South Branch Flint River Fishing
Lapeer County and Oakland County.
Pick for smallmouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo, nearby stand in for South Branch Flint River: Guettarda, CC BY-SA 4.0
The South Branch Flint River: length, counties and fish
Through Lapeer County and Oakland County the South Branch Flint River follows its bed as a river. The flowline sum is about 46.8 miles. The nearest town is Lapeer, roughly 3 miles away.
1 active gauge report from the channel.
Discharge on the South Branch Flint River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Flint River Near Columbiaville,mi | 47 cfs, 1.55 ft gage height | Nov 14 10:30 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 14, 2026 11:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Boat and canoe access to the South Branch Flint River
The access data hold no launch on the South Branch Flint River.
MDNR boat access sites, MDNR fishing sites, USGS gauges.
Size and bag limits on the South Branch Flint 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 inland rows for the Lower Peninsula apply on the South Branch Flint River; check the county exceptions too.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). All Michigan limits.
For the smallmouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Near the South Branch Flint River
Nearby inland lakes for a the South Branch Flint River trip
- Nepessing Lake5 miles
- Long Lake near Lapeer, Lapeer County, 205 acres6 miles
- Lake Minnawanna7 miles
- Sawdel Lake8 miles
Tackle stores within a drive of the South Branch Flint River
- Lapeer Boat Servicesmarina, Lapeer, 5 miles
- Fishing Tackle Grab Bagbait and tackle shop, Davison, 13 miles
- M 15 Bait and Tackle Davisonbait and tackle shop, Davison, 14 miles
- Oakland Mobile Marinemarina, Oxford, 15 miles
- Ludeman, Cathymarina, Lake Orion, 17 miles
Hiring a guide for the South Branch Flint River
- 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
- Walleye Kingfishing guide, Waterford, (231) 557-2755
Places to stay around the South Branch Flint River
- Lapeer3 miles
- Attica6 miles
- Metamora6 miles
- Dryden10 miles
Nearby rivers for a South Branch Flint River trip
- North Branch Flint River14 miles
- Kearsley Creek14 miles
- Thread Creek17 miles
- East Pond Creek19 miles
County fishing pages for the South Branch Flint River
- Lapeer County
- Oakland County
Piscifun reels worth packing for the South Branch Flint River
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Fish an angler meets at South Branch Flint River
Photo: Fizzishin, CC BY 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Eric Engbretson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Asked and answered: fishing the South Branch Flint River
In which Michigan county is the South Branch Flint River?
Its course crosses Lapeer County and Oakland County.
Are trout legal to keep on the South Branch Flint River?
It carries no MDNR trout Type.
Does a stream gauge sit on the South Branch Flint River?
Readings from 1 USGS gauge are above.
Can I put a canoe into the South Branch Flint River at a launch?
The access data hold no launch for it.
What MDNR limits apply on the South Branch Flint River?
Statewide inland rules govern it.
Which Michigan license do I need on the South Branch Flint 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.
Which store on our Michigan list is closest to the South Branch Flint River?
Try Lapeer Boat Services (5 miles).
Which fish does the MDNR list for the South Branch Flint River?
No MDNR fish list is published for it.
Which town makes a handy base for the South Branch Flint River?
By air, Lapeer is about 3 miles from the stream.
Set aside a river day on the South Branch Flint River
Check the gauge and the Type rules before you go.