Led Head Loc: Lupton, MI

Just discovered this today.

Matt S. Loc: East Lansing Michigan

Welcome, good information from all areas.

orion72 Loc: Southern Maryland

Welcome. Just open a topic and people will respond. Some good fishing info on here along with a whole lot of “other” stuff. Be specific about location and type of fish you are targeting. Pictures are always welcome. Tight lines.

Billycrap2 Loc: Mason county,W(BY GOD) Virginia, 🇺🇸🦅

Welcome to FS Enjoy the platform and we enjoy pictures of your success also 👍🏽🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐠🐠🐋🐋🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅

Catfishbait Loc: MI

Welcome LED Head.

Led Head Loc: Lupton, MI

Thanks for the welcomes, all.
Didn’t really know what to expect from this, but thought I’d give it a try.
Was hoping for more of a local vibe with others near me. After scrolling through topics, haven’t really seen anything close at all.
Not sure if this is for me or not but I’ll stick around a little while longer to give it a chance.

Catfishbait Loc: MI

Ledster, pose a specific question & targeted answers will be forthcoming I believe
What lakes or rivers fo you fish?
What species desired catch?
The secret hole on the Rifle is about 30 paces downstream of the triple birches... 😉
.

Led Head Loc: Lupton, MI

Alright Catfishbait, If I’m to assume your comment is legit, here’s my question: where’s the access point on the Rifle river?

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Public Access located on S. Michigan Ave. on the left side before the pavement ends. Wooden staircase with metal railing leading to river bank. Shore fishing available but not a lot of shore to stand on. River moves swiftly at this spot.

Led Head Loc: Lupton, MI

Not familiar with that site, and cannot locate it on a map, Gordon. Can you narrow it down for me a little more with maybe the nearest town? or Township it’s in?
I see you’re located in South Carolina.
I’m looking in Michigan …wondering if we are referencing the same river?

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

I just looked it up. Never been there yet. But will someday. Hope this helps.

Led Head Loc: Lupton, MI

OK Gordon, it took some searching but I did find S. Michigan Ave.
I have been through Omer (known as the “sucker capital”) many times -and have probably even fished it at least once during the sucker run when the water was fast and muddy in the spring.
…good to know we’re both talking about the same river, thanks.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Welcome to the Stage Led Head! I am a bit farther Northwest of where you are, but I tend to fish in a lot of places around MI. I get to your region now and then and have enjoyed the Rifle River Recreation area just South of you. Mostly panfish and bass fishing from a kayak. The Rifle River itself is home to some nice trout (brown and rainbow on the fly), especially in the upstream segments where fish reside year round and the water is wadable.

Designated public access is limited when it comes to DNR launch sites. Where Maple Ridge Road crosses the river they call it Moffatt Bridge and that is public (about 4 miles easterly of Alger, MI). I think the access site Gordon mentioned is known as Ladd's Landing...located near a business named Tom's Custom Coatings if you search in Google.

There are about a half dozen canoe liveries that service the river, and quite a few campgrounds. They are speckled uniformly up and down the river well upstream of Omer, MI (locally famous for the seasonal Spring sucker run). I think the headwaters of the Rifle River begin near the town of West Branch. That is small and tangled up water as far as access goes.

I like to use a paper bound booklet that is published by "Sportsmans Connection", and it divides MI up into about 7 regions. Your area is known as Central Northeast. The books are about $25.00 each and primarily showcase lakes...and a few rivers now and then. I also think that Trout Unlimited might publish a special stream book dedicated to the Rifle River itself. They are full of good information even if you have lived here your whole life.

Another trick that I do when scouting from my computer armchair is to zoom in on Google Earth maps and just scroll/roam up and down the subject corridor looking at access possibilities. Any time you cross a public road with a bridge, you might be able to bushwhack down and gain access. Most of the Rifle is private land. I might guess that for a fee, using your own canoe or kayak, you could pay to access the river from any of the liveries or campgrounds. You could even just rent their own watercraft and use it as a way to learn the river in sections until you discover what your favorites are. That way they pick you up at the end of a float and you don't have to bother arranging for your own chase vehicle.

Hope this helps a bit....

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Should help quit a bit. Great post yaker

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina