Upper Manistee River Trout Fishing

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

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