Walton River Fishing
Menominee County, MDNR trout water.
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The Walton River: length, counties and fish
Through Menominee County the Walton River follows its bed as a river. The flowline sum is about 12.3 miles. The nearest town is Stephenson, roughly 9 miles away.
The MDNR regulates about 12.2 miles as trout water (Type 1 and Type 4). 1 public launch give boat access.
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| Type | Miles | Fishing season | Daily possession | Tackle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 4 | 8.9 | 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 | 3.4 | 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. |
On the Walton River, the MDNR Type sets the season and the minimum size; Type 1 is the standard brook trout stream, Types 3 and 4 run year round.
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.
What swims in the Walton River
The list joins the MDNR trout stream layer, fishing site lists, stocking events and records for the Walton River; it is not a full survey.
MDNR trout stream layer, fishing sites, stocking table and state records.
Boat and canoe access to the Walton River
- Walton River – North Lake Boat Accessboat ramp, Menominee County
MDNR boat access sites, MDNR fishing sites, USGS gauges.
Size and bag limits on the Walton 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 (Upper Peninsula) | 5; minimum 15 inches | May 15 – March 15 |
| Northern pike (Upper Peninsula) | 2; minimum 24 inches | May 15 – 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 |
Statewide inland rows for the Upper Peninsula apply on the Walton River, with the trout row for stream Type 1; check the county exceptions too.
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). All Michigan limits.
Near the Walton River
Nearby inland lakes for a the Walton River trip
- North Lake, Menominee County4 miles
- Hayward Lake5 miles
- Lake Ann, Menominee County16 miles
- Lake Mary, Menominee County17 miles
Hiring a guide for the Walton River
- Caddis Shack Guide Servicecharter, Escanaba, (906) 280-8791
Places to stay around the Walton River
- Stephenson9 miles
- Daggett10 miles
- Carney14 miles
- Powers20 miles
Nearby rivers for a Walton River trip
- Elwood Creek3 miles
- Big Brook, Menominee County6 miles
- Crooked Creek12 miles
- Ross Creek12 miles
County fishing pages for the Walton River
- Menominee County
Piscifun reels worth packing for the Walton River
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Fish an angler meets at Walton River

Photo: Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), CC BY-SA 2.5

Photo: USFWSmidwest, Public domain

Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0 1.0

Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0
Asked and answered: fishing the Walton River
In which Michigan county is the Walton River?
Its course crosses Menominee County.
Are trout legal to keep on the Walton River?
About 12.2 miles carry an MDNR trout Type (Type 1 and Type 4).
Does a stream gauge sit on the Walton River?
Nothing gauged here; neighboring river pages show USGS flows.
Can I put a canoe into the Walton River at a launch?
Try Walton River – North Lake Boat Access, one of 1 public launch.
What MDNR limits apply on the Walton River?
Type 4: 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15" or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. Season: January 1st to December 31st.
Which Michigan license do I need on the Walton River?
Trout and salmon need no separate stamp in Michigan; the all-species license ($26 resident, $76 nonresident a year) covers them.
Which store on our Michigan list is closest to the Walton River?
Our list has no store inside 25 miles.
Which fish does the MDNR list for the Walton River?
MDNR records name trout.
Which town makes a handy base for the Walton River?
By air, Stephenson is about 9 miles from the stream.
Set aside a river day on the Walton River
Check the gauge and the Type rules before you go.

