Cass River Fishing
Tuscola County and Saginaw County.
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The Cass River in brief
MDNR flowlines carry the Cass River, a river, across Tuscola County and Saginaw County. MDNR flowline segments add up to about 61.5 miles. Under a mile separates the mapped point from Vassar.
It is measured by 3 active gauges. MDNR access data map 2 public launches.
The fish list for the Cass River
MDNR sources name these fish on the Cass River; other species are likely present.
MDNR trout stream layer, fishing sites, stocking table and state records.
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| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Cass River At Cass City, Mi | 15 cfs, 4.68 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:30 am |
| Cass River At Wahjamega, Mi | 380 cfs, 3.21 ft gage height | Sep 30 11:00 pm Not updated since Sep 30, 1994. |
| Cass River At Frankenmuth, Mi | 81 cfs, 3.70 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:45 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 9:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Access points on the Cass River
- Chippewa Landingboat ramp, Tuscola County
- Bridgeport Township Parkboat ramp, Saginaw County
MDNR boat access sites, MDNR fishing sites, USGS gauges.
The regulations that cover the Cass 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 |
The Cass River sits on the Lower Peninsula, so those walleye and pike rows apply.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). All Michigan limits.
Fish planted in the Cass River
The MDNR table logs 5 plants in the Cass River from 2024 to 2026, 168,215 fish in all.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 16, 2026 | Walleye | Muskegon | 4.6 in | 50,268 |
| June 18, 2025 | Walleye | Muskegon | 5 in | 63,919 |
| August 16, 2024 | Lake sturgeon | Black Lake | 14.6 in | 125 |
| September 21, 2024 | Lake sturgeon | Saint Clair | 18.5 in | 114 |
| June 27, 2024 | Walleye | Muskegon | 4.3 in | 53,789 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026.
In the Cass River area
More Michigan lakes by the Cass River
- Murphy Lake, Tuscola County7 miles
- Otter Lake, Lapeer County12 miles
- Holloway Reservoir, Genesee County19 miles
- C S Mott Lake20 miles
Stores that outfit the Cass River anglers
- Fred's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Vassar, 2 miles
- Eastside Custom Tacklebait and tackle shop, Vassar, 6 miles
- Ed's Archery & Sporting Goods Incbait and tackle shop, Clio, 14 miles
- Lindy's Salesmarina, Fairgrove, 15 miles
- Thomas Marinemarina, Unionville, 17 miles
Captains who run the Cass River
- Thumbs Up Charter Servicescharter, Sebewaing, (810) 513-6073
- Reel Fish'nfishing guide, Bay City, (989) 529-4097
Where to sleep for a trip to the Cass River
- Vassarunder a mile
- Millington7 miles
- Reese8 miles
- Frankenmuth9 miles
Streams in the same corner as the Cass River
- Quanicassee River15 miles
- North Branch Flint River17 miles
- Saginaw River19 miles
- Sebewaing River23 miles
the Cass River county guides
- Tuscola County
- Saginaw County
Reels and a weigh-scale grip for the Cass River
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Species to expect at Cass River
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain
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Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0
Things to settle before fishing the Cass River
Where does the Cass River run in Michigan?
Mapped, it runs through Tuscola County and Saginaw County.
Is the Cass River a Michigan trout stream?
It is not typed as trout water.
What are the latest readings on the Cass River?
See the 3 USGS gauges above.
How many MDNR launches line the Cass River?
2 public launches are mapped, Bridgeport Township Park among them.
What are the keeper rules for the Cass River?
Michigan statewide inland rows cover it.
Does fishing the Cass River call for a Michigan license?
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.
Who sells bait nearest the Cass River?
Fred's Bait & Tackle sits about 2 miles away.
Which fish are in the Cass River?
Records point to walleye and lake sturgeon.
Which Michigan town neighbors the Cass River?
Census data make Vassar closest, under a mile away.