The Little Manistee River

If you are staying at Deerwood Cottage, you will have private access to the Little Manistee River right out back.  Here is a bit of information for you regarding the

 "Best Trout Fishing River in Michigan"

The Little Manistee River is the source of all Great Lake's Steelhead.  The Steelhead in the "Little" as it's often called, are all wild fish.  The state Department of Natural Resources has been using the eggs of these Steelhead to source hatchery Steelhead. The hatchery Steelhead are exchanged with other Great Lakes states, and Little Manistee fish are found from  Pennsylvania to Wisconsin.
As a result of this wild strain, and the egg taking process, the Little Manistee is subject to special regulations, such as closed dates at the beginning of the spring and fall migration of Steelhead and Salmon. Still, its clear, cold water and public access makes this a favorite with us and other anglers. Large fish are often seen, and caught, but the challenge is certainly part of the process. The Little Manistee is not a tributary of the Manistee, but they both empty into Manistee Lake before reaching Lake Michigan at the town of Manistee.

The Little Manistee River is located just south of its "big brother" the Manistee River. Starting a few miles east of the town of Luther the Little Manistee takes a northwesterly track for approximately 40 miles to where it spills into Lake Michigan. The river is known for being one of the best steelhead rivers in Michigan as well as an outstanding resident trout fishery. At the town of Luther the Little Manistee is small and littered with brush and overhanging trees. It averages 14-20 feet wide and harbors a good population of brook and some brown trout. Casting is difficult in some areas and a small stream rod is recommended (2-4 weight, 6-8 feet). At M-37 the river is still considered small (20-30 feet wide) but increases in size as you move downstream towards the town of Irons. The brown trout population also rises and the size of the fish begins to increase. Eventually rainbows join the browns below M-37 and give opportunity to catch all three in one day; brown, rainbow, and brook trout.

The town of Irons is located approximately five miles downstream from M-37. From Irons to Lake Michigan, there is approximately 20 miles of very productive water. The steelhead fishing is best in this stretch of water because of its' close proximety to the lake and there are many more holding spots for them to hide. The trout fishing is also excellent below Irons with plenty of room to cast and more prolific hatches. The river below Irons averages 50-75 feet across with a sand and gravel bottom for much of its length. Some of the best water is found between Nine Mile and Six Mile Bridges. The runs are deep with plenty of natural water diversions that create excellent holding habitat for both steelhead and resident trout.

The river below Six Mile Bridge slows as it nears the lake and has many good areas to fish. Look for appropriate holding water with better velocity to find trout and steelhead. The river bottom for much of its length is made up of sand, gravel, silt, and small stones. Fallen logs, undercut banks, sharp bends, deep runs, and dark pools all create good holding cover for both steelhead and trout. Quality hatches of mayflies, caddis, and stoneflies make for excellent dry fly fishing for resident trout. The diverse water below Irons creates excellent habitat for the steelhead that make their journey up this river each year. Access can be found in many areas along the river. Bridges, pull-offs, and parking areas will help in finding access the river. A few areas are found at Six Mile bridge, near Nine Mile bridge, and near M-37 bridge. Private lands do adjacent the river in some areas so be careful to not trespass. Steelhead can be caught on a variety of techniques and flies. A couple of productive techniques include using a floating line and leader with split shot (similar to standard nymph fishing for trout) or a sinking line and short leader with wet flies (spey flies, woolly buggers, etc.). Hatches include many different mayflies, stoneflies, and caddis. Some of the mayfly hatches include Blue-winged Olives, Sulphurs, Hendricksons, Hexagenia, and Gray Drakes. Caddis include a variety of species and colors ranging in size from 12-18. Stoneflies are an important part of the food chain and include several species from little black stones early in early spring, larger brown stones in late spring, to little yellow sallies in mid summer. The Little Manistee is a wonderful fishery every angler "needs" to try from its tight headwaters teeming with brookies to its charming water below Irons harboring large acrobatic steelhead and mysterious resident browns. The Little Manistee is also located a short drive from the "Big" Manistee River and other quality Lake Michigan tributaries.

Take a look at the MONSTER Walleye

Jake Meekhof caught on 9/9/2007

It weighed in at 10.3 LBS.

Those Meekhofs are amazing anglers!

