Bad River Fishing
Saginaw County and Gratiot County.
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The Bad River for visiting anglers
Michigan anglers fish the Bad River, a river of Saginaw County and Gratiot County. Mapped, it measures close to 43.2 miles. Supplies are in Merrill, about 7 miles off.
You can put in at 2 public launches.
Launch sites along the Bad River
- Hulien Road Boat Access2 lanes, 20 trailer spaces, Saginaw County
- DNR St. Charles Field Office Boat Access on Bad River – South Branch1 lane, 15 trailer spaces, Saginaw County
MDNR boat access sites, MDNR fishing sites, USGS gauges.
Harvest rules on the Bad River
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 in any combination; minimum 14 inches | Possession: Sat. before Memorial Day – Dec. 31; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Walleye (Lower Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Lower Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | Last Sat. in April – March 15 |
| Muskellunge | Only 1 per angler per license year (April 1 – March 31); mandatory harvest registration within 24 hours; minimum 42 inches (46, 50 or 38 inches on listed waters) | Possession: 1st Sat. in June – March 15; catch-and-immediate-release open all year |
| Yellow perch | 25 | Open all year |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 in any combination of the listed species | Open all year |
| Channel catfish | 10; minimum 12 inches | Open all year |
| Flathead catfish | 5; minimum 15 inches | Open all year |
| White bass | 10 | Open all year |
| Cisco and whitefish | 5 in any combination | Open all year |
| Burbot | 5 | Open all year |
| Trout in unclassified lakes | 5, no more than 3 of which may be 15 inches or greater; minimum 8 inches | Open all year |
Statewide limits for the Lower Peninsula cover the Bad River.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). All Michigan limits.
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Lakes to try next to the Bad River
- Pine River near Alma, Gratiot County16 miles
- Rainbow Lake, Gratiot County20 miles
Where to pick up bait for the Bad River
- Penn For Lessbait and tackle shop, Hemlock, 10 miles
- Traxstech Corporationbait and tackle shop, Chesaning, 12 miles
- Droptine Archery & Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Alma, 16 miles
- Saginaw Marina Incmarina, Saginaw, 21 miles
- Cox's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Saginaw, 21 miles
Charter captains and guides near the Bad River
- Reel Pleasure Charterscharter, Midland, (989) 687-2700
- Reel Fish'nfishing guide, Bay City, (989) 529-4097
Towns that put you close to the Bad River
- Merrill7 miles
- Breckenridge9 miles
- Hemlock10 miles
- Ashley10 miles
Neighboring streams to the Bad River
- South Fork Bad River7 miles
- Maple River, Clinton County13 miles
- Swan Creek, Saginaw County15 miles
- Pine River, Gratiot County20 miles
The counties around the Bad River
- Saginaw County
- Gratiot County
Piscifun spinning and baitcasting picks for the Bad River
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Lakes and streams near Bad River, pictured
Photo: Christian Collins, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Guettarda, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Saginaw Future Inc, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
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Fishing the Bad River: questions anglers ask
How do I find the Bad River on a Michigan map?
The stream threads Saginaw County and Gratiot County.
How does the MDNR type the Bad River for trout?
It has no trout regulation Type.
Where are flow readings for the Bad River posted?
USGS keeps no station on it.
Which launches put boats onto the Bad River?
MDNR data list 2 public launches; Hulien Road Boat Access is one.
What are the trout limits on the Bad River?
The Michigan statewide rows, with county exceptions on top.
What does a visitor from out of state pay for the Bad River?
Anglers 17 and older carry a Michigan all-species fishing license: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents, $11 for seniors or $10 for one day.
Where do anglers on the Bad River pick up worms?
Penn For Less, about 10 miles away.
Is the Bad River Blue Ribbon water?
No MDNR fish list is published for it.
Which Census town is nearest the Bad River?
The closest Michigan place is Merrill, 7 miles out.
Give the Bad River a full afternoon
Buy the all-species license before the trip.