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 nights and the lack of warm days to keep the run from running it’s course in short order.

The steelhead continue to be mixed – pre-spawn, spawning and post spawn. The males tend be a little older as they dance from gravel bar to gravel bar and have the color to show for it while fresh females are continuing to slip upstream. As with the fall run, the spring run has had more “skippers” (15-22” fish) than the larger adults however it seems lately a few more bigger fish are making a return to the river and bending the rod more. Don’t forget these smaller fish are next year’s bigger fish and the new fishing regulations as of April 1 limits harvest to only 1 steelhead/rainbow trout.

Larger flies have been working in the stained water – leeches, large stones and fry patterns tied below egg patterns and beads which have been bolder and more prominent in the stained water. Egg patterns with chartreuse have been working better than they had been, but that also usually results in an encounter with some walleye on the Manistee below Tippy dam as that’s seems to be a perennial favorite color of theirs. With the lack of rain in the forecast, I suspect smaller and more natural toned patterns will improve in effectiveness as the water continues to clear up.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Spring season is all booked, but a few dates remain available for the Fall Steelhead.
Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best technical dry fly fishing as we chase bugs and browns.
2025 Season – Now booking the entire season for trout, bass, steelhead and salmon – get your dates planned.