Upper Manistee River trout fishing report

Upper Manistee River Trout Fishing

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Upper Manistee River trout fishing report

Manistee River Trout Report

The Upper Manistee River Trout Fishing report for the Middle of June has us still grinding.   The water levels are still up 3- 4″ above normal for this time of year. It’s been a long drying out period since the flood this spring, but we have had a few more rainy days and several more in the forecast.

Heading into the weekend the upper sections near 72 have been clearing and dropping quicker with a big drop in morning temps around 54 this morning. We were seeing daytime highs around 65-68 last week so a cool down was needed, but I hope it doesn’t last as long as the forecast predicts.  We were ahead of schedule on the hatches, but this week is going to probably put us behind last year on timing. Only time will tell.

Current Conditions

Fishing showed a lot of improvement a couple of weeks ago, but this past week was up and down.  The warmer weather had our water temps staying pretty warm and the bugs were really inconsistent at best. The hatches really sped up last week in the warmup, increased water temps and evening temps also compressed the bite window into the last hour of the day.

The daytime bite suffered on most days in the heat, but we are entering a big cold front that is going to last well into the weekend.  Insect activity late last week into the weekend was very weak for the most part. This is not what I expected, and more insect species are phasing out and we are now in the tweener stage of June as we transition into Hex.  At this point I would be surprised to see them before next week. 

Despite the warmer weather, the spinner falls were mostly nonexistent. The Sulphurs and Mahoganies have run their course along with the Brown Drakes have in the lower sections, fishing this hatch was very frustrating this year and the Houdini Hatch was on full display. 

Hatch Matching Opportunities 

The dry fly fishing improved and then got weird again as the week progressed.  The fishing really got pushed back closer to dark with the hotter weather.  Isonychia fired up this week and then fizzled in the heat. Most of the hatching occurred right before dark. Sunday was a great Iso day as temps dropped substantially and we had a light drizzle all afternoon.  We are looking at a big week for Isonychia with the cold front.  

We had some good numbers of Iso spinners in the air yesterday, but parr for the course they did not spin to the water.  This week will be a grind as our water temps will probably get too low for a lot of good hatching days, but hopefully that changes as the week moves along.  There are still some Bat flies in the evening so don’t forget to keep a small fat Borcher on deck.  We also had Olive Stones, Yellow Sallies, Alder Flies, Golden Stones, Dark Sallies, Pteronarcys Stones, Light Cahills, Yellow Cahills, and a massive hatch of Apple Green Sulphurs.  there hasn’t been any epic hatches yet, but they are doing their thing.  

Brown Drakes have been present in the upper sections this week, but this cold front will probably send them into hiding.  The Isonychia will be our only real hope this week in the cold front until the Hex starts.  At this point the river is going to have to warm pretty substantially before we see the big bugs show up. We have lost 5-6 degrees in most of our sections for our morning Low Temp in the last two days.

Make Your Cast Count

Presentation has still been key. Light tippet, clean drifts, and accurate casts are making the difference for success.  The lighter tippets have been making it harder to win the brawls with our bigger fish, but it’s been necessary to get the bites before dusk.  Blind fishing bigger dries and dry-dropper rigs can help cover water between rising fish. Conditions should improve with stable weather. I’ll take stability in the weather any week, hot or cold, while chasing the hatches. 

Streamer Bite

Upper Manistee River trout fishing report

Streamer fishing on the Upper Manistee has been put on hold for us at the current moment.  The bite windows have been there on the overcast and stormy days, but with the warmer weather our hatches have been our main focus.  Early mornings will be best time to go before the water temps hit 60 in the afternoon. Lamprey imitations have been some of the best producers, especially when worked low and slow through deeper runs, logjams, and undercut banks. On brighter, sunny days, sparkle minnows have been a strong choice, giving off enough flash to grab attention. Vary your retrieve, pause often, and focus on structure where larger trout can ambush an easy meal.

Didymo

Consider the ENTIRE RIVER TO BE CONTAMINATED and treat it as such. Clean, Drain, Dry your gear before entering another Body of Water.  Currently, there are no known effective methods to eradicate didymo once it is established in a river.  To prevent spreading Didymo and other aquatic invasive species, it is critical to thoroughly Clean, Drain and Dry waders, equipment, and boats upon leaving a waterway.

