Wayne County in southeastern Michigan has many lakes, rivers and streams that are home to brown trout and rainbow trout. Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, the Huron River, Detroit River, River Rouge, Johnson Creek and Silver Creek are good trout fishing areas in Wayne County, where Michigan's DNR has stocked trout for several years. Trout season opens the last Saturday in April in Wayne County.
Brown Trout
Brown trout are 16 to 24 inches long, weigh 2 to 8 lbs. and are found in all the Great Lakes, including Lake Erie in Wayne County. Brown trout are silver on the sides and belly, with light brown backs. Red and black spots with pale halos dot the dorsal area of the body. Brown trout feed at dusk or at night. They spawn in late autumn in headwaters of streams with gravel bottoms or on rocky reefs near the shoreline.
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout are 20 to 30 inches long, weigh 2 to 8 lbs. and are stocked in all the Great Lakes. They have silver sides, silver-white bellies and backs that may be steel-blue, blue-green or yellow green to brown. They have black spots on the back, sides and tail, and have a horizontal reddish band on the side and cheeks. Rainbow trout spawn in the spring in gravel bottomed streams or pools.
Geography
Brown trout are abundant in Johnson Creek that flows from Washtenaw County into Wayne County. The Huron River is home to many rainbow trout, which are usually found along riverbanks and lake shores in water less than 35 feet deep.
Fishing Methods and Bait
Trout eat immature and adult insects, fish eggs, small fish, plankton and crustaceans. Wayne County anglers use flies, crank baits, spoons, plugs, spinners and worms to catch trout. Those new to fly fishing should use an experienced guide to enhance the learning experience. Experienced anglers should be familiar with methods such as chuck and duck, which is a cross between spin fishing and fly fishing, or precisely monitoring water depth.
Organizations
Wayne County's Michigan Fly Fishing Club offers beginning to experienced fly fishers classes in rod building and fly tying, fishing outings throughout the year, expert speakers, and the Annual Midwest Fly Fishing Expo.
Food Preparation
According the United States Trout Farmers Association, trout don't need to be scaled when cleaning. Cook fresh trout within two days or freeze them. Trout can be baked, broiled, grilled, poached or microwaved, but boiling diminishes the flavor. If you fry trout, choose mild flavored oils and use temperatures between 325 to 350 degrees F to keep the fish from absorbing too much fat.
License
If you are age 17 or older and want to fish for trout in Wayne County, Michigan, you must possess an all-species fishing license. As of 2010, the license cost $28, or $11.20 for seniors age 65 and older. You can buy a license online at michigan.gov/dnre.
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