Fishing Season: Year Round with seasonal periods around the fish weir.

Little Manistee River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

42

Pere Marquette Lodge's Tip of the Week

Low, mostly clear. Lots of fish in the system. Poppers when it's too warm for the trout.

Directions open in app

Map of Little Manistee River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Pere Marquette Lodge

5-Day Outlook as of 8/18/25

Rising temps, terrestrials and streamers

Techniques & Tips as of 8/18/25

Streamers Terrestrials Woolly Buggers Egg Sucking Leeches Stone Flies

Local Species Available Year Round with seasonal periods around the fish weir.

  • Fish Icon

    Steelhead

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

  • Fish Icon

    and Salmon

Pere Marquette Lodge's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Steelhead Hammer natural 8-12
Rubber Grub Nymph N/A 4-8
March Brown Wet N/A 4-8
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer black 2-6
Master Splinter Black/White 1-2
Guipsy King Natural/purple 6
Cone Head Muddler Minnow N/A 1-4
Mike's Meal Ticket White 4

Steelhead Hammer

Catch the attention of steelhead with these vibrant steelhead mayfly nymphs.

2.99

Item #27Y6

Buy Now

Pere Marquette Lodge's Recommended Gear

Description: About Little Manistee River

The Little Manistee River is also one Michigan's blue ribbon claims to fame. Our migratory fish runs are earlier on this river than most. The mighty King Salmon start showing up around late August and take over the river by the tens of thousands until mid October. Fall Steelhead come up the river to feed on the King's caviar, these fish are explosive and acrobatic this time of year. March and April we are visited by thousands of spawning Steelhead. If you are not a migratory fisherman not to worry. But keep in mind this is also one of the best times to clean up on big trout. You see our trout grow to exponential size hanging out behind the spawning fish gorging on eggs four months out of the year. Prolific hatches and night time fishing produce life time achiever trout. If your not a night time fisherman the terrestrial hatches in July and August can produce some great fishing while you work on your tan wet wading. We have lodging available near the river. www.pnlodge.com

Nearest Airport:

Grand Rapids Gearld R Ford, Michigan

Hatches:

Eggs Stonefly Streamer

Best Time to Fish:

Early morning and late at night during the wiching hour.

Best Stretch:

Weir

Best Access:

Weir