | 4.52 |
| Nov 5, 6:45 AM EST | 140 | 4.53 |
| Nov 5, 5:45 AM EST | 140 | 4.53 |
| Nov 5, 4:45 AM EST | 138 | 4.52 |
| Nov 5, 3:45 AM EST | 140 | 4.53 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 AM EST | 137 | 4.51 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 AM EST | 137 | 4.51 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 AM EST | 137 | 4.51 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 PM EST | 137 | 4.51 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 PM EST | 137 | 4.51 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 PM EST | 136 | 4.5 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 PM EST | 137 | 4.51 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 PM EST | 136 | 4.5 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 PM EST | 136 | 4.5 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 PM EST | 136 | 4.5 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 PM EST | 136 | 4.5 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 PM EST | 136 | 4.5 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 PM EST | 135 | 4.49 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 PM EST | 135 | 4.49 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 PM EST | 133 | 4.48 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 AM EST | 133 | 4.48 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 AM EST | 133 | 4.48 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 AM EST | 132 | 4.47 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 AM EST | 131 | 4.46 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 AM EST | 131 | 4.46 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 AM EST | 130 | 4.45 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 AM EST | 130 | 4.45 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 AM EST | 130 | 4.45 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 AM EST | 130 | 4.45 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 AM EST | 128 | 4.44 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 AM EST | 128 | 4.44 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 AM EST | 127 | 4.43 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 PM EST | 127 | 4.43 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 PM EST | 126 | 4.42 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 PM EST | 126 | 4.42 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 PM EST | 125 | 4.41 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 PM EST | 124 | 4.4 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 PM EST | 122 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 PM EST | 121 | 4.38 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 PM EST | 121 | 4.38 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 PM EST | 120 | 4.37 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 PM EST | 119 | 4.36 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 PM EST | 119 | 4.36 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 PM EST | 118 | 4.35 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 AM EST | 117 | 4.34 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 AM EST | 117 | 4.34 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 AM EST | 115 | 4.33 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 AM EST | 115 | 4.33 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 AM EST | 115 | 4.33 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 AM EST | 114 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 AM EST | 114 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 AM EST | 114 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 AM EST | 114 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 AM EST | 113 | 4.31 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 AM EST | 113 | 4.31 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 AM EST | 112 | 4.3 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 PM EST | 112 | 4.3 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 PM EST | 112 | 4.3 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 PM EST | 112 | 4.3 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 PM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 PM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 PM EST | 110 | 4.28 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 PM EST | 110 | 4.28 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 PM EST | 108 | 4.27 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 PM EST | 110 | 4.28 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 PM EST | 108 | 4.27 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 PM EST | 108 | 4.27 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 PM EST | 108 | 4.27 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 AM EST | 108 | 4.27 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 AM EST | 110 | 4.28 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 AM EST | 110 | 4.28 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 AM EST | 110 | 4.28 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 AM EST | 110 | 4.28 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 AM EST | 110 | 4.28 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 AM EST | 110 | 4.28 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 AM EST | 110 | 4.28 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 AM EST | 110 | 4.28 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 PM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 PM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 PM EST | 112 | 4.3 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 PM EST | 112 | 4.3 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 PM EST | 112 | 4.3 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 PM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 PM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 PM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 PM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 PM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 PM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 PM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 AM EST | 112 | 4.3 