Share your catch

Manistique River Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

A UP steelhead river: the Manistique runs salmon, steelhead and pike to northern Lake Michigan.

4/5
Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.
Water temp
~66 F est.
Air / High
73 / 73 F
Wind
ESE 9 mph

Sources: Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

4/5Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Manistique River sits in the sweet spot of the season: active fish and workable weather. Today brings a mixed sky, wind ESE around 9 mph, falling pressure near 1014 hPa and a high of 73. Water sits around 66 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Smallmouth bassExcellent

Peak season. Tubes, jerkbaits and swimbaits around gravel points, boulders and current seams.

Brown troutExcellent

Terrestrials tight to the bank; streamers through the deeper runs on cloudy days.

SteelheadFair

First fall runs after rain: fresh chrome in the lower pools on spawn bags and beads.

Tomorrow: Similar at 77 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings.

No live gauge on this water

Conditions here are modeled from weather, season and the nearest stations. Water readings appear when a USGS gauge is available.

304050607080JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~66 F now

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp73 F
High / Low73 / 61 F
WindESE 9-14 mph
Pressure1013.9 hPa, falling
Sky / Rain35% cloud, 48%
Sunrise / Sunset07:09 / 20:17
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~66 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Rain, 73/61 F, wind 10 mph, rain 48%

Fair or better. Cloud and a rain chance can stretch the morning bite well past breakfast: keep moving baits tied on.

Species guide

The species that matter on Manistique River: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Steelhead illustration

Steelhead

Best: Oct-Apr

Lake-run rainbows that turn tributaries into winter fisheries. First fall runs after rain: fresh chrome in the lower pools on spawn bags and beads.

Smallmouth bass illustration

Smallmouth bass

Best: May-Oct

Current and rock. Finds gravel flats, boulders and drop-offs, and fights far above its weight. Peak season. Tubes, jerkbaits and swimbaits around gravel points, boulders and current seams.

Brown trout illustration

Brown trout

Best: Sep-Nov

Wary, predatory and nocturnal by preference. The big ones eat streamers. Terrestrials tight to the bank; streamers through the deeper runs on cloudy days.

When to come: the Manistique River calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Steelhead
Smallmouth bass
Brown trout
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 66 F (estimated, not a reading).

304050607080JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~66 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Manistique River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 78 F, wind to 8 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 80 F, wind to 8 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

5/5 Excellent. Go now. Everything lines up: pressure, wind and light are in your favor. Smallmouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 79 F, wind to 9 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
Only used to send you this water's report each week. No spam, ever.

Before you go

License

Michigan requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Michigan license plus all-species validation for salmon and steelhead. Seasons and gear rules vary by reach: check current DNR regulations.

Access

Manistique harbor and pier, dam area access, and road crossings upstream through state forest land.

About this water

A 70-mile Upper Peninsula river entering Lake Michigan at Manistique, Schoolcraft County, Michigan.

Fishing Manistique River: the full guide

A big Upper Peninsula river

The Manistique River drains a large swath of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, flowing about 70 miles to Lake Michigan at Manistique. It is a slow, dark, swampy river through much of its course, with the lower reaches hosting runs of chinook and coho salmon, steelhead and brown trout from the lake, plus resident northern pike, walleye and smallmouth.

Salmon and steelhead

Chinook and coho run in fall, drawing anglers to the lower river and the harbor at Manistique. Steelhead follow, holding through winter and spawning in spring: the river’s dark water and slow current make for a different presentation game than the gravel-bottomed rivers of the Lower Peninsula. Spawn, jigs and swung flies all produce.

Pike and the swamp water

Resident northern pike are abundant in the slow, weedy reaches and provide excellent action for anglers who like casting big baits in dark water. Walleye hold the deeper holes and below the dam. Smallmouth work the harder-bottomed sections. The upper river and tributaries hold brook trout in the colder feeders.

Schoolcraft County logistics

Access is via the town of Manistique at the mouth, the dam area, and road crossings upstream, with much of the corridor in state and commercial forest. Services are limited outside town. The harbor at Manistique offers pier fishing for staging salmon and steelhead in season, a straightforward option without a boat.

Common questions

When do salmon run?

Fall, with chinook first and coho behind them, drawing anglers to the lower river and the harbor.

Is it different from Lower Peninsula rivers?

Yes: darker, slower and swampier, which changes presentations compared with the gravel rivers to the south.

Can I fish without a boat?

Yes: the harbor pier and the dam area offer productive shore fishing for staging fish in season.

Is fishing good at Manistique River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Nearby waters

Little Bay de Noc42 miEscanaba River43 miFord River52 miTahquamenon River62 miLake Charlevoix73 miTorch Lake81 mi
Share your catch