Manistee River Report – Below Tippy Dam
May 11, 2020
We have run a couple trips recently below Tippy Dam now that the DNR has allowed us to back to work. There are quite a few steelhead spawning on gravel, more than would normally be there. Because the Tippy Dam area was closed due to Covid 19 there has been a larger number of fish surviving the spawning season. That give us more drop back steelhead and holdover stocked brown trout. The fishing is pretty good right now!
Streamers have been the name of the game with brighter colors leading the way. Yellow Nutcrackers and the White Southern Charm have been the hottest flies. Using a 7 weight rod loaded with a SA Cold 25 in 250 grains and the above flies can yield steelhead smolts, brown trout from 8 inches to 5 lbs, drop back steelhead and in one case a 10 lbs Lake trout!
The large number of surviving steelhead leads me to believe that this fall should be an exceptional run. The fish should be plentiful and larger than average. We have days open! If you are interested give Cherie a call at 231-228-7135 and get your name in the books in October and/or November.
In the meantime we are actively booking and guiding under the rules established by the MI DNR. If you want to get out the fishing is good, crowds minimized and it beats the hell out of Staying At Home!!
Capt. Chuck