Manistee River

Spring Steelhead fishing Below Tippy Dam

Manistee River Fishing Report

April is flying by and that means Spring Steelhead is about done on the Manistee River below Tippy Dam. I can imagine that dropback steelhead will be in the river for about a month longer, and I’m sure some fresh fish will continue to trickle in.  But for the majority of our guiding, we will be focusing on Trout and Smallmouth Bass.

Manistee River  Water levels are about normal for this time of year.  After some big water nice to have normal flows again.

Spring Steelhead Fly Patterns

Spring steelhead fishing calls for a selection of flies that match the conditions and feeding habits of these migratory fish. As water temperatures rise, steelhead become more aggressive, making it a great time to experiment with a variety of patterns.  Water levels currently require throwing some big stuff.  Big yarn or rag style eggs, the biggest soft bead you can find, and black marabou with some bright flash. 

Egg patterns, such as the Glow Bug or Beads, remain highly effective, as steelhead are still keyed in on spawning activity. Nymphs like the Stonefly, Hex Nymph, and Fry Patterns also produce strikes, especially in slower runs and pockets.

Swinging streamers, can trigger aggressive takes as the water levels drop, particularly in stained water. Bright colors like pink, orange, and chartreuse at the head of the streamer work well in high water, while more natural tones excel in clear conditions. Adjusting fly size and presentation to match the day’s conditions will help maximize success. This is especially effective in a few weeks on the Big Manistee as water temps break 40’s again. 

Smallmouth Bass

One of the best time of years to target the largest smallmouth of the season is right now, as Lake Michigan smallmouth are migrating the river to eat and setup for the spawn.  With millions of salmon fry and thousand of steelheads smolts.  Baitfish, Baitfish, and more Baitfish is the pre spawn menu.

Once water water temps reach 45 degrees (already 47 as of 4/21) smallmouth can be found down stream of the Tippy Dam.  Casting streamers or using light tackle with crank baits is highly effective.  Fishing for smallmouth is a great way to spend the day.  Plus it’s less about the conditions being perfect (ie trout fishing on sunny days) and more about finding the smallmouth.  Early season these fish are aggressive and make a great way to spend a day on the water.

New Swag

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 available all winter fishing trips so give us a call soon to join in the fun at (231-631-5701) you can also shoot us an email.  We are currently booking spring Steelhead, but also a great time to get your Trout Streamer Trip or Early Season Smalmouth Bass Trip in the books.  

Jon Ray