Fishing Season: Upper still open with special regs in selected sections until 4/27/24. Check regs

Upper Manistee River - MI

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

52

Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week

UPPER MANISTEE RIVER IS NOW UNDER SPECIAL REGULATIONS UNTIL APRIL 27, 2024. CHECK MICHIGAN DNR REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC GEAR RESTRICTIONS AND CATCH AND RELEASE RIVER SECTIONS FROM M72 TO CCC. Warmer start to the week with some rain and upper 60's for the Trout Opening Day, Saturday. Levels are dropping to near normal but may rise with rain coming in for the weekend. Water temps are rising to near the magic 53 degree hatch number. Opening Day this weekend may feature Hendrickson emergences. Look for the emergence around midday when water temps reach 53 degrees. Hendrickson spinner will come to the water later in the day around 5-6pm when air temps are warmest. Early week or mornings, have a sink tip and your streamer box. Look for baitfish to gather over the silt beds and predatory fish to lay below them in the warmer water getting hungry. DON'T FORGET YOUR 2024 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 4/22/24

Highs in the low 60's to start the week. Some rain for the weekend trout opener. Levels are near normal and water temps are rising into the low 50's. The warm afternoon air temps are inspiring anglers to hit the river. Keep and eye out for the Hendricksons to emerge middays when the water reaches 53 degrees. Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.

Techniques & Tips as of 4/22/24

Warmer temps will help the streamer bite and make wading downstream pulling streamers the favored tactic until water temps reach 53 degrees. That is the magic number for Hendrickson to emerge. Be ready with your henny box and your floating line. When streamer fishing early in the week or mornings, change streamer color every 20 minutes until you have a take, then stay with it for 30 minutes. If it slows down, start changing again.

Local Species Available Upper still open with special regs in selected sections until 4/27/24. Check regs

  • 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):
Bead Head Hare's Ear Nymph N/A #14
Orvis CJ Nymph copper #14
Red Quill N/A #14
Dark Hendrickson N/A #12-14
Lord's Extended Body Hendrickson N/A #12-14
Loop Winged Hendrickson Emerger N/A #14
Blue Winged Olive N/A #18
Adams N/A #12-14
Lord's Egg Laying Hendrickson N/A #12-14
Mini D and D tan, black, olive #4-6

Bead Head Hare's Ear Nymph

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Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear

Description: About Upper Manistee River

UPPER MANISTEE RIVER IS NOW UNDER SPECIAL REGULATIONS UNTIL APRIL 27, 2024. CHECK MICHIGAN DNR REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC GEAR RESTRICTIONS AND CATCH AND RELEASE RIVER SECTIONS. 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:

Ephemerella subvaria #12-14 Hendrickson, Baetis Blue Winged Olives #18, Midges #20 Visit the STREAMSIDEORVIS.COM website for tips, stream reports tips, photos... and more! Like us on Facebook too.

Best Time to Fish:

11am to 6pm

Best Stretch:

Anywhere from M72 to CCC Bridge

Best Access:

Airport to Burnt Cabin