Manistee River Steelhead Report

Manistee River Steelhead Report

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Manistee River Below Tippy Dam

Manistee River Steelhead Report
Winter Steelhead

The Manistee River Steelhead report for the middle part of January. Once again is focused around the water levels, with the Manistee dropping all week from a high of 2600+cfs to it’s currently level of 2100 cfs . Temperatures staying in that 35-34 degree range. All about perfect for this time of year. Water Levels this year continue to rise and fall, pushing up small waves for chrome. As was the case this week, with some newer fish once again showing up.

Jeff Topp

Guide Jeff Topp has our report below for the week.

Steelhead fishing is fairly good right now. We had a nice push of chrome fish this past week. Fresh fish are biters!  Beads under floats is the name of the game right now. With the Water temperature in winter cold mode look for the steelhead to be living in the slower sections of the runs. The slow side of seams and current breaks have been best.  With spring around the corner now is the time to get out before the crowds show up. LETS GO FISHING!!! 

Winter Steelhead

With temperatures improving through out the week, water levels should maintain or slightly increasing with melting snow from this past weekend. If you can find the speed, you will find the fish. Speed will be the most important part of the steelhead equation this week.

Guide Trips

January and February should continue to fish fairly well, with decent numbers of steelhead in the Manistee River and other Northern Michigan systems. Not too early to start thinking about booking your Spring Steelhead Trips as well.

March and April are prime time and dates will go fast, Ed and Jon booked a few trips this week while at the Heartland Show. Drop us an email if your thinking about fishing this Spring, or use the Contact Page to request a day. Also feel free to text us at 231-631-5701 for open availability.

Upper Manistee Trout Fishing Report

Upper Manistee River Trout Fishing

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Upper Manistee Trout Fishing Report
Winter Streamer Fishing

Manistee River Trout Report

Had a chance to venture out on the Upper Manistee River again this past week, with Mother Nature allowing us to still access most of the launches. We took advantage of the warm weather and lack of snow and spent the day chasing trout instead of steelhead on the lower Manistee. Water levels are good and with a slight stain to the water, it looked great for a day of streamer fishing. While winter streamer fishing is never about how many, it’s always a good day when you can catch a few fish, and see a few others. As was the case on this day.

Winter Trout Fishing

Winter Trout fishing when it’s in the upper 40’s and the sun is on your face and your having a few brown trout chasing is hard to beat. While I can pretty much sum up winter streamer fishing as the opportunity to catch brown trout in the 14-20″ range. I hardly ever see the little guys, and the same goes for the magnums. But nothing wrong with the trout in that range, in my mind. Streamer selection at this time of year I also think needs to be what I consider as medium to small sized. With some sort of weight added. Getting the fly down in the zone quickly, as trout don’t have the energy to climb up out of their zone. Also wood runs and deeper cuts had the best activity on this past trip. Looking for that same type of water speed as we have been finding most of our steelhead lately. Closer to the bank and out of the main seam. That harder to mend area, on the fair side of the bubble line. Slow water.

Guide Trips

With warm air in the immediate forecast trout fishing is still very much an option. Looks like some rain headed our way as well, some additional color to the stream could make it fish even better. Not that much snow can melt so water temperatures should bump up as well. Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year. Hope to update this page soon, but if not make sure to check out the Steelhead Report, and if your thinking of booking a trout trip for next year make sure to contact us soon. Prime dates always fill up fast.

Happy Holidays

Jon Ray