  • Clean by removing mud and debris from all surfaces.
  • Use a 10% Solution of Dishwashing Soap with hot water for 10 minutes (Example 1 gallon of water is 12.8 oz of Dawn Soap). Then it must dry for 48 hours (mandatory if your fishing different water systems)

New Summer Swag

New Hats and a New Brown Trout T are in stock now. 

 
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T-Shirts

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New Hats

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Trout Guide Trips 

We have very limited openings available during the peak hatch season. Make sure to book your dates now for 2026!  If you’re looking to book a Trout Guide Trip you can reach us at 231-631-5701 (leave a message or text) or shoot us an email. 

Tight Lines,

Ed

Northern Michigan Smallmouth

Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass

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Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass

Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass fishing season in Northern Michigan is fully underway.  We have been fishing both Grand Traverse Bay and most of inland lakes in the area.  The mid size inland lakes are either full spawn or trending towards post spawn (meaning topwater is on the menu).  The big lakes like Crystal and Torch are either just starting the spawn or still pre-spawn because of our cold spring season.  Grand Traverse Bay is still Pre-spawn as the bay has been cold for the most part.  Water temps yesterday ranged from 43-50 in most parts.

Pre Spawn Smallmouth on Grand Traverse

Grand Traverse bay smallmouthJune is one of the best months for smallmouth bass fishing in Grand Traverse Bay, as warming water temperatures bring bass into shallower areas to feed and spawn. Anglers can find quality fish around rocky flats, drop-offs, sand-to-rock transitions, and near shoreline structure throughout both East and West Grand Traverse Bay. Clear water makes sight fishing exciting, with opportunities to target cruising smallmouth in 5 to 20 feet of water.

Top presentations in June include streamers on fly rods, tubes, swimbaits, jerkbaits, on light tackle. Early mornings and calm conditions can also produce great action on subtle topwater lures. Grand Traverse Bay is known for its clear water, beautiful scenery, and trophy-class smallmouth, making June a prime time to plan a Northern Michigan smallmouth bass fishing trip.

Booking a Smallmouth Trip

Interested in booking a Smallmouth Bass Trip on light tackle or fly gear, drop us a message via email, or text/call us directly 231-631-5701.

Jon Ray

Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass

Tying Tips for Spring Baitfish Patterns

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Spring Tying TipsSpring Tying Tips

Make sure to check out the blog post at Loon Outdoors that Jon Ray wrote about Spring Tying Tips.  Especially focused on baitfish patterns and staying organized during your Spring Tying prep time.

Sneaky Organization Product

Within the article I talk about Loon’s Bench Rings these rings have really streamlined my tying process when it comes to flashabou. Spring Tying Tips Instead of scrambling around looking for speckled copper and wasting time.  I can keep my top steelhead colors all on one ring and get to them quick and easy.  If you haven’t picked up one of these simple tools, I highly recommend it.  I have Bench Rings for all my favorite smallmouth colors and keep a separate ring for steelhead colors that I use through out the season.

Materials look so great hanging on the wall in a shop, but most fly tying benches look like a bomb just went off. The Bench Rings solve that problem. The stainless steel rings allow tyers to organize materials, hooks and beads by style/size/type/color using the same bags they came in.

Manistee River Steelhead Report

Manistee River Steelhead Report below Tippy Dam

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Manistee River

Manistee River Steelhead Report

Spring Steelhead Report Below Tippy Dam

Spring Steelhead Report below Tippy Dam water levels remain high but are slowly dropping. However, the Pine River upstream of Tippy Dam is dumping a heavy mud stain into the Manistee, creating very low visibility and poor clarity. As of today, flows are 4,360 cfs and the water temperature is 41.4°F.

All of our guide trips have been canceled or rescheduled since last week’s big rain events, but it’s looking like we’ll be able to get back out there very soon. High water is a common spring issue—especially after a heavy snow year—so we knew this was bound to happen at some point during the spring steelhead season.

The good news: conditions should improve shortly as flows continue to drop and the river clears. With water temps just getting into the 40s, we’re approaching the peak window and things should be firing again soon.

We will have a new update coming soon once we can get back on the Manistee River.

