April 21st
Prayers for good health to you and your families and may you all have a Safe and Blessed 2026 Spring Steelhead and Brown Trout season!!!! We are looking forward to another great late Spring and Summer in the boats with everyone! We will be fishing Steelhead for another week or so maybe longer depending how long they hang around but we are definitely looking forward to get into our Brown Trout season!!! We have had a pretty challenging Spring with all the crazy weather and river conditions that’s for sure. Lots of rain, dirty water and blown out rivers to deal with but things have settled down and the rivers in our area are starting to drop and clean up everyday Thank God!!! The flows on the Manistee are up for this time of the year due to the all the rain we have had in the past couple of weeks, water temps are warming and the water is dirty but fishable. We have resumed fishing Steelhead on the Big Manistee and 10-12mm beads in natural and brighter colors along with Clown eggs, bigger nymphs and fry patterns have been best Bottom Bouncing with Fly and Spinning gear. There are some Brown Trout fishing opportunities for those not wanting to fish for Steelhead and the Brown Trout fishing has been ok on the smaller rivers in the area that we have been on. The Pere Marquette River is fishing good for Steelhead and there are Brown Trout opportunities as well. All is good, so no matter if your a Gear angler or Fly fisherman there is fun to be had! There are fish to be caught up here right now, so it’s time to get out and enjoy what we have been given!!! We are taking bookings for 2026 Spring Steelhead and Brown Trout trips at this time. We have Steelhead days for April and early May open as well as Summer BrownTrout, Smallmouth Bass and Pike trips, so keep us in mind when you are making your fishing plans and don’t miss out on the action. We are Thankful to be doing what we Love and we will be at it everyday keeping up on what’s going on, so if you have a date or dates in mind and would like to get out for a full or half day on the Big Manistee, Pere Marquette, Upper Manistee or Little Manistee please give us a shout. Real quick, I would like to put out a Big Thank You to all of you that fished with us in 2025 and looking forward to seeing you in 2026!!! Thank You Very Much and God Bless!!!!!!! Stay safe and healthy!!!! If you would like to view more pictures check us out on Facebook @ Premier Angling Guide Service. Tight Lines & High Fives!!!
Manistee River Below Tippy Dam
The flows below Tippy Dam are 4000 cfs and the water temps are in the 53-54 degrees. For the wade fisherman, the fishing above and below the coffer and down stream to the bottom of Suicide Bend has been ok for Trout and Steelhead. Load your vest with all the tricks, Streamers, beads and various nymphs for the fly angler. Crank baits, spinners, beads and nymphs will help the gear anglers get it done. Think about the future of our fishery guys and gals if you don’t need them then put them back. Help protect the resource!! Have fun and be safe, Bent rods and tight lines!!!
To check flows and water temps on our local rivers, please click on the USGS links below:
Manistee River below Tippy Dam
Manistee River below Hodenpyle Dam
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