Spring
March – May
Peak steelhead season on the Muskegon, Pere Marquette, Manistee, Little Manistee, and Betsie. Hendrickson hatches begin in late April. Brown trout become increasingly active through May. Flows can be high — wade carefully and bring sink tips.
Pere Marquette • Muskegon • Manistee • Little Manistee • Bear Creek
Summer
June – August
The Hex hatch — Michigan's most famous fishing event — peaks in mid-June on the Au Sable and Manistee. Sulphur and Brown Drake hatches run through June. Trico spinners dominate August mornings. Fish early and late; midday heat pushes trout deep.
Au Sable • Manistee • Jordan • Boardman
Fall
September – November
Chinook and Coho salmon fill the Manistee and Pere Marquette in September and October. Mahogany Dun hatches bring browns to the surface. Brook trout color up brilliantly in the UP and Jordan valley. Fall steelhead begin pushing in by October.
Au Sable • Manistee • Jordan • Fox (UP) • Two-Hearted
Winter
December – February
Tailwaters below Croton Dam on the Muskegon and Tippy Dam on the Manistee remain fishable for resident browns and late steelhead throughout winter. BWO hatches occur on warm afternoons. Not for the faint-hearted — but the solitude is unmatched.
Muskegon • Manistee (tailwater) • Pere Marquette