Fishing Season: Upper Manistee is now fully open. Flies-Only M72-CCC

Upper Manistee River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

49

Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week

UPPER MANISTEE IS NOW FULLY OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2026. 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 ****2026 All species fishing license will be required April 1, 2026. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com Conditions continue to improve. Levels are now within the banks in the upper water and clearing. Streamer fishing is still the best bet until water warms. Water temps are nearing Hendrickson emergence 53 degrees, but for now are still around 48 to 50 degrees. Check your Michigan DNR regs. DON'T FORGET YOUR 2026 ALL SPECIES FISHING LICENSE IS NEEDED APRIL 1, 2026. GOOD UNTIL MARCH 31, 2027. 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 5/4/26

Levels are dropping and clearing now that dry weather is forecast. A little rain over the weekend and some cold overnights will keep water cold. 50's and 60's air temps will help warm water and push some hatches and make fish active. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 5/4/26

Pulling streamers will still be the best technique as conditions improve. Nymphing the deeper holes is also a good approach. Watch for fish to set up below large silt beds in the warm water running off. Small baitfish will hold on the flats in the warmer water and large predators will start hanging along the edges looking to ambush these baitfish. The key element is water temp reaching 53 degrees to promote Hendrickson emergences and water warm enought to get fish metabolizing. Be ready.

Local Species Available Upper Manistee is now fully open. 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
Bead Head Stonefly black #10-12
Dark Hendrickson N/A #14
Betsie Special N/A #10
Queen of the Water N/A #14

Lightning Bug

A prospecting nymph fly that trout can't resist.

2.99

Item #27Y5

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Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear

Description: About Upper Manistee River

UPPER MANISTEE FROM CO612 TO M72 IS NOW FULLY OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2026. CHECK MICHIGAN DNR REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC GEAR RESTRICTIONS. Check Michigan DNR regs for details. 2026 MICHIGAN FISHING LICENSES ARE AVAILABLE. ****2026 All species fishing license will be required April 1, 2026. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com 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), tiny black stoneflies along banks, Hendricksons (ephemerella subvaria #14) when water temps reach 53 degrees 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