โ† Alger County

Big Indian River River

๐Ÿ“ Alger County, Michigan

Big Indian River is a fishing water in Alger County, Michigan (Northern Lake Michigan management unit).

77
Fish species
0
Boat launches
โœ“
Public access
Conditions today F 36/100 Tough conditions Last stocked May 11, 2026 Brown Trout, 174 days ago Keeper size (estimated) May 2028 Next: Brown Trout Access 0 boat launches Public access

๐Ÿ“Š Fishing Conditions

The fishing conditions score rates how favorable Big Indian River 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 brown trout, muskellunge and creek chub), and the size of the lake. It does not include the weather forecast. The cards below show how many points each factor contributed.

F
36/100
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Conditions score

Tough conditions, lower expectations or adjust your approach.

๐ŸŽฃ Stocking
Last stocked May 11, 2026
Last: May 11, 2026
๐ŸŒ— Moon Phase
Last Quarter
Feeding bonus
๐Ÿƒ Season
Late Fall: fish fattening up
November
๐ŸŸ Species
4 species recorded
Game & panfish
๐Ÿ“ Lake Size
Size unknown
Surface area

Fishing Tips for Big Indian River Today

Fall fish at Big Indian River 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 Big Indian River 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 brown trout, muskellunge and creek chub.

Moderate estimated pressure today
Weekend Popular stocking lake

Moderate activity expected. Midweek mornings are typically quieter.

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

๐ŸŸ Fish Species in Big Indian River

Brown Trout Good
Salmo trutta
Muskellunge Good
Esox masquinongy
Creek Chub Good
Semotilus atromaculatus
Stonecat Good
Noturus flavus
American Brook Lamprey Good
Lampetra appendix
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
Kiyi Good
Coregonus kiyi
Lake Chub Good
Couesius plumbeus
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 Pearl Dace Good
Margariscus nachtriebi
Northern Redbelly Dace Good
Phoxinus eos
Orangethroat Darter Good
Etheostoma spectabile
Pugnose Minnow Good
Opsopoeodus emiliae
Pygmy Whitefish Good
Prosopium coulteri
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
Ruffe Good
Gymnocephalus cernua
Sand Shiner Good
Notropis stramineus
Shield Darter Good
Percina peltata
Shorthead Redhorse Good
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Shortjaw Cisco Good
Coregonus zenithicus
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 Big Indian River

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
Brown Trout8" (most inland lakes)5 trout, max 3 over 15"
Muskellunge42"1 per license year (registration required)
๐Ÿ“… Stocking Timeline 5-year history
4 Stocking events
4,355 Fish stocked
1 Species
174d Since last stock
2554d Longest gap
Brown Trout 4,355
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Today
Qty / event
May '17
May '18
May '19
May '26

๐Ÿ“‹ Big Indian River Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity Size
May 11, 2026 Brown Trout 1,500 4.6"
May 14, 2019 Brown Trout 1,000 5.3"
May 16, 2018 Brown Trout 1,100 5.1"
May 16, 2017 Brown Trout 755 5.0"
Apr 28, 2016 Brown Trout 950 5.2"
May 5, 2015 Brown Trout 1,100 6.1"
May 27, 2014 Brown Trout 1,000 7.4"
May 20, 2013 Brown Trout 1,000 6.5"
May 3, 2012 Brown Trout 1,100 5.7"
May 12, 2011 Brown Trout 999 7.3"
Apr 23, 2010 Brown Trout 1,094 6.2"
Apr 24, 2009 Brown Trout 1,098 7.3"
Apr 29, 2008 Brown Trout 899 7.0"
May 1, 2007 Brown Trout 1,838 7.7"
Apr 19, 2006 Brown Trout 2,025 6.7"
May 24, 2005 Brown Trout 2,400 5.9"
May 11, 2004 Brown Trout 2,000 5.2"
May 7, 2003 Brown Trout 2,985 5.1"
Apr 29, 2003 Brown Trout 2,100 7.1"
May 1, 2002 Brown Trout 2,750 5.0"
May 1, 2001 Brown Trout 2,160 4.8"
Apr 11, 2000 Brown Trout 1,000 4.7"
Apr 14, 1999 Brown Trout 1,000 3.7"
May 11, 1998 Brown Trout 2,000 6.5"
May 30, 1997 Muskellunge 67,500 0.8"
Showing 25 of 39 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 39 historical stocking events at this lake. Next likely stocking window: Apr.
Peak Stocking Months
May Apr Oct
Most Stocked Species
Brown Trout Muskellunge

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

โš“ Big Indian River Boat Launches

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

๐Ÿ’ก Angler Tips for Big Indian River

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๐ŸŒค Current Big Indian River Weather Conditions

No coordinates on file for this lake.
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