Water Temp:
58
Streamside Michigan's Tip of the Week
UPPER MANISTEE RIVER IS NOW OPEN. CHECK MICHIGAN DNR REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC GEAR RESTRICTIONS.Warm temps and some rain and thundershowers to start the week. A little cooler and drier in the low to mid-70's for the rest of the week. Hendricksons are finishing up and black caddis, little mahogonies, little yellow stoneflies, and the start of the sulfurs perhaps this week. Fish are now starting feed regularly as water temps are rising into the upper-50's daily. Levels are returning to normal after thundershowers last week. 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
Water Flow Data
Hawkins Outfitters
Streamside Orvis
5-Day Outlook as of 5/21/24
Hendricksons will generally emerge around midday when the water temps reach 53 degrees. Hendrickson spinners will come later in the day when air temps are warmest around 5 or 6pm. Black caddis #16 will emerge all afternoon and egg-layers may take over in the evenings. Watch for the bright green egg sacks on females evenings. Little mahogonies (afternoons), yellow stoneflies, perhaps some sulfurs starting in the evenings around 8pm. Water is now clear and levels are lowering. Streamer fishing early mornings will remain fair as well.Go to zip code 49684 for latest weather at your favorite weather site.
Hendrickson hatches have been good but will wane. To start the day around noon, fish a dun Hendrickson with a Queen of the Waters or a loop winged Hendrickson emerger. Then ditch the dropper when you see feeding fish around midday. Have some black caddis and egg-laying black caddis patterns with a bright green egg sack on the back. Fish will start to look for egg laying caddis evenings. Afternoons and early evenings will include some little mahogonies, yellow stoneflies, and the start of the sulfurs from 7-9pm.When streamer fishing early 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 Entire Upper Manistee is now open with special gear restrictions.
-
Brown and brook trout
"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:
| Name: | Colors: | Size(s): |
|---|---|---|
| Bead Head Hare's Ear Nymph | N/A | #14 |
| Dave's Oh-So-Iso | N/A | #12 |
| Pale Morning Dun Thorax | N/A | #16 |
| Bead Head Emerging Sparkle Caddis Pupa | yellow | #14 |
| Lord's Extended Body Hendrickson | N/A | #12-14 |
| Yellow Stimulator | N/A | #14 |
| Blue Winged Olive | N/A | #18 |
| Adams | N/A | #12-14 |
| Lord's Egg Laying Rusty Spinner | N/A | #14 |
| Lord's Egg Laying Black Caddis | black | #16 |
Bead Head Hare's Ear Nymph
Image Not Found
Item #0251
Buy Now
- Bead Head Hare's Ear Nymph
- Dave's Oh-So-Iso
- Pale Morning Dun Thorax
- Bead Head Emerging Sparkle Caddis Pupa
- Lord's Extended Body Hendrickson
- Yellow Stimulator
Streamside Michigan's Recommended Gear
-
Best Leader:
Super Strong Plus Leaders -
Best Tippet:
SuperStrong Plus Tippet in 30- and 100-meter spools -
Best Fly Fishing Rod:
5-Weight 9' Fly Rod -
Best Floating Fly Line:
WF Trout Fly Line
-
Best Sinking Fly Line:
Class V Sink Tip Fly Line
Description: About Upper Manistee River
UPPER MANISTEE RIVER IS NOW OPEN. CHECK MICHIGAN DNR REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC GEAR RESTRICTIONS.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=fishing21The 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, Black Caddis #16, Baetis Blue Winged Olives #18, Midges #20, Paraleptophlebia #14 (Little Mahogonies) Yellow stoneflies #14, Ephemerella invaria #16 SulfurVisit the STREAMSIDEORVIS.COM website for tips, stream reports tips, photos... and more! Like us on Facebook too.
Best Time to Fish:
Noon to 9pm
Best Stretch:
Anywhere from M72 to 3 Mile Access
Best Access:
Airport to Burnt Cabin