Booking a Trip

The Manistee River below Tippy Dam is one of the best west side rivers in the state of Michigan.  We specialize in Steelhead and Trout fishing on this section of the Manistee River Watershed.  Now is a great time to book your Spring Fishing adventure as well, with Steelhead, Trout, and Pre-Spawn Smallmouth on the agenda.

If catching a Great Lakes Steelhead in on your wish list give us a call to join in the fun at (231-631-5701), you can also shoot us an email.  We are currently booking Spring Steelhead, Pre-Spawn Smallmouth Bass, and a few remain peak Trout Dates for Michigan Dry Fly Fishing. 

Jon Ray

Pere Marquette Spring Fishing

Pere Marquette Fishing Report

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Pere Marquette Fishing Report

Pere Marquette Trout Fishing

What a crazy week of weather. It seems like Mother Nature needed to get it all out of her system—hopefully she did.

On the bright side, the cold temperatures and the snow/ice storm should slow the spawn down and extend our steelhead season. Water temps dropped from the mid-40s to the mid-30s last week. River levels rose with the rain ahead of the snow and ice, and then—did we ever get snow and ice. With frozen ground and colder temps, the river is now dropping slowly. As levels continue to fall and water temperatures gradually creep back up, the next couple of weeks should fish well. With a mix of winter holdover fish and a slow trickle of spring-run steelhead, this could shape up to be a great spring steelhead season.

Our go-to method for targeting steelhead this time of year is float fishing. With water temps still in the winter range, steelhead are holding in softer, slower water, and the float is the best way to cover those lanes effectively. Beads have been the top producer. With the water high and dirty, 10mm–14mm beads in bright colors have been working well. That will change as the river warms, but it’ll be a bit before we see a real shift. There’s not much insect activity yet—we’re still waiting on that first spring stonefly to signal that spring is truly here.

Brown Trout

Pere Marquette Brown Trout Fishing

Brown trout fishing has been hit-or-miss. Between the weather and the stained water, trout have been tucked into some hard-to-reach spots—especially log jams. If your timing is right and they’re willing to bite, you can do well. Most trout have been eating beads. Nymphs haven’t been very consistent, though we’ve had the occasional fish chase a streamer. Minnow patterns have also been getting a few looks.

The river is high and stained, so if you’re walking and wading, please be careful. Over the last few days we’ve also seen some new logs show up in the river, which could make wading more challenging than usual.

We still have a few open spring dates available—if you want to float the PM, let us know!

Captain Jeff

 

 

Pere Marquette Water Levels at Scottville, MI

USGS Water-data graph for site 06025500

Hooks for Steelhead

Top Steelhead Hooks

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Hooks for Steelhead

Top picks for steelhead hooks, talk about a sticky topic! I’m sure this is going to open a can of worms, but I wanted to address this topic as it gets a lot of attention amongst our guide staff. Every day, no matter what we are fishing, every rig we tie starts with a hook. It doesn’t matter if we are tying up a batch of streamers for steelhead, or if we are twisting up a bead rig for Alaska or Northern Michigan. The hook is usually the first item we start with.

Hook choices have consequences! Personally, I know I will never run a B10S hook again for trout. I’m fine using it for smallmouth bass, but I don’t have a scientific reason for it. Basically it’s the same reasoning I use when putting my right sock on first followed by my left. The same holds true with our favorite hooks for steelhead. It’s not really about scientific findings, but more about having confidence.

In order to shed some light on choosing the best hooks for steelhead, I have included a list of hooks preferred by Mangle Fly Guides below. This list of hooks has been proven over time and is Guide approved. For the purpose of this discussion, we chose hooks you can use for both swing and egg fly presentations. My hope is this list will help you decide which hooks to use this winter to prep your spring steelhead box.

Streamer Hooks

Streamer fishing for steelhead is not easy and you typically must capitalize upon fewer opportunities. You need a hook that is strong enough to land the Big Boyz, but light enough for your fly to move properly. The following is a Guide recommended list of streamer hooks for steelhead.

