Enjoy world-class salmon fishing on the Betsie River. Flowing from Green Lake to Frankfort and offering anglers some of the finest salmon and steelhead fishing in the Northern Michigan, the Betsie River is only yards away from your cabin door. In addition to year-round trout, the migratory seasons of late Aug through early May are prime for steelhead, lake-run browns, coho, and chinook/king. The Betsie Riverside Resort is the perfect home-base for your next fishing trip. In addition to multiple riverside cabins, we offer a fish-cleaning station, and even freezer space for your prize catch. What can you catch in the Betsie River and the surrounding waterways? Here’s a resource from the Michigan DNR to help you identify your catch. And here’s the 2024 MI Fishing Guide.
NOTE: Potential repeat BRR fishing customers are highly encouraged to book their stay (same cabin/same dates) for next season when they depart this season. Once you’ve accumulated multiple positive stays with us we reward your loyalty, and your reservation will be held until January of the new year, at which time your deposit is due. Reservations not confirmed with a deposit in January will be re-released to the general public February 1st.
*Early Spring Steelhead fishing in the Betsie happens from mid-March through April.
*Spring/Summer Rainbow & Brown Trout fishing on the Betsie happens May-August (especially good on the upper stretches and coinciding with various hatches of mayflies, stoneflies, etc.)
*Summer fishing on Lake Michigan, Crystal Lake, and Betsie Bay for Bass, Pike, Burbot, Salmon and more happens from May through September.
*Fall Salmon (Chinook, Coho, etc.) fishing on the Betsie and Platte is legendary and happens late August-November: w/prime fishing usually mid-Sept to mid-Oct.
*Click HERE for updates on the latest fishing conditions via one of the many NW MI guides
The State of Michigan requires a fishing license if you are 17 years of age or older to fish. If you are under 17, you may fish without a license, but you are required to observe all fishing rules and regulations. Any adult actively assisting a minor who does not have a license must have a fishing license. Michigan’s annual fishing license is valid from March 1 of a given year through March 31 of the following year. Visitor licenses for shorter time periods are available as well.
The prosaic details:
-BRR is a quiet, clean, family-friendly resort (fishing season included). If that’s not the vibe you’re looking for, we suggest another property.
-Fish, waders, fishing poles, and coolers are NOT allowed inside cabins- any evidence of such will result in an additional cleaning fee.
-Fish are not to be cleaned, stored or cooked in cabins- please make use of our cleaning station and outdoor grills!
-Use of BRR property, fish cleaning station and fish freezer is for Riverside guests only (not visitors).
-Access to the resort property (including parking, river access & cleaning station/freezers) does not begin until check-in time & ends completely at check-out time.
-We are a LNT (leave no trace) resort- be respectful of our property and nature in general while here.