Fishing Season: The Upper Manistee begins special fishing restrictions beginning October 1, 2024. Check regs.

Upper Manistee River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

32

Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week

UPPER MANISTEE RIVER IS NOW OPEN FROM CO612 TO M72 CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY. M72 TO CCC BRIDGE IS OPEN FLIES-ONLY CATCH AND RELEASE BROOK TROUT AND BROWN TROUT UNTIL LAST SATURDAY IN APRIL, 2025. CHECK MICHIGAN DNR REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC GEAR RESTRICTIONS. Special regulations will apply after September 30, 2024. Extended season rules will apply. Please check Michigan DNR fishing regs. Seasonal cold and snow this week after heavy snow last weekend. Streamer fishing has been difficult with icy guides and some shelf ice forming along banks. Slow retrieves and drifts as water temps are very cold and fish are slow to move. Use caution when entering or leaving the river bank. Euro techniques will be best with bottom drifting and no stripping and icy guides. Traditional trout season ended September 30, 2024. Special extended season regulations will take effect October 1, 2024. Check your Michigan DNR regs. DON'T FORGET YOUR 2024 ALL SPECIES FISHING LICENSE IS NEEDED NOW. Go to: https://www.mdnr-elicense.com

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Map of Upper Manistee River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Hawkins Outfitters
Streamside Orvis

5-Day Outlook as of 2/17/25

A mix of snow and cold this week. Seasonal weather will dominate this week. Slower drifts and presentations will still help as fish are more lethargic. Euro nymphing methods will be best this week. Shelf ice remains in some areas. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site. Remember that regular fishing season ends September 30 and that special extended season regs will take effect October 1, 2024. Check your Michigan regs.

Techniques & Tips as of 2/17/25

Nymphing the riffles and Euro techniques in the deep holes will be effective and will not result in icy guides.

Local Species Available The Upper Manistee begins special fishing restrictions beginning October 1, 2024. Check regs.

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    Brown and brook trout

Streamside Michigan's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Blue Wing Olive Parachute N/A #20-24
Bead Head Zug Bug N/A #12-14
Lightning Bug pearl, silver #14-16
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer white, olive, black #4-6
Zebra nymph black #18
Perdigon nymphs N/A #16
Lynch's Double D Streamer tan, olive #4
Flashback Hares Ear Nymph N/A #12-14
Gartside Soft-Hackled Streamer yellow, black, or white #4-6
Mini D and D tan, black, olive #4-6

Blue Wing Olive Parachute

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Item #0924

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Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear

Description: About Upper Manistee River

UPPER MANISTEE RIVER IS NOW OPEN CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY FROM CO612 TO M72 AND CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY AND FLIES ONLY M72 TO CCC BRIDGE. CHECK MICHIGAN DNR REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC GEAR RESTRICTIONS. Remember that traditional trout season ended September 30, 2024. Special extended season regulations begin October 1, 2024. Check Michigan DNR regs for details. 2023 MICHIGAN FISHING LICENSES ARE AVAILABLE. ALL SPECIES LICENSE IS NEEDED TO FISH FOR TROUT. GO TO: https://https://www.mdnr-elicense.com/?utm_source=migovt&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=fishing21 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:

Cold has prevented hatches for the last week. Some tiny black stoneflies along banks if sunshine arrives this week with some above freezing temps. 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:

Burnt Cabin