The St. Joe has a number of dams that can improve the available fishing opportunities. The barriers at Niles and Berrien Springs are both considered some of the best areas in this river to fish.
Edy and her brother Mike show off a few nice steelhead taken from the St. Joe River.
Having resided in the east central part of Michigan my entire life, my fishing experiences have been focused north of a straight line drawn from Bay City to Muskegon. That’s to be expected. However, many times I have heard of fishing south of that demarcation line including the great fishing on the St. Joe River in the SW part of the state.
If you look at the DNR’s Michigan Maps (Michigan.gov/fishing; then go down to “fisheries division contact division,” then toward the top click on “contact a fishery bio”), you can find rivers all over the state along with some rather significant angling information. If you follow the St. Joe River from its mouth emptying into Lake Michigan at Benton Harbor/St. Joe, you will see how it meanders significantly south into Indiana, then back east and upwards into Michigan again where it ends south of Hillsdale at its headwaters at Baw Beese Lake. The main branch of the St. Joe River is 206 miles long, and it is within five miles of the headwaters of the other St. Joe River of the eastward-flowing Maumee River watershed.
The St. Joseph River is a massive waterway and often has an intense flow that makes it hard to wade, but shore fishing is certainly doable and often with great success. Boat fishing is more common on the river since it tends to be easier (and safer) than wader angling. There are large pools and deep runs across the entire river, no matter where you choose to stop and drop a line.
The St. Joe has a number of dams that can improve the available fishing opportunities. The barriers at Niles and Berrien Springs are both considered some of the best areas in this river to fish. The dams are set up to let salmon and steelhead continue moving upstream toward Indiana.
Coho salmon enter this river in September and tend to grow most commonly up to five to eight pounds. Most of these fish are aggressive and will be found in schools. Kings are also available and tend to show up after the coho have made their presence in the river. The kings can weigh upwards of 12 pounds.
Charter Captain Jerry Link, of St. Joe (originatorcharters.com), states that he charters for steelhead from the first of November to around mid-March, after which he heads to the big waters of Lake Michigan for coho and various other game species. During the month of February Jerry says he will often hook larger fish, but all winter can be a great time to fish for these delectable fighters. Link states that “the St. Joe actually is the second longest, widest, and deepest river that feeds Lake Michigan.” It’s no wonder that when you look at a map of the entirety of this river you will notice the enormous watershed through which it travels.
Captain Link’s enclosed pontoon will keep occupants toasty warm and dry during inclement weather.
Jerry’s prime target on the St. Joe are steelhead, “but you can never rule out an occasional walleye or bonus Skamania,” he says. Link’s heated and comfortable charter boat works various stretches of the river, which typically varies from 4-7 feet deep, however it’s depth changes dramatically near the mouth where it can reach depths as high as 30 feet.
His choice of steelhead offerings includes the dependable Hot-N-Tots, Mag Lips and spawn bags. Bouncing these behind the boat often find success during this time of the year.
Another seasoned veteran of this area is Russ Clark, who says that “We don’t get a lot of Chinooks moving into the St. Joe until late in the year (late September onward) because the river is so warm.” He added, “The fishing can be tough because the salmon just blast right up to the dam, but, like Captain Link, Clark uses plugs, such as Flatfish, Mag Lips or Hot-N-Tots, producing some pretty good catches at times. If you use spawn you might pick up a bonus Skamania steelhead as well.” Many anglers fish this river from the end of September to the end of March. Work the fish from the mouth to Berrien Springs Dam, 25 miles upriver bottom bouncing spawn, or using plugs, and slip-ping them downriver slowly.
This paragraph may be a bit difficult mentally to visualize without someone actually showing you the technique, but here goes. To let the lure out behind the boat, you strip line off the reel until you feel it hit bottom. Then you let up on your thumb from the line on the reel, point the rod tip upwards with some slack line, then lift up, and let your sinker bounce. You will feel it tap again on the bottom. Then lift off the bottom and drop it down again. Then repeat by letting up your thumb again to allow more line out. Continue doing this as the lure or spawn works its way downstream. When a fish hits, you will feel a good hit like a bass. Drop the rod tip toward the fish, but not directly pointing at it. Close the bail and wait for the fish to pull tight. Set the hook harder if needed. Practice makes perfect as they say. Or go out with a guide and let them show you how to do this. Taking a guided trip once or twice will help you become independent on the river.
If you wish to work the river from the shoreline, consider using about a 10-foot spinning combo. This makes it easier battling a steelie. For line, a 10-pound Berkely XL clear main line and 6-pound Sunline Assassin (or comparable) leader is sufficient. Place split shot on the line, spreading them out evenly along the line, leaving the last spit shot about 12-15 inches from the egg sack. Use enough shot to get the offering deep in the water, allowing it to bounce off the bottom. For hooking the spawn, just slip the hook through the netting without piercing the eggs. Toss up stream and open bail to allow line to free up. Close the bail and let the eggs work downriver. Not much more complicated than that.
Moving into spring, those same steelhead that were there in the winter months remain in the river until the spawn in March. And steelies can spawn multiple times, weather-dependent. By the time the temperatures start to get warmer in summer, the winter steelhead will drop back down to the lake.
A fish like this would make any angler smile.
Michigan has bumped up the salmon plantings in all the ports, upwards of 240,000 alone in the St. Joe during 2022. Matt Diana, DNR Biologist, SW MI office, states that this 240K number was an exception, however going forward Chinook stocking in the St. Joe will be 150,000 every two years. We also benefit from our southern neighbor for this exciting angling opportunity. The Indiana DNR stock Skamania and in 2022 records show 156,000 steel-head including the Skamania strain. Ben Dickenson, Indiana DNR, stated that they plant 40,000 winter-run steelhead annually, plus they receive another 40,000 from Michigan for planting. In return, Indiana gives us Skamania for planting not in the St. Joe, but along our Western Michigan rivers. Ben also says they plant 60,000 coho, and total Skamania plantings are equal to 75,000 annually in the St. Joe. So, this symbiotic relationship benefits both of us for increased quality fishing.
My limited past experience on this river has drawn me to want to visit it again sooner than later. The ruralness of the shoreline that we fished, the quiet flow of the water passing the boat, and seeing considerable wildlife and waterfowl gave me that “up north” feeling that I was so used to experiencing. I can see why a lot of people from destinations like Indiana and Illinois make the drive to this gem of a river.
Access Sites
Riverview and Benton Harbor Park are good launch options when open (seasonal). Also, the Benton Harbor DNR launch, and the river public boat launch. This launch also has a great fish cleaning site and my experience has been it also has clean bathrooms. A big plus for families. Other places include Shamrock Park, (which has a comfortable heated indoor fish cleaning building).
The north parking lot and wheelchair accessible paved walkway at Silver Beach provide quick and easy access to the South Pier at the mouth of the St. Joseph River. This popular fishing location offers anglers access to shore and pier fishing opportunities.
Bait and Tackle:
The Fishin Hole, 1127 Main Street, St. Joseph (269) 982-3474; Tackle Haven, 741 Riverview Dr., Benton Harbor, (269) 925-0341, across from the DNR launch; Rusty Hooks Bait and Tackle, 510 N 2nd St., Niles, (269) 683-3474; Clear H2O Tackle, 69037 Christiana Lake Rd, Edwardsburg, MI, ((269) 414-4131.
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