Van Buren County
Black River (South Haven)
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USGS Site: 04102700 • Black River (South Haven) South Branch near Bangor • View full data ↗
There is no gauge on the Black River mainstem. The only live gauge in this watershed sits on the South Branch near Bangor, about six miles inland, and drains under a third of the basin — so it tracks the general trend but will under-read a storm that lands on the North or Middle Branch. Shown because it is the same water, labelled because it is not the same place.
Public Access Points
Salmon & Steelhead on the Black
Run status is rebuilt twice a day from the live gauge and the DNR's own run windows. The windows are typical timing, not a forecast — what actually moves fish is water temperature and a rise, and the run tracker carries both for every river at once.
Coho Coho Salmon
Building
Typical: Sep 14 – Nov 16, peak Oct 2 – Oct 29
The species DNR names for this river by name — coho taken from shore below the bridge and at the mouth in early October.
Kings Chinook Salmon
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Typical: Aug 29 – Oct 29, peak Sep 19 – Oct 9
DNR reports here say "salmon" without always naming the species, so treat chinook as likely rather than confirmed.
Steelhead Steelhead
First fish
Typical: Sep 27 – Apr 17, peak Oct 27 – Dec 22
Whose fish
Stocked
Access
Black River Park and marina on Dunkley Avenue, SHOUT Park beside it, the South Haven piers and the Harborwalk. Shore and boat. Nothing published describes the lower river as wading water, so do not plan on it.
Regulations
The mainstem is not a designated trout stream, so statewide rules apply. A segment of the South Branch is separately designated.
What to throw
Big-water tactics near the mouth. Spawn imitations, beads and heavy streamers rather than anything delicate.
DNR The state's weekly fishing report of Sep 30 named salmon on this water. Read the report.
More: the salmon run tracker for where every river stands today, and steelhead rivers for whose fish these are and what you may keep.
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