Manistee River Steelhead Report below Tippy Dam
Manistee River
Fall Steelhead fishing Below Tippy Dam
The Manistee River fishing report below Tippy Dam for the last part of October. It is Fall Steelhead time! I continued to be impressed by the fishing giving how tough the conditions are. This fall is the driest I can remember and the river is as low and clear as I can imagine.
Steelhead have been in the Manistee River feasting on salmon eggs for almost a month. We had a small shot of water two weeks ago as you can see by the graph , Water Levels remain unseasonably low. But even though conditions are not favorable I would say fishing is pretty strong for the conditions.
With low water all our guides are changing up a few small details each day to combat this water levels. Downsizing has been a real key to success. Some new flash combos on our streamers have been paying off. With warm weather means warmer water, and the fish we have been finding on the swung fly, are crushing it. With low water being using more T-8 & T-12 than T-14 to get the fly to fish right.
One other aspect to this fall run, is I believe December this year is going to fish better than the previous two years. With the run we have and the conditions so far on the great lakes, I would expect late fall to be good. All guides are open, don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Want a date drop me an email, or send a text message.
Open Fall Steelhead Guide Dates
Fall Steelhead
The fall steelhead in the Big Manistee River are particularly feisty and aggressive this time of year. They have an insatiable appetite, fueled by the abundance of salmon eggs in the system. These prized gamefish will aggressively chase down and attack streamers that mimic their preferred forage as well.
Leeches, sculpins, gobies, and baitfish patterns are all excellent choices for enticing fall steelhead. The key is to work the water methodically, allowing your fly to swing or strip naturally, triggering the steelhead’s predatory instincts. Vary your retrieve or fly swing, experimenting with different speeds and casting angles, to discover what presentation the fish are most responsive to on a given day.
The next six weeks on the Big Manistee River represent a prime window of opportunity for passionate steelhead anglers. With the fish actively feeding and primed to strike, this is the time to capitalize on some of the most exhilarating fly fishing action of the season. Persistence, presentation, and a keen eye for reading the water will be your greatest allies in connecting with these magnificent migratory trout.
Steelhead Clothing
Stay Warm new Hoodie
Mangled Fly Hats & Beanies
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 for late fall trips so give us a call soon to join in the fun at (231-631-5701) you can also shoot us an email. Also it’s not too early to get your Winter/Spring Steelhead trips on the books.
We have a new sticker available in the shop, this sticker is pretty cool so make sure to get yours today.
Jon Ray