Michigan
Escanaba River at Cornell
Location Snapshot
Escanaba River at Cornell is an Upper Peninsula river reach in Michigan with a coldwater fishery centered on trout rather than the lower river’s broader warmwater influence. Brown trout are the primary supported target, with brook and rainbow trout adding additional salmonid opportunity.
Current River Rating
Poor · 39
Conditions are unfavorable based on the available readings.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Medium confidence
Should I Go?
Wait
Limited opportunity
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is recommended while current river conditions remain Poor.
Why
- Water temperature is unfavorable for trout fishing.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
Cautions
- Air temperature is outside a comfortable fishing range.
Timing Evidence
Air temperature is comfortable for a river trout trip.
Current Readings
- Flow
- 361 CFS
- Gage Height
- 1.48 ft
- Water Temperature
- 44.2 °F
- Observation Time
- Oct 20, 2026, 8:45 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 04059000 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
Loading readings from the past 7 days…
Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
Loading advisory…
Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Fog
Temperature
33°F
Feels like
28°F
Wind
3 mph N
Wind gust
3 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Oct 20, 2026, 5:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Tue 6 AM
Fog
Temp 33°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Tue 10 AM
Fog
Temp 37°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Tue 2 PM
Clear
Temp 53°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Tue 6 PM
Clear
Temp 54°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Tue 10 PM
Clear
Temp 43°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Wed 2 AM
Clear
Temp 41°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Tue, Oct 20
Fog
High 56°F / Low 33°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 13 mph
Wed, Oct 21
Fog
High 61°F / Low 41°F
Chance 5%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 16 mph
Thu, Oct 22
Partly cloudy
High 66°F / Low 46°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 12 mph
Fri, Oct 23
Overcast
High 65°F / Low 48°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 22 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
Loading historical flow…
Fishing Overview
Brown trout are in the mixed fishery on the Escanaba River at Cornell, along with brook trout.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Escanaba River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Stocking information
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Official sources
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Delta, Michigan
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Delta
Management Category
Upper Peninsula trout river
Regulation Scope
Escanaba River at Cornell.
Regulation Summary
Escanaba at Cornell: MDNR inland trout stream rules. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
brown-trout, brook-trout, rainbow-trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
Loading access and regulations…