Here are pictures of just a few of the Salmon that our friend, Kurt Meekhof caught on the Manistee.  That's some great salmon Kurt!

August 27th 2006

Check out this Big Brown Trout that Cal Fleser caught this week! 

It weighs 5 lbs. and is 24 inches in length.

Christopher Dean of Luther, Michigan

 caught this beautiful Steelhead

Nice steelhead Chris!

The Little Manistee River closes December 31st and re-opens April 1st. The Weir is out for the year and this let's the fish ascend the river freely.

2007 - 2008 Tournament Listings

Some GREAT Links!

Little Manistee River Steelheads

Click Here

 Current Area Fishing Report Click Here

Click Here for a Great Northern Michigan Fishing REPORT!

Click for interesting information about The Little Manistee River Weir

  let's go FISHING...

FREE FISHING WEEKEND in MICHIGAN 2008
June 7th & 8th

Just a FEW of the nearby inland lakes

Crystal Lake - Location: From M-55 in downtown Wellston take Seaman Road south less than 1 mile, lake on west side of Seaman Road (no motor boats are allowed).

Big Bass Lake - All Sports Lake Location: Follow Bass Lake Road South from 10 1/2 Mile Rd. Fish for: Panfish and Bass

Dorner (Long Lake) - Location: From M-55 east of Wellston take S. Snyder Road south 1.5 miles, lake on west side of S. Snyder. Fish for: Panfish and Largemouth Bass.

Eleanor Lake - Location - From High Bridge Road in downtown Brethren, travel east on Coates Hwy., lake on left hand side less than .5 miles. Fish for: Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass and panfish. (no motorboats allowed).

Harper Lake - All Sports Lake Location: just down the road from Deerwood Cottage! Fish for: Bass, Panfish and Lake Trout

Healy Lake - Location: From Bear Lake take 13 Mile Road east to Healy Lake Road to first road on right (Plagany), turn right to next gravel road and follow signs to campgrounds. Fish for: panfish, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.

Lemon Lake - Location: From Kaleva take Healy Lake Road three miles north to Potter Road, go east on Potter Road 2 miles to Niemi Rd. Go south on Niemi Road less than .5 mi. to Thompsonville Rd. about 2 miles to Lemon Lake. Fish for: Panfish, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.

Manistee Lake - Located in Manistee. A deep water port for Great Lakes Shipping. Marinas, boat launching facilities and recreational boating services. Fish for panfish, Northern Pike, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye Pike, Muskellung, Salmon in the fall, Steelhead in the fall and spring.

Pine Lake - Location: From the west, take M-55 east 17 miles from its junction with U.S. 31 in Manistee, then right at Wellston on Bosschem Rd. for 1.1 miles, then right on Pine Lake Rd. 2.6 miles to the campground. Fish for: panfish, Cisco, Brown Trout and Largemouth Bass.

Portage Lake - Deep water access to Lake Michigan, excellent sailing. Located off M-22 in Onekama. Fish for panfish (known for Perch), Northern Pike, Walleye Pike, Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, fall run of salmon, Brown Trout and Steelhead in winter and spring.

Round (Chittenden) Lake - Location: From M-55 in Wellston take S. Baker Rd. south less than .5 mi. to first dirt road on left - take road less than .5 mi. to Round (Chittenden) Lake. Fish for: Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill and Perch.

Sand Lake - Location: From M-55 in Wellston follow Seaman Rd. 4.5 miles south through Dublin to entrance road, right on Forest Service Rd. 5728 to the campground. Fish for: panfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow and Brown Trout. (Only boats that can be hand carried for launching are allowed).

Timmerman Lake - Location: From M-55 west of Wellston travel south on East Udell Hills Rd. 2 miles to a dirt road on east side of road, it then dead ends into the lake. Fish for: panfish, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.

**Tippy Dam Backwaters - Location: Fr. High Bridge Road to downtown Brethren travel east on Coates Hwy. 3.5 miles to Dilling Rd., travel so. on Dilling Rd. until it dead ends into Tippy Dam, launch site is on the left. From Wellston go north on M-55 on Snyder Rd. to Robinson Road. Take Robinson Road to its east end. There is another launch at Red Bridge on Coates Hwy. 7.5 miles east of Brethren. Fish for: Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Walleye Pike, Rainbow and Brown Trout, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, and panfish.