Manistee River

Steelhead fishing Below Tippy Dam

The Manistee River fishing report below Tippy Dam for the last part of April draws a close to our steelhead season.  We ended our season with a great fish for Jim on the swing.  Thank you Jim and a great way to end the spring run.  The Manistee River still has a good population of dropback steelhead  around, but with Trout Opener on the Upper Manistee and Grand Traverse Bay Smallmouth about to fire up our focus is switching.  

Steelhad

Currently the Manistee River  Water Levels  are low for this time of year at 1610 cfs with water temps hovering around 50.  Steelhead are currently in the drop-back pattern.  Using the river to recover from the riggers of the spawning season.  The current numbers of fish around is pretty good.  Allowing anglers to get that last fish or two before the steelhead fully migrate out to the big lake until next year.  One bounce if your out angling for steelhead and don’t mind mixing up the species are the numbers of smallmouth around.

Smallmouth Bass and Pike

I have to honest I switched programs to the smallmouth earlier this year than I ever have.  Been exploring the river and Inland Lakes for a couple weeks now.  Conditions the last few weeks screamed smallmouth bass starting the pre-spawn run.  Throwing some of the largest swim flies of the season, the bass have responded well.

Swimbaits and small wire leaders to protect you from the pike that are using the same ambush points is a smart decision if you like your swim flies.  As water temps continue to increase more and more smallmouth bass will migrate the river for the spawning season.  We love to use smallmouth to help us battle out challenging conditions we might face.  Ed McCoy goes into details about conditions and how we adjust in his latest blog post.

Salmon Fry

The river is loaded currently with fry, seeing small bait balls of these salmon fry everywhere.  This is a great way to introduce someone to streamer fishing.  As small streamer patterns on light sink tips is a fun way to dial in your skills.  With Brown trout, smallmouth, and drop-back steelhead all using this food source.  

Booking a Trip

Manistee River below Tippy Dam is one of the best west side rivers in the state of Michigan.  Mangled Fly guides are starting to book Summer Dates so please give us a call at (231-631-5701) or shoot us an email .  Also not too early to get your Fall Steelhead trips on the books.

We have a new sticker too check out in the shop , this sticker is pretty cool so make sure to get yours today.  Also have new this year hand tied Night Leaders for those of you that like the mousing for brown trout.  We also put together a Night Fishing Assortment that saves you a few $$’s and comes with an easy box to store them in.

Jon Ray