Fishing Season: Upper Manistee is fully open. Catch and Release M72-CCC

Upper Manistee River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

53

Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week

UPPER MANISTEE RIVER IS NOW FULLY OPEN. M72 TO CCC BRIDGE IS OPEN FLIES-ONLY. CHECK MICHIGAN DNR REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC GEAR RESTRICTIONS. 2025 All species flishing license is now required. https://www.mdnr-elicense.com Warmer temps in the 60's and even some 70's this week with a little rain mixed in. Fish below the large silt beds (frog water) where large predator brown trout will lay waiting for small baitfish who move onto and off of the warm water running off of the dark water warming in the sunshine. Keep and eye open for water temps to rise into the low 50's and kick start some Hendrickson activity this week. Reports of Hendricksons in the upper water above M72 and below to Yellowtrees mid-afternoons. Some spinners were also seen in the upper water. Streamer fish until you see any risers. Then switch to a floating line, 5x, and a Hendrickson emerger or BH hare's ear. If dry fly fishing, try a Hendrickson dun with a Queen of the Waters as a dropper and let it swing. Trout season is now open statewide. 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 5/5/25

A mix of rain and sun this week. Air temps in the 60's and 70's will push water temps into the low 50's which will kickstart the Hendricksons. Warm temps this week will help warm silt beds and push the streamer fishing. 50's water temps could push the Hendrickson activity and move some fish to look for a hatch afternoons. Watch the weather. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 5/5/25

Streamer fishing will be the choice to start the day. Watch for Hendricksons to start mid-afternoons on warm days. 53 degree water temps is the key. Sunshine this week will push water temps into the low 50's. When streamer fishing, change color every 20 minutes. Look for deep water below silt beds that will be warming fast this week and sending warm water downstream where predators will be hanging out. Keep an eye open for water temps to hit the low 50's and Hendrickson emergences. Nymphing the riffles with BH hare's ears dropper and a Hendrickson extended body. Early evenings on the warmer days will gather Hendrickson spinners around 6-7pm when the winds recede.

Local Species Available Upper Manistee is fully open. Catch and Release 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):
Dark Hendrickson N/A #12-14
Bead Head Hare's Ear Nymph N/A #12-14
Lightning Bug pearl, silver #14-16
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer white, olive, black #4-6
Zebra nymph black #18
Lord's Extended Body Hendrickson N/A #12-14
Blue Wing Olive Parachute N/A #18
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

Dark Hendrickson

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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. Traditional statewide trout season reopens April 26, 2025. Special extended season regulations began October 1, 2024 and continue this week. 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:

Hendricksons (ephemerella subvaria) #12-14, Baetis #18 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:

Burnt Cabin