Indiana
Trail Creek at Michigan City
Location Snapshot
Trail Creek at Michigan City is a short Lake Michigan tributary running from the harbor upstream through an urban and park corridor in LaPorte County. Steelhead, Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and brown trout define a Great Lakes tributary fishery distinct from open-water Lake Michigan.
Current River Rating
Fair · 61
Conditions are mixed. Review the details below before heading out.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Medium confidence
Should I Go?
Consider
Recommended Window
Tuesday, 4:00 PM–7:00 PM
Why
- Water temperature is within the preferred trout range.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
Timing Evidence
Window confidence: High
Current Readings
- Flow
- 46.9 CFS
- Gage Height
- 2.02 ft
- Water Temperature
- 50.7 °F
- Observation Time
- Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 04095300 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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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
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
40°F
Feels like
36°F
Wind
3 mph SE
Wind gust
4 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Oct 20, 2026, 5:00 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 7 AM
Clear
Temp 39°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Tue 11 AM
Clear
Temp 60°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Tue 3 PM
Clear
Temp 61°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Tue 7 PM
Clear
Temp 51°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Tue 11 PM
Clear
Temp 46°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Wed 3 AM
Clear
Temp 43°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Tue, Oct 20
Clear
High 62°F / Low 39°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 10 mph
Wed, Oct 21
Clear
High 64°F / Low 40°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 8 mph
Thu, Oct 22
Clear
High 63°F / Low 52°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 6 mph
Fri, Oct 23
Overcast
High 68°F / Low 54°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
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Fishing Overview
Trail Creek at Michigan City is a Lake Michigan tributary in LaPorte County.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Trail Creek.
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
Steelhead
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Canonical species: Rainbow Trout
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Migratory
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Migratory
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Migratory
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Migratory
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- Yes
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Best seasons
- Spring
- Fall
- Winter
Common techniques
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Official sources
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral anadromous streamer family. Not a salmonfly Hatch calendar.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for fly-presented salmon/steelhead water.
- Soft hackleGeneral swing-style family. Not an insect emergence claim.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
LaPorte, Indiana
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
LaPorte
Management Category
Great Lakes tributary salmonid river
Regulation Scope
Trail Creek at Michigan City.
Regulation Summary
Trail Creek at Michigan City: Indiana inland and Lake Michigan tributary fishing regulations. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Brown Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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