  • Owner Mosquito – is our number one choice for steelhead swing flies. This hook is a top choice personally and for Ed McCoy and Steve Pels as well. Most importantly, this hook has proven to be strong enough to handle the biggest Manistee River steelhead. Another advantage with this hook is the light wire, allowing me to pull a high percentage of my flies back from the log jams on 16# fluorocarbon. I like this hook in size 1 for most of my steelhead streamer patterns.
  • Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap – this is another one of Ed McCoy’s go to hooks. Ed runs this hook in size 1/0 and 1. He likes the big gap and very positive hook up ratio on fish that eat the fly from behind. This is a great hook later in the season to capture those fish that are nipping at the tail.
  • Daiichi 2557 – This hook has a super sticky point and will not bend out on hot fish. It has an oversized eye and makes passing trailer wire through the hook eye very easy. As is the case with most of our swing flies, we use wire or braid to attach the hook to our shanks. Steve likes this hook from size 1 to 4.
hooks for steelhead

Fall Steelhead on the Swing

Streamers for Steelhead

Bonus Streamer Hook

The bonus streamer hook is a “baby treble” and I was scared of what might happen upon hooking up. Baby trebles in size 10 or 8 work really well and more or less pin the steelhead upon contact. This is one of my late season hooks that might ruffle a few feathers. I only run this particular hook when temps are dropping from 40 degrees into the 30’s. I prefer this hook for days when one bite is likely all we will see on the swing. When you’re searching for one bite and only getting lethargic tugs or pulls, this hook can save the day. Try this treble hook on your next cold front fishing trip.

  • VMC 9650 – I use this hook in size 10 and size 8. It’s super sharp and strong enough to land most steelhead. An added advantage to these light wire hooks is you will get all of your flies back from the many log jams along the Manistee River. Another bonus with this hook is the oversized eye makes passing wire or braid through them a breeze. One point of caution regarding this hook. I would not recommend using these treble hooks in October or during heavy spring run off, it will not hold. If the steelhead is super charged up it will bend them right out. Please understand, when you hook up with this hook you have to take your foot off the gas. You can’t pull as hard as you normally do with the bigger heavy wire swing hooks.

Egg Hooks

The meat and potatoes fishing in the Great Lakes area is with egg patterns. It’s not uncommon for me to fill the tackle box with 1000’s of egg hooks in my preseason orders. Having tried a slew of egg hooks over the years, here is where we stand currently on the best of the best.

  • Gamakatsu Bead Hook-  Gamakatsu released this hook in 2024, we first started playing with it in the fall of 2025.  Now by Spring of 2026 it has replaced many of my previous Bead Hooks.  I have made an adjustment in my thinking when it comes to Bead hooks.  I want the strongest, lightest wire hooks I can find.  Without a doubt this hook by Gamakatsu fits the bill. Made from Gamakatsu’s Tournament Grade Wire (TGW), the Bead Hook features a thinner, stronger, and sharper wire that easily penetrates the hard jaw plates of Great Lakes Steelhead and Salmon. Its Nano Alpha Coating offers superior corrosion protection, ensuring the hook’s longevity and also provides a super slick finish for improved penetration. This hook reminds me TWG hook we use for Drop Shoting for Smallmouth Bass.
  • Raven Specialist – Especially the size 6 option for size 10mm or 8mm sized beads.  The benefits of this hook are the smaller diameter gauge metal, along with the micro barb make for better penetration and great hook up ratio. This is the perfect all-purpose hook. It is considered the most dependable Steelhead hook on the market with its great hooking and holding power. One of our favorites when you have to down size during early spring steelhead.
  • Owner SSW – when it comes to fishing beads and egg patterns, no one on our staff has more experience than Jeff Topp. Having guided in Alaska for over 22 years, when Jeff recommends a hook I listen. For bead fishing he likes the size 4 hook with 10mm beads and the size 6 hook with 6mm to 8mm beads. The number one reason he likes this hook is the wire. This hook has a very strong thin wire making hook penetration better for Alaskan Rainbow Trout and Manistee River Steelhead. This razor sharp hook serves him well from size 6 to size 1 depending upon the bead size he is fishing.

Closing Thoughts

With so many hook options available at your local shops to choose from it can get confusing. I know this is just a sampling of choices, but the idea here is to help you make educated hook selections. Over the last few years we have been tying fewer yarn eggs, but the same hooks we use for fishing beads also work really well when tying big rag style yarn flies. For instance, the red Owner SSW listed above is one of my favorites to tie oversized egg patterns on for Spring Steelhead.

