I fish the Clinton a decent amount by Yates I catch a lot of trout I live on the Clinton in Harrison township and I’m wondering how far the trout go down the river I don’t wanna drive 40 mins everytime I wanna trout fish so about how close too the lake can you catch em
I have never caught one north of Opdyke rd. I've been up there, been into Pontiac city limits, where it comes out from under the city flows from a concrete channel to a small dam. Alot of storm sewers and the Pontiac water treatment plant is on the river, (It Stinks... BAD). They may be up there....if you can take the smell, I'd say it's not worth it. Alot of Guys fish the small park in the city Auburn Hills ( downtown), they stock it for a kids fishing derby...by mid winter those fish are usually gone... caught or washed down stream. Rochester is always a nice spot. Park under the Rochester rd. Bridge follow the river south, alot of nice holes, they did a good job of making a good habitat, just need the fish in good numbers.
Most of the resident trout are in Auburn Hills and Rochester above the Yates Dam, but most do not survive the summer peak temperatures. I have caught some in Utica but the Clinton River Coldwater Conservation Project was upstream of Yates Dam. Anadromous steelhead seasonally move up to Yates Dam and some jump over. With the dam breached, they were making it above the dam but the cutoff channel is being repaired.
I’ve caught browns 18-20” out of the Clinton that are planted at approximately 8”. I’ve caught rainbows in May, that are annually planted in June. I think trout survive summer on the Clinton