Paint Creek
Current Conditions
Flows are around 96 cfs and rising, well above normal for late August — though that is the Clinton River at Auburn Hills gauge, not Paint Creek. The hatch calendar has terrestrials on this water in August.
Paint Creek Fishing Report
Paint Creek fishes best in spring (April–June) and fall (September–October) when water temperatures are ideal. Summer fishing shuts down when temps approach 70°F. Focus on the gear-restricted section from Gunn Road to Tienken Road. Short roll casts, long leaders, and stealthy approaches are essential.
Live Flow Conditions
The Paint Creek gauge at Rochester (04161540) has returned no values in over a month. These figures come from the Clinton at Auburn Hills, which sits upstream of where Paint Creek joins — a regional wetness reading, not this creek’s flow.
Hatch Calendar
Gear Recommendations
| Gear | fly Dry FlyRecommended | rod Nymphing | rod Euro Nymph | fish Streamer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rod | 7.5–8ft 3-weight or 4-weight | 8ft 4-weight | 10ft 2-weight or 3-weight | 8ft 5-weight |
| Line | DT3F or WF4F | WF floating | Level mono rig | WF floating |
| Leader | 9ft to 5X | 7.5ft to 5X | Short mono rig | 6ft to 1X |
| Tippet | 5X–6X | 5X–6X | 6X–7X | 1X–2X |
| Waders | Hip waders or wet wading | Hip waders | Hip waders | Hip waders |
| Boots | Wading sandals or lightweight rubber shoes | Wading sandals | Wading sandals | Wading sandals |
Find Your Guide
Local Fly Shops
Public Access Points
River History & Character
Paint Creek is the most accessible designated trout stream in Southeast Michigan and one of the most remarkable urban fisheries in the entire Great Lakes region. The creek flows 16.8 miles from its headwaters in Brandon Township southward through Oakland Township and Rochester Hills before joining the Clinton River in downtown Rochester. What makes Paint Creek extraordinary is not its size — it is a small, heavily canopied stream that demands roll casts and intimate knowledge — but its context: it runs through one of Michigan's most densely populated counties and provides genuine trout fishing minutes from metro Detroit. The Michigan DNR stocks brown trout annually, but natural reproduction is increasing and wild fish surveys are improving each season. A landmark Trout Unlimited habitat restoration project completed in 2019 and 2021 transformed flat, featureless stretches into classic riffle-pool-cover habitat using log vanes designed by stream ecologists, significantly improving the fishery. The five miles from Gunn Road to Tienken Road carry a special designation — artificial lures only, two trout daily limit, 14-inch minimum — making it managed catch-and-release water in practice.