Wherever you go fly fishing you usually find a fly shop and perhaps a small lodge to park your weary soul at the end of a great day on a river… let’s face it, even if you don’t catch a fish it’s still a great day on the river!

So far, my ventures haven’t taken me to any far away places to fish, and I’m lucky enough to have a cabin to retreat to whenever I fish near my “home” waters of northeast Michigan.  However on a recent steelhead fly fishing trip on the Pere Marquette near Baldwin, MI, I needed to find a place to stay for a few nights.  There are several small motels and lodges around the Pere Marquette (the PM), and luckily my buddy TJ arranged for us to bunk  at the Pere Marquette River Lodge.

If I had one word to describe this place it would be “exceptional.” Why the praise?  Simply because of what the Pere Marquette River Lodge offers: individual rooms, cabins, and even two houses, not to mention a wicked fly shop, but also guide services.

The Property

The property has a main Lodge which has 10 rooms, some doubles, some singles, plus 5 individual cabins and two houses.  We stayed in the Lodge… which is way cool.

The Lodge isn’t just a place to lay your head at night, by yourself with nothing to do but watch TV… there are a couple of large gathering areas where the guests can congregate to enjoy the camaraderie of the sports they love… not only for fly fisherman/women, but for hunters as well.  We were there in mid-November and as it was opening weekend for Michigan’s firearm deer season, the guests were evenly divided between deer hunters and steelhead fly fishermen.  And congregate they do.  We met some great guests from Michigan, North Carolina, and Toronto and talked “shop” for hours while each enjoyed their favorite beverage.  Even the owner hangs out in the evenings to chat and share his knowledge… I thought I knew what “mending” meant for steelhead fishing… ha!

The Lodge also has a full kitchen/dining hall where you can make your own meals if you’d like or you can venture to a restaurant in nearby Baldwin.  In the morning, there is coffee brewing as well as cereals, bagels, toast, etc. to fill you up before heading out on your excursion.  The rooms at the Lodge are very comfortable, and the beds are fantastic.

The Fly Shop

I’ve been in dozens of fly shops all around the U.S., and the fly shop at the PM Lodge ranks up there among the best.  I’m not sure you would need anything for your fly fishing trip in a nearby river that this shop doesn’t offer.  Go ahead, think of something… I dare ya!  They have it.  Wicked knowledge, more rods, gear, flies, apparel, tying material than you can shake a 9.5 foot 5W at.  And all the name brands you know and love… o.k., not ALL, but enough to accommodate.

The Staff

Super friendly, super helpful, super knowledgeable, and super nice… no more needs to be said.

The Wrap

I could go on and on, but I think their website does a much better job of showcasing.  On Google, they’ve received 4.5 stars from 77 reviews… damn good!  If you’re ever in the Baldwin area and looking for accommodations, local knowledge, gear, or a guide service, ya gotta stop at the PM Lodge.

Address: 8841 S Michigan 37, Baldwin, MI 49304
Phone:  (231) 745-3972

I know I’ll be back.