Fish Creek Fishing
Montcalm County and Ionia County, MDNR trout water.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Grand River: Rachel Kramer, CC BY 2.0
Meet the Fish Creek
Across Montcalm County and Ionia County, the Fish Creek winds along as a stream. Its mapped length comes to roughly 41.5 miles. Carson City is the closest Census place, about 4 miles from its MDNR point.
Roughly 41.5 miles fall under Type 1 and Type 4. There are 1 active gauge on the stream.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Trout stream Types on the Fish Creek
| Type | Miles | Fishing season | Daily possession | Tackle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 4 | 27.9 | 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. |
| Type 1 | 13.6 | Last Saturday in April to September 30th | 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. |
MDNR Types on the Fish Creek range from seasonal Type 1 water to year-round Types 3 and 4.
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.
Fish the MDNR lists for the Fish Creek
These chips reflect MDNR records tied to the Fish Creek.
MDNR trout stream layer, fishing sites, stocking table and state records.
Flow at the Fish Creek gauges
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Fish Creek Near Crystal, Mi | 22 cfs, 2.40 ft gage height | Nov 13 9:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 9:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Public launches on the Fish Creek
No public launch on the Fish Creek is in the MDNR access data; anglers wade in from road crossings and public land.
MDNR boat access sites, MDNR fishing sites, USGS gauges.
Limits and seasons for the Fish Creek
| 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 1) | 5 fish, but no more than 3 trout 15 inches or greater; minimum brook 7", brown 8", salmon/lake trout/rainbow (steelhead)/splake 10" | Fishing: Last Sat. in April – Sep. 30; possession: Last Sat. in April – Sep. 30 |
For the Fish Creek, the table shows statewide inland limits for the Lower Peninsula, with the trout row for stream Type 1.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). All Michigan limits.
MDNR plants in the Fish Creek
Between 2024 and 2026, 12 plants put 26,929 fish into the Fish Creek.
| Date | Species | Strain | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2026 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 13.3 in | 1,308 |
| May 26, 2026 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 13.3 in | 1,160 |
| May 26, 2026 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 13.3 in | 1,000 |
| April 28, 2026 | Rainbow trout | Michigan | 18.4 in | 5,300 |
| May 13, 2025 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 15 in | 1,463 |
| May 13, 2025 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 15 in | 1,000 |
| May 13, 2025 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 15 in | 1,000 |
| April 17, 2025 | Rainbow trout | Michigan | 18.4 in | 5,089 |
| May 7, 2024 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 13 in | 1,600 |
| May 7, 2024 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 13 in | 1,400 |
| May 7, 2024 | Brown trout | Sturgeon River | 13 in | 1,200 |
| April 15, 2024 | Rainbow trout | Michigan | 18.7 in | 5,409 |
MDNR Fish Stocking Report table, January 2024 to October 2026.
A short drive from the Fish Creek
Lakes in the same corner as the Fish Creek
- Duck Lake, Montcalm County3 miles
- Crystal Lake, Montcalm County3 miles
- Mud Lake near Crystal, Montcalm County, 99 acres3 miles
- Loon Lake near Crystal, Montcalm County5 miles
Shops to stop at on the way to the Fish Creek
- Papas Tackle Box – CLOSEDbait and tackle shop, Crystal, 3 miles
- Mead's Marine Repairmarina, Carson City, 4 miles
- Wet Willie's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Vestaburg, 6 miles
- Droptine Archery & Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Alma, 16 miles
- Magnum Sportsbait and tackle shop, Greenville, 18 miles
Guides that list the Fish Creek
- Raptor Charterscharter, Barryton, (989) 382-5878
Base camps for the Fish Creek
- Crystal3 miles
- Carson City4 miles
- Elm Hall9 miles
- Sheridan9 miles
Other rivers a short drive from the Fish Creek
- Butternut Creek3 miles
- West Branch Fish Creek8 miles
- Pine River, Gratiot County9 miles
- Prairie Creek, Ionia County12 miles
Counties that the Fish Creek spans
- Montcalm County
- Ionia County
Piscifun gear picked for the Fish Creek
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Water around Fish Creek as the camera saw it
Photo: Lola Audu, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Christian Collins, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Mojnsen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Christian Collins, CC BY-SA 2.0
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What to know ahead of a day on the Fish Creek
Which part of Michigan holds the Fish Creek?
It flows across Montcalm County and Ionia County.
Is the Fish Creek regulated trout water?
Trout Types cover about 41.5 miles: Type 1 and Type 4.
Does USGS report live data for the Fish Creek?
USGS runs 1 USGS gauge; readings are above.
Where do anglers get onto the Fish Creek?
No launch is mapped.
Which rules cover the Fish Creek?
Type 4: 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15" or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. Season: January 1st to December 31st.
Can visitors fish the Fish Creek on 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 has minnows on the drive to the Fish Creek?
Drive 3 miles to reach Papas Tackle Box – CLOSED.
What bites in the Fish Creek?
Expect trout, brown trout and rainbow trout.
Which Michigan town is closest to the Fish Creek?
Use Carson City as a base, roughly 4 miles away.
Pencil the Fish Creek into this season
Check the flow and regulations before the trip.