โ† Clare County

Tobacco River (Middle Branch) River

๐Ÿ“ Clare County, Michigan

Tobacco River (Middle Branch) is a fishing water in Clare County, Michigan (Central Lake Michigan management unit).

77
Fish species
0
Boat launches
โœ“
Public access
Conditions today D 40/100 Below-average Last stocked Jun 3, 2025 Brook Trout, 1.4 years ago Keeper size (estimated) Brook Trout Stocked fish likely at keeper size by now Access 0 boat launches Public access

๐Ÿ“Š Fishing Conditions

The fishing conditions score rates how favorable Tobacco River (Middle Branch) looks for the day you pick (today by default), from 0 to 100. It adds up five things: how recently the lake was stocked, the moon phase, the season, how many game and panfish species live here (such as brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout), and the size of the lake. It does not include the weather forecast. The cards below show how many points each factor contributed.

D
40/100
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Conditions score

Below-average, consider a different lake or time of day.

๐ŸŽฃ Stocking
Last stocked Jun 3, 2025
Last: Jun 3, 2025
๐ŸŒ˜ Moon Phase
Waning Crescent
Feeding bonus
๐Ÿƒ Season
Late Fall: fish fattening up
November
๐ŸŸ Species
5 game species present
Game & panfish
๐Ÿ“ Lake Size
Size unknown
Surface area

Fishing Tips for Tobacco River (Middle Branch) Today

Fall fish at Tobacco River (Middle Branch) are feeding heavily before winter. Match the forage: shad, crawfish, and perch patterns work well.

๐Ÿ“Š Fishing Pressure

Fishing pressure is our estimate of how busy Tobacco River (Middle Branch) is likely to be today. It looks at the day of the week, the time of year, and whether the lake has been stocked recently, because fresh stockings tend to draw anglers. Lower pressure usually means more room to work the water for brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout.

Very Low estimated pressure today
Popular stocking lake

Very little activity expected. A great time to have the lake to yourself.

Estimate based on day of week, season, and recent stocking. Not a live crowd count.

๐ŸŸ Fish Species in Tobacco River (Middle Branch)

Brook Trout Good
Salvelinus fontinalis
Brown Trout Good
Salmo trutta
Rainbow Trout Good
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Creek Chub Good
Semotilus atromaculatus
Stonecat Good
Noturus flavus
American Brook Lamprey Good
Lampetra appendix
American Eel Good
Anguilla rostrata
Barred Fantail Darter Good
Etheostoma flabellare var
Bigmouth Shiner Good
Notropis dorsalis
Black Redhorse Good
Moxostoma duquesnei
Blacknose Shiner Good
Notropis heterolepis
Blackside Darter Good
Percina maculata
Bluntnose Minnow Good
Pimephales notatus
Brassy Minnow Good
Hybognathus hankinsoni
Brindled Madtom Good
Noturus miurus
Brook Stickleback Good
Culaea inconstans
Central Mudminnow Good
Umbra limi
Central Stoneroller Good
Campostoma anomalum
Channel Darter Good
Percina copelandi
Chestnut Lamprey Good
Ichthyomyzon castaneus
Common Shiner Good
Luxilus cornutus
Eastern Sand Darter Good
Ammocrypta clara
Emerald Shiner Good
Notropis atherinoides
Fantail Darter Good
Etheostoma flabellare
Fathead Minnow Good
Pimephales promelas
Finescale Dace Good
Phoxinus neogaeus
Ghost Shiner Good
Notropis buchanani
Golden Redhorse Good
Moxostoma erythrurum
Greater Redhorse Good
Moxostoma valenciennesi
Greenside Darter Good
Etheostoma blennioides
Hornyhead Chub Good
Nocomis biguttatus
Iowa Darter Good
Etheostoma exile
Johnny Darter Good
Etheostoma nigrum
Lake Chub Good
Couesius plumbeus
Least Darter Good
Etheostoma microperca
Longnose Dace Good
Rhinichthys cataractae
Longnose Sucker Good
Catostomus catostomus
Margined Madtom Good
Noturus insignis
Mimic Shiner Good
Notropis volucellus
Mottled Sculpin Good
Cottus bairdii
Ninespine Stickleback Good
Pungitius pungitius
Northern Brook Lamprey Good
Ichthyomyzon fossor
Northern Hog Sucker Good
Hypentelium nigricans
Northern Logperch Good
Percina caprodes
Northern Longear Sunfish Good
Lepomis megalotis
Northern Pearl Dace Good
Margariscus nachtriebi
Northern Redbelly Dace Good
Phoxinus eos
Orangethroat Darter Good
Etheostoma spectabile
Pugnose Minnow Good
Opsopoeodus emiliae
Quillback Good
Carpiodes cyprinus
Rainbow Darter Good
Etheostoma caeruleum
Redfin Shiner Good
Lythrurus umbratilis
Redside Dace Good
Clinostomus elongatus
River Chub Good
Nocomis micropogon
River Darter Good
Percina shumardi
River Redhorse Good
Moxostoma carinatum
Rosyface Shiner Good
Notropis rubellus
Sand Shiner Good
Notropis stramineus
Shield Darter Good
Percina peltata
Shorthead Redhorse Good
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Silver Chub Good
Macrhybopsis storeriana
Silver Lamprey Good
Ichthyomyzon unicuspis
Silver Redhorse Good
Moxostoma anisurum
Silver Shiner Good
Notropis photogenis
Silverjaw Minnow Good
Notropis buccatus
Slimy Sculpin Good
Cottus cognatus
Spotfin Shiner Good
Cyprinella spiloptera
Spottail Shiner Good
Notropis hudsonius
Striped Fantail Darter Good
Etheostoma flabellare ssp
Striped Shiner Good
Luxilus chrysocephalus
Suckermouth Minnow Good
Phenacobius mirabilis
Tadpole Madtom Good
Noturus gyrinus
Threespine Stickleback Good
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Trout-Perch Good
Percopsis omiscomaycus
Western Blacknose Dace Good
Rhinichthys atratulus
Western Sand Darter Good
Ammocrypta pellucida
White Sucker Good
Catostomus commersonii
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๐Ÿ“… Best Time to Fish Tobacco River (Middle Branch)