Treble hooks in the fly fishing world are nothing new, but I personally had no experience with them back in the day. Ten plus years ago, when I first ran treble hooks, I was very nervous and pessimistic to be honest. What would happen to the steelhead? How torn up would the mouth of my prized fish become? Would my fly just get tangled up in all the treble hook points? Experience has played a big part in answering some of these concerns. For example, the bigger hooks listed above actually do more damage than the VMC treble hooks.

This current list of hook choices is what we prefer for most of our fishing situations. I’m sure over time I will edit this list as new hooks are forged and some of the old standby’s are no longer available. Please feel free to add your favorite hooks in the comment section below and thanks again for checking out the blog.

Jon Ray

Manistee River Steelhead Report

Spring Steelhead has started

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Spring Steelhead in February

For those of you that have followed Mangled Fly for a while you know how much we have loved February Spring Steelhead.

Well this week the ice broke free in many locations on the Manistee River and we have been slowly getting the boats out and enjoying the strong fishing opportunities.  We will update the main Manistee River report page in the coming days but just wanted to share this short video clip from a guide trip this week with Jeff Topp.  Contact us for open dates for Spring Steelhead as the fishing is solid right now.

Winter Steelhead

February 1st Manistee River Boat Ramp Report

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Tippy Dam to Rainbow Bend

Take a virtual tour of the Manistee River boat ramps with our short video clip showcasing the scenic route from Tippy Dam to Rainbow Bend. With almost 100″ of snow this season, parts of the river are completely iced over.  If your starting to plan your trip today you better be ready for the conditions.

We hope to get out this week fishing and will update the Tippy Dam Report page.

February steelhead fishing

Spring Steelhead

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Spring Steelhead Fishing on the Big Manistee River

Spring Steelhead

As winter starts to fade away and the days get longer, many anglers in Michigan begin to turn their attention to spring steelhead fishing. One of the premier destinations for chasing these elusive fish is the Big Manistee River below Tippy Dam. This stretch of river is known for its large runs of steelhead, making it a popular spot for fly-fishing enthusiasts looking to test their skills against these powerful fish.

Early Spring

February and March are prime months for targeting steelhead on the Big Manistee River. As the temperatures start to warm up, the steelhead become more active and begin their journey upstream to spawn. This is when anglers have the best chance of hooking into these chrome beauties.

When fly-fishing for steelhead on the Big Manistee River, it’s important to have the right gear and tactics. A 9-10 foot fly rod in the 7-8 weight range is ideal for handling these strong fish. A variety of fly patterns can be effective, including egg patterns, nymphs, and streamers. It’s also important to have a selection of sinking tips to get your flies down to where the fish are holding.

Swinging Flies

One of the key techniques for success when fly-fishing for steelhead on the Big Manistee River is to swing your flies through likely holding spots. Look for deep pools, runs, and riffles where steelhead are likely to be holding. Cast your fly upstream and let it swing through the current, keeping a close eye on your line for any subtle takes.

Another effective technique is to nymph fish with an indicator. This involves using a weighted fly or nymph and suspending it below a strike indicator. This allows you to fish your fly at various depths and cover more water effectively.

The Big Manistee River below Tippy Dam can see a fair amount of angling pressure during the spring steelhead run, so it’s important to be respectful of other anglers and practice good river etiquette. Be sure to give other anglers plenty of space and avoid crowding in on their fishing spots.

Overall, spring steelhead fishing on the Big Manistee River below Tippy Dam is an exciting and rewarding experience for fly-fishing enthusiasts. With the right gear, tactics, and a bit of patience, anglers have the opportunity to hook into some truly impressive steelhead during the months of February and March. So grab your fly rod and hit the water for an unforgettable steelhead fishing adventure on the Big Manistee River.

Mousing for Brown Trout

Mousing for Trout with Ed McCoy

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Mousing for Trout

In this video, the Northern Angler crew interview Ed McCoy and take a deep dive into mousing for big trout. For years, Ed has dedicated his summer months Night Fishing down the Manistee River in the dark finding fish to chase mouse and frog patterns. He shares what he has learned so you can try it for yourself.