Fishing Season: Upper Manistee is open no kill. Flies-Only M72-CCC

Upper Manistee River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

37

Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week

UPPER MANISTEE FROM CO612 TO M72 IS OPEN BUT NO KILL. FROM M72 TO CCC BRIDGE (SUNSET TRAIL) FISHING REMAINS OPEN BUT NO KILL AND ARTIFICIAL FLIES ONLY. CHECK MICHIGAN DNR REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC GEAR RESTRICTIONS. FOR SPECIFIC KILL LIMITS AND GEAR RESTRICTIONS, GO TO: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/laws/regulations 2025 All species flishing license is now required. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com Heavy snow to start the week, but rain/snow mix and some thaw as the week progresses. Rising levels and water temps will help the streamer bite. Access will improve, but some icy back roads could result. Streamer fishing will still be the preferred method, but slow the retrieve as trout will be hugging the bottom and beginning to slow down. Euro nymphing techniques will also be effective in the deeper pools. Enter the river carefully as shelf ice still remains. This week's tip: Slow your streamer retrieval. Swing more and pull less. Go deeper with nymphing techniques. Check your Michigan DNR regs. DON'T FORGET YOUR 2025 ALL SPECIES FISHING LICENSE IS NEEDED NOW. Go to: https://www.mdnr-elicense.com

Directions open in app

Map of Upper Manistee River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Hawkins Outfitters
Streamside Orvis

5-Day Outlook as of 1/5/26

Heavy snow to start the week, but rain/snow mix and some thaw as the week progresses. Better weather later in the week, and access will improve. Some shelf ice will remain, so caution entering the river. Gray skies and rising water levels and temps will help the streamer fishing and late Fall brown trout spawning. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 1/5/26

Streamer fishing will be the choice this week. Euro and traditional nymphing techniques will also work well in the deeper pools.

Local Species Available Upper Manistee is open no kill. Flies-Only M72-CCC

  • Fish Icon

    Brown and brook trout

Streamside Michigan's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Lightning Bug N/A #16
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer white, olive, black #10-4
Blue Wing Olive Parachute N/A #18-20
Angel Wing Spinner olive/brown #20
Gartside soft hackle streamer white, black, yellow #4-6
Perdigons purple, olive #16
Indicator Parachute - Baetis N/A #18-20
Cone Head Muddler Minnow N/A #4-6
Betsie Special N/A #10
Mini D and D N/A #6

Lightning Bug

A prospecting nymph fly that trout can't resist.

2.99

Item #27Y5

Buy Now

Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear

Description: About Upper Manistee River

UPPER MANISTEE FROM CO612 TO M72 IS OPEN BUT NO KILL. FROM M72 TO CCC BRIDGE (SUNSET TRAIL) FISHING REMAINS OPEN BUT NO KILL AND ARTIFICIAL FLIES ONLY. CHECK MICHIGAN DNR REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC GEAR RESTRICTIONS. Traditional statewide trout season reopens last Saturday in April, 2026. Check Michigan DNR regs for details. 2025 MICHIGAN FISHING LICENSES ARE AVAILABLE. ALL SPECIES LICENSE IS NEEDED TO FISH FOR TROUT. FOR SPECIFIC REGULATIONS GO TO: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/laws/regulations The Upper Manistee is perhaps Michigan’s finest self-sustaining trout stream. More than 60 miles of wadeable water from its headwaters to the “flies-only” section downstream, make it truly Michigan’s most accessible fly angling water. The river is approximately thirty to sixty feet across in most stretches with an easy gradient and sand and gravel bottom. Extended season sections from M72 downstream to CCC Bridge provide tight-line techniques and streamer fishing all winter as access provides until Spring arrives. April and May offers good hatches of black caddis, Hendricksons and early black stoneflies. Self-sustaining populations of brook and brown trout feed on these early hatches once waters warm into the low 50’s. May brings good numbers of Hendricksons, caddis, and sulfur mayflies. June begins with sulfurs that hatch early evenings and ends with isonychia, brown drakes and the famous "Hex" hatch that comes off at dark. These hatches can move fish as large as 30 inches! July begins with the "Hex" (hexagenia limbata) and finishes with the start of terrestrial season. Hoppers, beetles, ants, dominate the trout’s diet for the next month and a half. In September, we turn our attention to streamer fishing and tiny blue wing olive mayflies. Guides are available daily for float trips. https://streamsideorvis.com/guided-trips/book-guided-trips/

Nearest Airport:

Cherry Capital (TVC)

Hatches:

Baetis #22 (pseudocleons) when overcast or rain Visit the STREAMSIDEORVIS.COM website for tips, stream reports tips, photos... and more! Like us on Facebook too.

Best Time to Fish:

noon to 5pm

Best Stretch:

Airport to CCC Bridge

Best Access:

3 Mile Access