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

Upper Manistee River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

63

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 Midday fishing with hopper, beetle, and ant patterns. Rubber-legged attractors and dropper rigs for prospecting. Trico spinners in the morning. After dark, large predators are looking for mouse patterns and big stoneflies. If streamer fishing is your thing, watch for the rainy days this week and head our early. 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 8/17/26

A mix of rain and sunshine with cool 50's overnights and a few thunderstorms next weekend. Lots of sunshine will bring terrestrials to the water's edge. Hoppers, and rubber-legged patterns are now the midday choice. Early mornings have had trico spinners in the air and on the water in shaded water until the sun rises over the treetops. Mousing is excellent as well after dark. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 8/17/26

Take your pick. If you're an early riser, fish trico spinners at first light until the sun hits the water. Afternoons fish attractor, rubber-legged patterns or hoppers along the banks. Beetles in the shaded cedar swamps. Try a large stonefly pattern with an ant dropper. Set up on the night water and change to a mouse after dark. Fish the darkest bends.

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):
Adam’s Purple Parachute N/A #14
Krystal Spinner black #20
Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper N/A #12
Quick-Sight™ Beetle N/A #16
Ron's Yellow Skunk N/A #12
Gartside Hopper gray #10
Dave’s Oh-So-Iso N/A #12
Stimulator yellow #12-14
Patriot N/A #14
PMX yellow #12

Adam’s Purple Parachute

Tie on this deadly purple parachute dry fly to show trout something unique.

2.49

Item #7R6K

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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:

Tricorythodes (#20), Grasshoppers, beetles, ants. Visit the STREAMSIDEORVIS.COM website for tips, stream reports tips, photos... and more! Like us on Facebook too.

Best Time to Fish:

8pm to dark

Best Stretch:

Airport to CCC Bridge

Best Access:

Burnt Cabin