Manistee River (Upper)
Current Conditions
Flows are around 971 cfs and holding steady, above normal for late August (Gauge at Sherman, downstream of the upper fly water). Water was 61°F at the gauge. The hatch calendar has Trico on this water in August.
Manistee River (Upper) Fishing Report
The upper Manistee is fishing beautifully for wild browns on dry flies and nymphs. Water is clear and cold — long leaders and careful wading are essential. Evening sulphur hatches have been the most productive window. Less crowded than the lower tailwater.
Live Flow Conditions
Hatch Calendar
Gear Recommendations
| Gear | fly Dry FlyRecommended | rod Nymphing | rod Euro Nymph | fish Streamer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rod | 8–9ft 4-weight | 9ft 4-weight | 10.5ft 3-weight | 9ft 5-weight or 6-weight |
| Line | DT4F or WF4F floating | WF floating | Euro mono rig | WF floating or intermediate |
| Leader | 10–12ft tapered to 5X | 9ft to 4X | Long mono rig | 6ft to 1X |
| Tippet | 5X–6X fluorocarbon | 5X–6X | 6X–7X | 1X–2X |
| Waders | Chest waders or hip waders | Chest waders | Chest waders | Chest waders |
| Boots | Felt-soled wading boots | Felt-soled boots | Felt-soled boots | Felt-soled boots |
Find Your Guide
Local Fly Shops
Public Access Points
River History & Character
The Upper Manistee is a classic northern Michigan trout stream — intimate, spring-fed, and wild. From its headwaters near Grayling all the way to Hodenpyl Dam, the upper river runs through deep Huron-Manistee National Forest with a sandy/gravel bottom and cold, gin-clear water. This is dry fly and nymph water — technical, rewarding, and far less pressured than the famous tailwater below Tippy Dam. The upper river hosts self-sustaining populations of wild brown and brook trout that have thrived since the original German brown trout plantings in the late 1800s. Lined with cedar, hemlock, and white pine, the upper corridor looks much as it did when the first fly fishers discovered it.