Gateway to Michigan's finest fly-fishing
The hendrickson hatch doesn’t ever “explode” like the brown drakes explode. The hendrickson hatch builds slowly, like a fire on wet wood, until enough heat finally gets the fire going. That slow build? That is happening now. The hendricksons have begun on the Au Sable and certain stretches of the
(Greg with a beautiful Muskegon River brown trout)
Here’s the Man…. The Myth… The Legend! Greg from Big Rapids, MI who’s the only man I know who has consistantently hooked and landed several big game fresh water fish with only one cast! The only man I have ever known who
Manistee RiverApril 21, 2025
Spring Steelhead fishing Below Tippy Dam
Manistee River Fishing Report
April is flying by and that means Spring Steelhead is about done on the Manistee River below Tippy Dam. I can imagine that dropback steelhead will be in the river for about a month longer, and I’m
Manistee River Trout Report
April 21, 2025
The Upper Manistee River Trout Fishing report for the third week of April has us fishing for trout with streamers. Our weather this past month has been up and down, but mostly on the cold side. It’s been an old fashioned spring this year
(Joe’s 18-lb 33-Inch Muskegon River steelhead)
Here’s my new friend, Joe from New Jersey celebrating his birthday in style landing this massive 18-lb, 33-inch Muskegon River steelhead! Congrats Joe on such an incredible steelhead! Happy Birthday!
(Tale of the Tape of Joe’s massive steelhead)
Tale of the Tape of Joe’s
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.
This past week has been tough. Blame the moon phase, the sun, the barometer, the clearing water, the wildly fluctuating water temps…maybe all these. Maybe something, or some things, not even on that short list. It can happen in April. In fact, April is sort of notorious for throwing out a
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
The river has settled into something close to perfect spring conditions…and I’ll extend that to include the South Branch which as of right now is flowing at a very spring-like 471 CFS (and dropping). The BWOs have been hatching well and we anticipate a few rising trout in certain stretches
