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Rivers & Streams

Manistee River Fishing Guide

Michigan

A big river below Tippy Dam with heavy salmon and steelhead runs.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Manistee River for brown trout, steelhead and chinook salmon. The best months overall are Mar to May, Sep to Nov. In October, brown trout, steelhead and chinook salmon are in season, and Parachute Adams, Blue-Winged Olive and Pheasant Tail Nymph are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 60 miles (1 fly, 11 bait and tackle); the closest is Pappy's Bait & Tackle in Wellston, 2 mi away. Check the live USGS flow and water temperature before you head out. Pere Marquette River is 22 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Best Months

Mar to May, Sep to Nov

In October

Brown Trout, Steelhead, Chinook Salmon

Methods

Fly fishing, Spin, cast & bait

Season at a Glance

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What You'll Catch

Manistee River Species

Brown Trout

Prime Now
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F
M
A
M
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J
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Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

Steelhead

Prime Now
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F
M
A
M
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J
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Best: Oct to Apr

Chinook Salmon

Prime Now
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Best: May to Oct

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

13 picks for October. ● means in season that month.

  • Pat's Rubber Legs #4-10

    Fly

    Nymph · Steelhead, Brown Trout

    Shop This Fly

  • Intruder 2 to 4 in

    Fly

    Streamer · Chinook Salmon, Steelhead

    Shop This Fly

  • Egg-Sucking Leech #2-6

    Fly

    Streamer · Chinook Salmon, Steelhead

    Shop This Fly

  • Parachute Adams #12-20

    Fly

    Dry Fly · Brown Trout

    Shop This Fly

  • Blue-Winged Olive #16-22

    Fly

    Dry Fly · Brown Trout

    Shop This Fly

  • Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-20

    Fly

    Nymph · Brown Trout

    Shop This Fly

  • Egg Pattern #8-16

    Fly

    Nymph · Steelhead · Indicator rig.

    Shop This Fly

  • Woolly Bugger #2-10

    Fly

    Streamer · Brown Trout

    Shop This Fly

  • Sculpin Streamer #2-6

    Fly

    Streamer · Brown Trout · Low light and fall.

    Shop This Fly

  • Inline Spinner 1/16 to 1/4 oz

    Lure

    Spinner · Steelhead, Brown Trout

    Shop This Lure

  • Suspending Jerkbait 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Hard Bait · Brown Trout

    Shop This Lure

  • Casting Spoon 1/4 to 1 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Chinook Salmon

    Shop This Lure

  • Cured Salmon Eggs Single or cluster

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Chinook Salmon, Steelhead · Where bait is legal.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Brown Trout

Fly 9 ft 5 or 6 wt rod, floating line for dries and nymphs, sink-tip with 0X to 2X for streamers.

Spin / Cast 6.5 to 7 ft light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 6 to 8 lb line. Jerkbaits and inline spinners.

Steelhead

Fly 11 to 13 ft 7 or 8 wt spey or switch rod with a Skagit head and sink tips, or a 10 ft 8 wt single hand rod with an indicator rig.

Spin / Cast 8.5 to 10.5 ft medium-light rod, 3000 spinning reel, 8 to 12 lb line. Float and jig or drift rigs.

Chinook Salmon

Fly 10 ft 9 or 10 wt rod, sink-tip line, 15 to 20 lb leader.

Spin / Cast 9 to 10.5 ft medium-heavy casting rod, line-counter or levelwind reel, 20 to 30 lb line.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Manistee River

Fly Reels

Redington Behemoth Fly Reel

A strong, sealed drag at a modest price, made in sizes from trout to saltwater.

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Fly Rods

Echo Spey Rod

A two-handed rod for swinging flies across big steelhead and salmon runs.

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Fly Lines

Scientific Anglers Sink-Tip Fly Line

Gets streamers down to fish holding deep in current.

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Leaders & Tippet

RIO Fluorocarbon Tippet

Low-visibility tippet for nymphs and wary fish in clear water.

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Waders & Boots

Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders

Durable, breathable waders that hold up to seasons of wading.

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Waders & Boots

Simms Freestone Wading Boots

Supportive boots with good grip on slick rock.

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Fly Rods

Redington Classic Trout Fly Rod

A smooth, moderate-action rod that is forgiving for new casters and protects light tippet.

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Fly Lines

RIO Gold Fly Line

A trout line that casts dries delicately and turns over nymph rigs.

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Within 60 Miles

Shops Near Manistee River

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Rivers & Streams · Michigan · 22 mi

Pere Marquette River

A wild, free-flowing river with salmon in fall, steelhead in winter and spring, and resident browns.

Steelhead · Chinook Salmon · Brown Trout

Rivers & Streams · Michigan · 69 mi

Au Sable River

Birthplace of Trout Unlimited. Holy Water dries and night-time Hex hatches.

Brown trout · Brook trout