Trip brief · Little Manistee River
How to go fish the Little Manistee River
The months we list for the Little Manistee River are April, May, June, September, October. August is outside that window, so this brief is written for September, the next month we list.
September
Reading the gauge…
Flies to tie — September
Blue-winged Olive (Baetis)#18-22
Parachute BWO, RS2
Caddis (Trichoptera)#16-18
Access
Old Grade Campground
44.061, -85.852parking
Bear Track Campground
44.148, -86.031parking
Nine Mile Bridge
44.171, -86.103parking
Regs — check current rules before you go
Michigan DNR no longer maintains an active Blue Ribbon list; current rules are stream Types 1-4 plus Gear Restricted listings. Upstream of Johnson's Bridge (Johnson Road): Gear Restricted, artificial flies only, daily possession 2 trout, 15-inch minimum for brown trout and 10-inch minimum for other trout and salmon. Downstream of Johnson's Bridge: Type 4 (fishing open all year except the closures below; brook and brown trout possession last Saturday in April through September 30; Type 4 size limits: brook trout 7 inches, brown trout 10 inches, rainbow 10 inches; 5 trout and salmon combined, no more than 3 fish 15 inches or larger). Entire Little Manistee River closed to fishing January 1 through March 31. Three hundred feet above and below the DNR weir closed to fishing all year. From 300 feet below the weir to the mouth, also closed September 1 through November 14. Michigan fishing license required. Verify the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations and the Inland Trout and Salmon map for the exact reach.
Pack list
- A current state fishing licence
- Waders and boots you have already leak-tested
- Net, nippers, forceps
- Floatant and desiccant
- Tippet in the sizes the chart asks for
- Water, sun cover, polarised glasses
Generic gear. Anything specific to this water is above.
Full hatch chart, access map and live gauge on the Little Manistee River page →