Manistee River Trout Report

The Upper Manistee River Trout Fishing report for the last week of July has us fishing early or staying out most of the night.  We gave the trout a break until the middle of July as we were facing an intense heat wave and water temps that were getting too warm to fish for trout.  Most of our trips were chasing bass until recently so my apologies for the long lapse in reports.

Water levels are still above normal, which I guess is a blessing for late July.  We haven’t been at normal flow all season, but today is the lowest water level I have seen since March. The water is running pretty clear in the upper sections. So a little stealth and good presentations goes a long way.  The usual summer programs, hopper fishing and mousing, are our primary focus at this point. Fishing has been decent to good depending upon the conditions.

Heading into the weekend the upper sections near 72 have been clearing and dropping with temps peaking around 62-63 this past week. The forecast is calling for a couple of more hot days, but the overnight lows should help keep water temps in check.  You should always check before you go this time of year, full sun and high nighttime temps are the primary drivers for higher water temperatures.

Hopper Fishing

The most anticipated hatch of the year has come and gone and now the hatches have thinned out in number.  We are primarily seeing Trico’s, Light Cahills, Summer Olives, a few Isonychia, and the occasional remnant hex.  Usually this time of year the fish are pretty gullible 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.  

Fishing the seams early and then bouncing the cover later in the day can be a fun way to fish. Best colors have been black, tan, peach, and olive. There are a million terrestrial patterns available today, sometimes a little creativity and something different is all it takes. Beetles, Ants, and Damsel imitations can also fish well during the slower times. The rule of thumb is don’t be afraid to mix it up and change if you’re not getting any looks.

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 you can also play them quicker to the net. The big flies are getting lots of attention, but sometimes you need to size down to get the bite, be observant and the fish will tell you what they want that day.

Night Fishing 

The night fishing was decent this past week, we had some struggles with conditions, but we managed to find a few nice fish.  We had a a shorter run of nights as the heat, smoke, and a couple of thunderstorms kept us off the water a few nights.  The fishing was decent, but we had to grind through some lengthy dead times between bite windows.  We had some quality fishing this time around, but the volume was lacking on a few nights.  The best flies so far have been McCoy’s Mouse and Amphibious Assault.

The moon is too big for me right now. We will be back out in a few weeks with the approaching new moon.  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 2026!  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