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 last week of  August has us entering a cool down.  It is starting to feel like fall the past few days. Cooler mornings mean streamer opportunities transitioning into dry fly options during the warmer parts of the day.  The moon is approaching full so the night trips are on hold right now.  We just finished up a New Moon session and the fishing was pretty good over-all. Once the water temps stabilize the fishing should be pretty good moving forward.

Water levels are still above normal, which is crazy to think it’s almost September and we still have above average flow. Water levels are still 3-4″above normal, but the water remains pretty clear in the upper sections. A little stealth and good presentations are still required for the best success. goes a long way.  The usual summer programs are changing slightly with the cooler conditions, streamers, hopper fishing, and mousing will be our primary focus moving forward.

Heading into the weekend the upper sections near 72 have been clearing and dropping with temps peaking around 58-63 in the upper sections this past week. The forecast is calling for a couple more cool days and then it looks like a lot of mid 70s heading our way. With cooler nights and shorter days, the water temps should remain in check.  You should always check before you go fishing, but full sunshine and high nighttime temps are the primary drivers for higher water temperatures.

Hopper Fishing

Upper Manistee Trout Fishing Report

Upper Manistee Trout Fishing with Hopper Patterns

Most of the hatches have run their course for the season.  There are still a few Isonychia, BWOs and Light Cahills around.  The Isonychia should fire back up as we typically see a small window of hatching around the first part of September.  The White Miller’s have been the most abundant insect I have seen lately in the evenings.  Terrestrials are still working, but the ants are about to hatch so make sure you’re prepared.

Usually this time of year the fish are still looking for a well presented Hopper/Terrestrial pattern.  Twitch it, drift it, move it, drag it, some movement can go a long way to getting a bite. On the warmer afternoon/evenings this time of year you may encounter an “ant” hatch.  If the ants hit the water the fish will get pretty selective so pay attention to what you are seeing and how the fish are rising.  Some of the Ants we encounter this time of year are as small as a size #20.

Fishing the seams early and then bouncing the cover later in the day can be a fun way to fish. Best colors have been black, tan, peach, and olive. There are a million terrestrial patterns available today, sometimes a little creativity and something different is all it takes. Beetles, Ants, and Damsel imitations can also fish well during the slower times. The rule of thumb is don’t be afraid to mix it up and change if you’re not getting any looks.

Presentation has still been key. Match the tippet to fit the flies you are fishing. The bigger tippets have been making it easier to land some of the larger fish, but you can also play them quicker to the net. The big flies are getting lots of attention, but sometimes you need to size down to get the bite, be observant and the fish will tell you what they want that day.

Night Fishing 

The night fishing was much improved over the August New Moon.  The fishing was more consistent this time around, but we still had to grind on many occasions.  It’s been interesting to see how the higher flows have been impacting the fishing this year. You have to be quick to adapt this year and understand that most of the fish really don’t want to go out and hunt.  Instead they have been laid up and taking advantage of easy meals falling in their laps so to speak.  

The past couple of weeks provided both volume and quality fishing on most nights.  The recent cool down made it more challenging in the end, but the stability was there for consistent fishing throughout most of the New Moon phase. The best flies this season have been McCoy’s Mouse and the Amphibious Assault.

The moon is too big for me right now. We will be back out in a few weeks with the approaching new moon.  The night fishing can be exciting! But, there’s something to be said about grinding out an entire night while staying on top of your opportunities.  It’s not easy and the hours suck, but the rewards can be massive!

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)

Trout Guide Trips 

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 Bass

Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass

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Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass

Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass Fishing Report

Late August / Looking Ahead to September on Grand Traverse Bay

Smallmouth bass fishing in Northern Michigan is moving through the late-summer pattern, and Grand Traverse Bay continues to offer some of the best smallmouth opportunities of the season. Water temperatures are still warm, the fish are largely past the scattered post-spawn and early-summer transition, and many of the better groups of smallmouth are now relating to deeper structure, bait, and bottom composition.

Both Grand Traverse Bay and several inland lakes in the area are producing fish, but the most consistent bite has been coming from deeper water. Smallmouth are using rock points, boulder fields, sand-to-gravel transitions, offshore breaks, and areas with quick access to depth. There are still windows where fish slide shallower, especially during low light, wind, cloud cover, or active feeding periods, but the dependable pattern has been focused around deeper structure.

As we move toward September, this is one of the most exciting times of year to target smallmouth on Grand Traverse Bay. Fish begin to feed more aggressively as late-summer conditions slowly transition toward fall, and quality bass often group up around bait and structure. September can be an excellent month for both numbers and size, especially when conditions line up with wind, stable weather, and active bait movement.

Current Smallmouth Fishing on Grand Traverse Bay

Grand Traverse Bay is currently in a strong late-summer smallmouth pattern. Many fish are holding on deeper rock, breaks, offshore structure, and clean edges where gobies, crayfish, and baitfish are available. Electronics have been very important for locating fish, bait, and the best pieces of structure. Covering water until you find the right group has been key, but once fish are located, it is common to find multiple quality smallmouth using the same area.