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM EST | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM EDT | 111 | 4.29 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 AM EDT | 110 | 4.28 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 PM EDT | 110 | 4.28 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 PM EDT | 110 | 4.28 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 PM EDT | 110 | 4.28 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 PM EDT | 110 | 4.28 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 PM EDT | 110 | 4.28 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 PM EDT | 110 | 4.28 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 PM EDT | 111 | 4.29 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 PM EDT | 110 | 4.28 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 PM EDT | 111 | 4.29 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 PM EDT | 111 | 4.29 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 PM EDT | 110 | 4.28 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 PM EDT | 111 | 4.29 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 AM EDT | 112 | 4.3 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 AM EDT | 112 | 4.3 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 AM EDT | 113 | 4.31 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 AM EDT | 113 | 4.31 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 AM EDT | 113 | 4.31 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 AM EDT | 113 | 4.31 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 AM EDT | 114 | 4.32 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 AM EDT | 114 | 4.32 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 AM EDT | 115 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 AM EDT | 115 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 AM EDT | 115 | 4.33 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 AM EDT | 115 | 4.33 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 PM EDT | 117 | 4.34 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 PM EDT | 118 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 PM EDT | 118 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 PM EDT | 118 | 4.35 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 PM EDT | 119 | 4.36 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 PM EDT | 119 | 4.36 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 PM EDT | 119 | 4.36 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 PM EDT | 119 | 4.36 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 PM EDT | 119 | 4.36 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 PM EDT | 119 | 4.36 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 PM EDT | 120 | 4.37 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 PM EDT | 119 | 4.36 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 AM EDT | 120 | 4.37 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 AM EDT | 121 | 4.38 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 AM EDT | 121 | 4.38 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 AM EDT | 122 | 4.39 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 AM EDT | 122 | 4.39 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 AM EDT | 122 | 4.39 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 AM EDT | 122 | 4.39 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 AM EDT | 124 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 AM EDT | 124 | 4.4 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 AM EDT | 125 | 4.41 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 AM EDT | 125 | 4.41 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 AM EDT | 125 | 4.41 |
| Oct 29, 11:45 PM EDT | 125 | 4.41 |
| Oct 29, 10:45 PM EDT | 125 | 4.41 |
| Oct 29, 9:45 PM EDT | 126 | 4.42 |
| Oct 29, 8:45 PM EDT | 126 | 4.42 |
| Oct 29, 7:45 PM EDT | 124 | 4.4 |
| Oct 29, 6:45 PM EDT | 124 | 4.4 |
| Oct 29, 5:45 PM EDT | 122 | 4.39 |
| Oct 29, 4:45 PM EDT | 122 | 4.39 |
| Oct 29, 4:15 PM EDT | 122 | 4.39 |
Normal for Nov 5: 111–171 ft³/s (middle half of 79 years of record). Now: 141 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 141 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 79 years of record: 10th 97, 25th 111, median 136, 75th 171, 90th 238 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 80.1 ft³/s, highest 437 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (+4.4% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 4.55 ft stage, 142 ft³/s at Nov 5, 1:45 PM EST (NWS gauge PAUM4; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Michigan DNR publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Michigan rule: 68°F.
This gauge is on our page for Middle Branch Ontonagon River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 3:06 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Duck CreekThe Boardman River in the Brown Bridge Quiet Area, near Traverse City. Photo: Phoenix-Five, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Duck Creek.
Michigan · about 11 mi
Blue RibbonRepresentative photo · not East Branch Ontonagon RiverThe Pere Marquette River in autumn, Manistee National Forest. Photo: Yetiwriter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not East Branch Ontonagon River.
Michigan · about 13 mi
Fly-fishing onlyRepresentative photo · not South Branch Paint RiverThe Manistee River, Michigan. Photo: Eric Schmuttenmaer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Branch Paint River.
Michigan · about 14 mi
Blue RibbonRepresentative photo · not Cooks RunThe Black River in Cheboygan County, Michigan. Photo: SweetCanadianMullet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Cooks Run.
Michigan · about 16 mi
Blue RibbonRepresentative photo · not Iron RiverThe Au Sable River from the Highbanks, Huron-Manistee National Forests. Photo: Jessica Piispanen / USFWS, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Iron River.
Blue RibbonRepresentative photo · not West Branch Sturgeon RiverThe Muskegon River near Newaygo, Michigan. Photo: Marc Steensma, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not West Branch Sturgeon River.
Michigan · about 30 mi