Combined bite activity across all 77 species in this lake.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

๐Ÿ“ Fishing Regulations

Statewide general rules for the species found here. Individual waters can have exceptions (special size limits, closed seasons, trout lake types), so check this lake's listing in the official DNR Fishing Guide before heading out.
SpeciesMin sizeDaily limit
Brook Trout8" (most inland lakes)5 trout, max 3 over 15"
Brown Trout8" (most inland lakes)5 trout, max 3 over 15"
Rainbow Trout8" (most inland lakes)5 trout, max 3 over 15"
๐Ÿ“… Stocking Timeline 5-year history
4 Stocking events
4,000 Fish stocked
1 Species
518d Since last stock
727d Longest gap
Brook Trout 4,000
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Today
Qty / event
Jun '21
May '22
Jun '23
Jun '25

๐Ÿ“‹ Tobacco River (Middle Branch) Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity Size
Jun 3, 2025 Brook Trout 1,000 4.8"
Jun 7, 2023 Brook Trout 1,000 6.1"
May 26, 2022 Brook Trout 1,000 6.2"
Jun 8, 2021 Brook Trout 1,000 6.4"
May 5, 2006 Brook Trout 2,000 4.6"
Jun 17, 2005 Brook Trout 1,500 5.3"
Jun 4, 2004 Brook Trout 1,500 5.2"
May 20, 2002 Brook Trout 1,500 2.2"
May 23, 2001 Brook Trout 2,470 5.5"
May 23, 2000 Brook Trout 2,500 5.8"
May 3, 1999 Brook Trout 2,000 5.1"
May 20, 1998 Brook Trout 2,000 4.1"
May 29, 1997 Brook Trout 2,000 6.1"
May 24, 1995 Brook Trout 2,000 7.7"
May 27, 1994 Brook Trout 2,000 7.6"
May 24, 1993 Brook Trout 2,000 6.6"
May 12, 1993 Rainbow Trout 1,540 6.8"
Jun 3, 1992 Rainbow Trout 1,600 6.7"
Jun 2, 1992 Brook Trout 2,500 5.4"
May 29, 1991 Rainbow Trout 1,600 5.8"
Apr 17, 1991 Brook Trout 2,000 5.6"
May 22, 1990 Rainbow Trout 1,600 7.0"
May 22, 1990 Brook Trout 2,000 7.0"
May 23, 1989 Rainbow Trout 1,440 7.4"
May 5, 1988 Rainbow Trout 1,600 6.7"
Showing 25 of 27 stocking records, newest first

* Records shown are from our database. For the most current data, visit the Michigan DNR directly.

๐Ÿ“… Stocking Forecast

Based on 27 historical stocking events at this lake. Next likely stocking window: Apr.
Peak Stocking Months
May Jun Apr
Most Stocked Species
Brook Trout Rainbow Trout

* Forecast is based on historical DNR data and is not a guarantee of future stocking.

โš“ Tobacco River (Middle Branch) Boat Launches

No launch data on record for this lake. Browse all Michigan boat launches.

๐Ÿ’ก Angler Tips for Tobacco River (Middle Branch)

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๐ŸŒค Current Tobacco River (Middle Branch) Weather Conditions

No coordinates on file for this lake.
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