Manistee River Fishing Report RSS

One of my favorite times of year in Michigan.  Unlimited opportunities across the state chasing trout on dry flies.  All leading up to the big dance with the hex hatch on the horizon.  Brown drakes and grey drakes were the main bugs on northern rivers across the state and the cold temps played games with the constancy.  Iso's fished blindly have produced numbers of fish leading our to the hatch while the streamer bite so so.  This weeks temperatures look more forgiving and any night could be the night. Good luck to all venturing into the night!  SHOP BUGSLocal fishing...

Want to start by saying the Grand Rapids Fly Fishing Film Tour is TOMORROW! There are 2 showings, one at 4pm and another at 7pm. Our stack of tickets is dwindling fast, and by the time you're reading this we will likely be out of 4pm tickets, but still have a good amount for the 7pm show. Call us with a credit card ready and we can do it over the phone and set your tickets aside, and you can pick them up at the shop.  Steelhead are strong! Mostly winter fish right now but there are some brighter fish...

This has been, hands down, the strangest dry fly season in recent memory. The hatch charts and meticulously kept fishing journals can be thrown right out the window. Its late June and there are still no solid reports of hex. Dry fly windows have been short, but when the stars have aligned, there has been some great fishing.  Brown Drakes are still around on many rivers, even gray drakes, but it seems they're there one night and gone the next. Iso fishing during the day and in the evening has been productive and should continue to be for some time....

The Hex hatch is coming to a close, and water temperatures are warm across the state. Bass fishing is improving, and once we get some cooler weather, terrestrial fishing, nymphing, and mousing will be the name of the game for trout.

Hex fishing in Northern Michigan continues to be great and the forecast for the week going into the weekend looks promising. Local trout streams are fishing well with attractors and nymphs, terrestrials are just around the corner and bass fishing continues to be good.