Clinton River Fishing
Oakland County and Macomb County, MDNR trout water.
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The Clinton River in brief
MDNR flowlines carry the Clinton River, a river, across Oakland County and Macomb County. MDNR flowline segments add up to about 84.9 miles. About 2 miles separates the mapped point from Rochester Hills.
Trout water on file: about 31.7 miles, Type 4. It is measured by 3 active gauges.
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| Type | Miles | Fishing season | Daily possession | Tackle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 4 | 31.7 | January 1st to December 31st | 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15" or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. | Artificial lures and all types of natural bait may be used. |
The Clinton River trout Types decide when it is open and what size you may keep.
Trout and salmon need no separate stamp in Michigan; the all-species license ($26 resident, $76 nonresident a year) covers them.
MDNR Trout and Salmon Inland Stream Regulation Types and gear-restricted layers; 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). Michigan trout streams.
The fish list for the Clinton River
MDNR sources name these fish on the Clinton River; other species are likely present.
MDNR trout stream layer, fishing sites, stocking table and state records.
River flow for the Clinton River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Clinton River At Auburn Hills, Mi | 117 cfs, 1.69 ft gage height | Nov 14 12:00 pm |
| Clinton River At Sterling Heights, Mi | 201 cfs, 8.13 ft gage height | Nov 14 12:00 pm |
| Clinton River Near Fraser, Mi | 235 cfs, 6.26 ft gage height | Nov 14 11:30 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 14, 2026 12:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Access points on the Clinton River
Expect walk-in fishing on the Clinton River; no launch is mapped.
MDNR boat access sites, MDNR fishing sites, USGS gauges.
The regulations that cover the Clinton 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 and salmon (stream Type 4) | 5 fish, but no more than 3 trout 15 inches or greater; minimum brook 7", brown 10", salmon/lake trout/rainbow (steelhead)/splake 10" | Fishing: Open all year; possession: Last Sat. in April – Sep. 30 for brook trout, brown trout and Atlantic salmon; open all year f |
The Clinton River sits on the Lower Peninsula, so those walleye and pike rows apply, with the trout row for stream Type 4.
Digest exceptions naming the Clinton River
- Macomb CountyClinton R. cut-off channel (T2N, R13E): from spillway weir to the Harper Rd.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). All Michigan limits.
Fish planted in the Clinton River
The MDNR table logs 16 plants in the Clinton River from 2024 to 2026, 127,754 fish in all.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 30, 2026 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 11.6 in | 2,100 |
| April 30, 2026 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 11.6 in | 2,100 |
| April 13, 2026 | Rainbow trout | Michigan | 18.7 in | 37,467 |
| June 12, 2026 | Rainbow trout | 30.5 in | 675 | |
| April 22, 2025 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 12.9 in | 2,200 |
| April 22, 2025 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 12.9 in | 2,200 |
| March 24, 2025 | Brown trout | Wild Rose | 38 in | 537 |
| March 24, 2025 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 38.9 in | 475 |
| March 24, 2025 | Brown trout | Wild Rose | 138 | |
| April 16, 2025 | Rainbow trout | Michigan | 18.6 in | 37,498 |
| March 24, 2025 | Rainbow trout | Eagle Lake | 40 | |
| April 15, 2024 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 12.6 in | 2,100 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026.
State records caught in the Clinton River
| Species | Weight lb | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Kokanee Salmon | 1.94 | 1978 |
MDNR State Record Fish table.
In the Clinton River area
More Michigan lakes by the Clinton River
- Trout Lake, Oakland County6 miles
- Stony Creek Lake7 miles
- Loon Lake near Lake Angelus, Oakland County9 miles
- Lake Oakland9 miles
Stores that outfit the Clinton River anglers
- Bass Pro Shops, 4500 Baldwin Rdsporting goods store, Auburn Hills, 7 miles
- Summit Northmarina, Waterford, 7 miles
- Dockside Moblie Marinemarina, Waterford, 7 miles
- Oakland County Boat Clubmarina, Sylvan Lake, 7 miles
- Waters Edge Fish Artistrybait and tackle shop, LAke Orion, 8 miles
Captains who run the Clinton River
- Bass Action Charterscharter, Troy, (248) 928-6589
- Take Me Fishin Michigancharter, Waterford, (248) 343-9970
- Waters Edge Fish Artistrycharter, LAke Orion, (248) 693-6990
- Woodland Rivers Guide Servicecharter, Rochester Hills, (248) 608-0908
Where to sleep for a trip to the Clinton River
- Rochester Hills2 miles
- Auburn Hills3 miles
- Rochester4 miles
- Pontiac5 miles
Streams in the same corner as the Clinton River
- Paint Creek6 miles
- Plum Brook9 miles
- Red Run12 miles
- East Pond Creek13 miles
the Clinton River county guides
Reels and a weigh-scale grip for the Clinton River
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Species to expect at Clinton River
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, Public domain
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Photo: Purefury182, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Things to settle before fishing the Clinton River
Where does the Clinton River run in Michigan?
Mapped, it runs through Oakland County and Macomb County.
Is the Clinton River a Michigan trout stream?
It has about 31.7 miles of trout water (Type 4).
What are the latest readings on the Clinton River?
See the 3 USGS gauges above.
How many MDNR launches line the Clinton River?
Nothing mapped; anglers hike in from road bridges.
What are the keeper rules for the Clinton River?
Type 4: 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15" or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. Season: January 1st to December 31st.
Does fishing the Clinton River call for a Michigan license?
Trout and salmon need no separate stamp in Michigan; the all-species license ($26 resident, $76 nonresident a year) covers them.
Who sells bait nearest the Clinton River?
Bass Pro Shops sits about 7 miles away.
Which fish are in the Clinton River?
Records point to trout, kokanee salmon, brown trout and rainbow trout.
Which Michigan town neighbors the Clinton River?
Census data make Rochester Hills closest, around 2 miles away.
Wade or float the Clinton River
Look at flow and limits, then drive.