Steelhead fishing on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers has been slower than normal for this time of year. While we have received some rain events over the past two weeks the fish haven’t showed up in significant numbers but rather just a trickle of fresh fish. Because the land is dry (lack of snow pack […]

Some rain last week gave the rivers a nice little bump in water flow and some additional steelhead moving upstream from lake Michigan. Clarity is still really good on the Manistee River below Tippy Dam and is a little more stained on the Betsie River. Water temperatures have pretty much remained in the low 40-degree […]

With the official start of Spring this week it seems that Winter is making up for some delinquency bringing  us some cooler temps wind and snow. Steelhead fishing continues on the Manistee River below Tippy Dam and Betsie River with water conditions near ideal. It’s been a bit since we have had rain and the […]

Significant rains after the last fishing report brought the Manistee and Betsie River levels up quite a bit and added some color which encouraged steelhead to migrate upstream. Since then the water levels have fallen pretty much back to normal levels for this time of year. Clarity has improved too offering a little color and […]

The mild winter continues with some back-and-forth weather but we are experiencing more warmer days than cold ones especially for the beginning of March. The snow we received this winter slowly melted into the ground replenishing the water table rather than creating a high-water situation to prematurely kick the run off. Without a snowpack the […]

Steelhead remain the target of anglers headed out this time of year and with the seasonal forecast calling for mild temperatures there should be windows of opportunity to get out and into some fish. Steelhead numbers remain low after a slow fall season but are slowly building. If mild temps continue fish should trickle in […]

Stoneflies aren't just for western river anglers but also for those of us in the mid-west. The Twenty Inch Chubby stonefly nymph does a good job of impersonating the natural's characteristic silhouette and can be tied and used for both steelhead and trout.

December has come and it seems that the big push of steelhead we are accustomed to in the fall simply did not. While it was a tough fall reports from the lake indicate the population is healthy and the lack of rain is to blame for keeping the fish there. We had good pulses of […]

The leaves are gone temps are dropping and it’s the time for the serious steelhead angler to go looking to hunt fish not deer. As is typical for this time of year the river is running clear as it’s been a while since we have had a push of water from any significant rain. When […]

As October winds down so has the salmon fishing. There seemed to be more salmon this year in the Manistee and Betsie rivers than in recent years as their population builds back up thanks to an increasing baitfish population in the lake. With so many salmon laying eggs in the river it makes for a […]

Summer-like weather has come to an end after a few extra weeks of it which continued well into October. The local rivers have been really low from a lack of rain however today’s rain along with the rain in the forecast should really help get the local rivers into shape and get the fish moving. […]

The summer weather is making a comeback as we officially transition to Fall this weekend. Temps in the upper and 70s and approaching the 80s will give the trout rivers a last tickle of terrestrial activity for those looking to get out and get some dry fly fishing in for the year. The rivers (upper […]

With September here and the weather forecast to turn to seasonal weather this week it might be time to give a nod to the long summer season and everything the fish provided. And since most fisheries were getting tired the change in weather and angling pressure should help to improve fishing. The clear water of […]

Mid-August finds us with tired fishing conditions. It’s been a long season and most species have been pressured for months now and are playing coy if not selective. But it’s still fun. The trout rivers are about as clear as I have seen them in any summer prior. The lack of rain this year has […]

As July starts to wind down fly anglers find themselves in the middle of summer and summer fishing conditions. The Upper Manistee is running low and clear – which isn’t unusual for this time of year. The lack of rain has been offset by the cooler evening temps to keep the water temps in the […]

The big bugs and crescendo of our May and June hatches have pretty much come to an end. There might be an encore performance as there usually are some stragglers and late bloomers but for the most part it’s near time to put the headlamp away for the season. There seems to be a lull […]

As Summer (solstice) takes place on the 21st   June starts to end and the night fishing really begins. Angler’s are looking for the nocturnal Hex Mayflies on the local trout rivers and some (Au Sable) have already begun and it’s about to begin on others (Manistee) if they haven’t already. Headlamps bug spray patience and […]

Mid June’s trout fishing has been decent considering the bugs have been fickle. The days of reliable hatches in the evenings and spinner falls at dusk seem to be something of the past. I can’t help but think it’s weather related and in the past couple of weeks its been bright sunny and hot days […]

As May comes to an end it sure seems like we are in middle of summer with these hot days. It’s been a while since we have had any significant rain leaving the trout rivers running low and clear. Thankfully evening temps have been cool which has kept the water temps in check but they […]

As May comes to an end it sure seems like we are in middle of summer with these hot days. It’s been a while since we have had any significant rain leaving the trout rivers running low and clear. Thankfully evening temps have been cool which has kept the water temps in check but they […]