Gateway to Michigan's finest fly-fishing
Pere Marquette Fishing Report
Hello fishing friends! I hope this spring season finds everyone healthy and finding fish! The spring season is in full swing. It has been great watching nature waking up after a long cold winter.
Steelhead Fishing
Steelhead fishing has been good. Our best fishing has
Manistee River
Spring has officially arrived in Northern Michigan, as reflected in the forecast. With temperatures ranging from 50 to 60 degrees during the day and staying above freezing at night, the steelhead fishing on the Manistee River has remained consistent. Most days offer multiple opportunities to hook a steelhead.
Manistee River Fishing Report below Tippy Dam for April 16, 2025
After super high and dirty water the first week of April, the Manistee has dropped and gotten herself back in shape. The river is still holding a really nice tea stain that is
After a week of high and highly stained water, the river levels have returned to normal flows for this time of year and still have a bit of a stain, which also is normal for this time of year. Water temperatures are in the low 40s thanks to some cold
Live and Die with a Dry Fly!
When I think about the many traditions immersed in the fly fishing world, images of dry fly fishing for trout quickly come to mind. Dry fly fishing is truly an artistic pursuit. It is typically the first of many fly fishing experiences a trout angler
March comes to an end and the Steelhead fishing continues. Fishing has been solid in March despite some weather fluctuations between Spring and Winter. The river conditions have been good with water levels a little lower than what we expect for this time of year, but with some cold rain
Manistee River Fishing Report for 3.26.25 The Manistee River Fishing Report for 3.26.25 has the Manistee in great shape and the fishing has been consistently good this past week. Right now the water has a beautiful green color and is flowing right around 2350 ft3/s.
Manistee Below Tippy
Fishing on the lower Manistee River has remained consistent for those willing to adapt to the significant temperature fluctuations we’ve experienced this March. While on the river, you can see the early signs of spring: Red-winged blackbirds are perched in the trees, and steelhead are starting to
St. Joseph River: Continues to produce a few walleye and steelhead. Most were fishing near the Berrien Springs Dam. Look for the steelhead bite with the warm-up.
Grand River near Grand Rapids: Continues to produce a few good runs of steelhead. Fish have been caught on jigs with wax worms, spawn and beads. Most are fishing near the 6th Street Dam and below. Walleye were caught off the wall and at Fulton Street. No big numbers, but steelhead still can be found in the Rogue River.
Muskegon River: Had decent steelhead fishing.
Manistee River: Look for steelhead in the deeper holes during the cold snap. Brown trout fishing was slow below Tippy Dam. With the next thaw, steelhead fishing should really pick up.
Pere Marquette River: Was also producing steelhead for those using spawn, beads and wax worms.
St. Joseph River: The salmon run is winding down, and more steelhead are moving up into the river. Fish have been caught near the dam at Berrien Springs.
Dowagiac River: Continues to produce salmon and steelhead below the Pucker Street Dam.
Paw Paw River: Is producing the occasional salmon and a few more steelhead.
Black River: Those casting spoons continue to catch the occasional salmon. A couple lake trout were caught on lures, and steelhead were taken when still-fishing with spawn.
Kalamazoo River: As the salmon run winds down, a good number of steelhead are moving up into the river. Try floating spawn, flies and beads up near the Allegan Dam.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: The flow was still above average for this time of year, and the water was a bit stained. The salmon are pretty much done, so more steelhead are starting to move in. Anglers are catching a fair to good number of large steelhead on spawn and beads. The hot color was chartreuse.
Muskegon River: Continues to produce a few salmon, and the number of steelhead starting to show up is increasing. Bass fishing has also been good.
White River: Salmon are still being caught; however, the action is starting to slow. There has been very little activity at the Hesperia Dam.
Cheboygan River: Had three gates open at the dam, so water levels were high and fast. Fishing slowed, but anglers are still getting a few salmon on crank baits or when drifting skein in the early morning and at dusk. They are also getting steelhead when drifting flies and spawn bags. A 41-inch musky was caught on a crank bait near the dam, and smallmouth bass were hitting soft baits and crank baits.
Thunder Bay River: Continues to produce Chinook, a couple brown trout and the odd steelhead when casting spoons, spinners and crank baits or when floating and drifting skein and spawn bags. Most of the Chinook were very dark, but a few younger fish were still in good shape. The occasional Atlantic salmon was caught on spinners and streamer flies, but most did not want to bite.
Au Sable River: A couple salmon were caught by those drifting spawn, flies and beads. Atlantic salmon were slow to bite, but a couple were taken on streamer flies and spawn bags. Smallmouth bass were caught when casting crank baits and jigs or when using minnows.
Au Gres River: A couple steelhead were caught in the East Branch when drifting spawn at the Singing Bridge.
Bear River: There are still a few fish up at the dam, and those targeting them caught Chinook, coho and lake trout on spawn, artificial eggs, yarn and flies.
Manistee River: Salmon fishing is winding down and the remaining fish are in pretty rough shape. Anglers on the lower river have begun to catch chrome steelhead. Good catch reports were coming from pier and surf anglers on the right day.
Pere Marquette River: Salmon fishing is winding down here as well.