Manistee River Fishing Report – Updated Fishing Reports for the Big Manistee River for Steelhead, Salmon, Trout, and Smallmouth Bass below Tippy Dam.
Spring Steelhead Fishing on the Big Manistee River has been going well. Lots of new Steelhead on gravel. Tippy to High Bridge has the most fish with bright silver fish showing up daily. Fly Fishing for Manistee River Spring Steelhead has been excellent! (231) 519-7348
Our best techniques have been float fishing with trout beads, drifting floats behind and around spawning gravel. This has definitely been the most productive. Fly Fishing has also been excellent for Manistee River Spring Steelhead. Stone flies and tiny egg patterns have been fishing well.


Starting to see good numbers of Spring Steelhead below Tippy Dam. Water conditions are starting to improve and beginning to warm. Many Steelhead have pushed into the upper sections with some steelhead getting over the coffer at Tippy. Bobber fishing above the coffer has been excellent!
Jigs tipped with wax worms have been fishing very well. Trout beads, spawn sacks are also fishing well. Bright colors like orange and chartreuse are doing great. Water is stained right now so brighter colors are fishing the best.


During the Fall months, the Muskegon River receives a large amount of Steelhead. Steelhead can be fished throughout the Winter and into Spring Months.
Steelhead Fishing is really starting to get good below Tippy Dam. Fresh Steelhead have ascended the river, feeding on the Chinook (King) Salmon eggs in the upper River. Spawning Salmon provide a good food scource for resident Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Steelhead. Good numbers of both Fall run steelhead, and Skamania Summer Run Steelhead.
There has been a large push of Coho and King Salmon above the coffer below Tippy Dam. Drift fishing with trout beads has been working well for us. Float fishing with small spawn sacks has also been good. We’re doing well on the Coho Salmon casting small Cleo spoons. Blue / silver has been the best.
Manistee River Fishing Report – Tippy Dam