Depths can vary depending on wind, light, and bait movement, but the better fish have generally been more consistent off the bank and around deeper structure. Some bass will still move up onto shallower flats, rock edges, and feeding areas early and late in the day, or when wind creates better conditions in the clear water. However, during calm and sunny periods, deeper finesse presentations have been the most reliable.

Drop shot fishing continues to be one of the most productive techniques on the bay. With many smallmouth holding tight to bottom, a drop shot allows anglers to stay in the strike zone and present baits naturally. Goby-style plastics, small minnow profiles, and natural-colored finesse baits have all been effective. A Z-Man 3.5″ in Shiner,  the Great Lakes Finesse Flat Cat has been money too. 

Long casts, light line, and clean presentations remain important in the clear water of Grand Traverse Bay. On calm days, fish can be wary, so downsizing line and slowing down can make a big difference. When the wind picks up, the bite often improves as the broken surface helps fish feed more confidently.

Fly Fishing Opportunities

Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass

Fly anglers can still find good opportunities for smallmouth on Grand Traverse Bay, but the fishing has become more structure-oriented as fish hold deeper. Crayfish patterns, goby imitations, and baitfish-style streamers are the best options right now. Presentations that get down near bottom are important, especially around deeper rock points, breaks, and boulder fields.

Intermediate and sinking lines are helpful depending on the depth and wind conditions. A slow strip, pause, or subtle jigging retrieve has been more effective than fast retrieves when fish are not actively chasing. Windy days can create better fly fishing windows by pushing bait and making fish less cautious in the clear water.

As September approaches, fly fishing can improve when smallmouth begin feeding more aggressively. Baitfish-style streamers, crayfish patterns, and goby flies can all be effective as fish start to put on weight before fall.

Looking Ahead to September Smallmouth Fishing

September is one of the best months of the year to fish Grand Traverse Bay for smallmouth bass. The late-summer pattern often remains strong, but fish begin to show signs of fall behavior as daylight shortens and water temperatures slowly cool. Smallmouth often group up more consistently around bait, rock, and offshore structure, creating opportunities for excellent fishing.

The first part of September usually continues to fish much like late August, with drop shots, tubes, Ned rigs, hair jigs, and swimbaits producing around deeper structure. As the month progresses, fish may become more aggressive and willing to chase, especially during wind, cloud cover, or pre-front conditions.

Anglers planning a September trip to Grand Traverse Bay should be prepared to fish both finesse and moving presentations. Some days require slow, precise bottom contact, while others allow for covering water with swimbaits, streamers, and reaction-style baits. The key is staying mobile, watching conditions, and adjusting to the depth and activity level of the fish.

New Summer Hats

Performance Ball Cap Performance Ball Cap

Stay cool and covered this summer with our new Mangled Fly Richardson Performance hats. Lightweight, breathable, and built with Stay-Dri comfort, these caps handle hot days on the water or around town. Available in clean light blue and sleek grey, they feature sharp embroidery and an easy everyday fit style.  Perfect hat for fishing in the summer.

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

Manistee River

Manistee River Steelhead Report below Tippy Dam

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Manistee River

Manistee River below Tippy Dam

Fishing on the lower Manistee River below Tippy Dam is settling into a solid late-summer pattern, with warm water species providing most of the action. While many anglers are starting to think ahead to the fall salmon run, it is still too early for consistent salmon fishing. A few early fish may show up here and there, but the main push is still weeks away. For now, the better opportunity is targeting bass and the occasional northern pike.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass have been the highlight throughout the lower river. Look for them around current seams, weed edges, wood, undercut banks, and deeper bends where baitfish are present. Fly anglers are doing well with minnow patterns, small streamers, and baitfish-style flies fished on floating or intermediate lines. White, and natural baitfish colors have all been productive. Stripping flies through softer current edges or along structure can produce aggressive takes.

Largemouth bass are also available, especially in the slower backwaters, sloughs, and weedy edges connected to the main river. These fish are often holding tight to cover during the day, but low light periods can bring them shallow and willing to chase. Topwater options are a major highlight right now. Poppers, sliders, and deer-hair bugs can be a lot of fun early and late in the day, especially around wood and quiet bank edges.

Light spinning tackle is also a great choice. Small minnow baits, soft plastics like a fluke, and topwater plugs are all worth having in the box. A few pike are being caught as well, mostly around weed lines, slack water, and ambush points near structure. They are not the main target, but they can add some excitement. Overall, early August is a great time to enjoy the lower Manistee for bass fishing before the salmon crowds arrive. Focus on low light, moving water, baitfish activity, and structure for the best results.

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 Fall Fishing adventure as well, with Steelhead as our main focus.

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.  

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.

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.