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 second week of September has us entering a cool down as the fishing has become transitional.  It is starting to feel a lot like fall over the past few days. Cooler mornings mean streamer opportunities transitioning into dry fly options during the warmer parts of the day.  The streamer fishing should be the main focus with some weather days as we move forward. 

Water levels are starting to get below average as we moved into September.  With very little precipitation and warmer weather the flow really stepped down over the past few weeks.  Some rains and a decent bump in flow would be a good trigger for some decent streamer fishing.  Water temps have been primarily in the low 60s to the upper 50s heading into the weekend.  The water is dropping and very clear at this current time.

Heading into the weekend the upper sections near 72 have been clearing and dropping with temps peaking around 58-63 in the upper sections. The forecast looks like a lot of mid 70s heading our way. With cooler nights and shorter days, the water temps should remain in check and continue to drop in temp slowly.  You should always check before you go fishing, but water temps shouldn’t be a concern moving forward.  

Hopper Fishing

Upper Manistee River trout fishing report

Most of the hatches have run their course for the season.  There are still a few Isonychia, BWOs, White Miller’s around during the warmer parts of the day.  The Ants were spectacular in early September so make sure to have a few on hand. The Isonychia will probably phase out during the next cool down, but they will still get fish looking up this time of year.  

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 you may still 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.  

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 the water clarity is requiring good presentation to capitalize on them. The big flies are still getting some attention, but you may need to size down to get the bite in the clear water.  If you are observant the fish will tell you what they want that day.

Night Fishing 

The night fishing was much improved during the September New Moon.  The fishing was more consistent this time around on quality, 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 day to day conditions will impact your success.  Beefing up the fly size seemed to be what the fish wanted lately.   

The past week provided some volume nights, but the quality of the fish we encountered was better overall.  The recent cool down made it more challenging at times, but the larger fish were hunting with more vigor through the recent new moon. The best flies this season have been McCoy’s Mouse and the Amphibious Assault.

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 2027!  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

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

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