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Manistee River

Type
Freestone river, Michigan (Midwest)
Designation
Blue Ribbon · Steelhead / salmon water +2
USGS gauges
2 live
Guides
9 name it
Shops
1 nearby

Today on the Manistee River

Reading the gauge…

Regulations & access Guides & shops

The Manistee River is a freestone river in Michigan, listed as Blue Ribbon by Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

More about the Manistee River

2 USGS gauges on the water report flow; USDA Forest Service, Huron-Manistee National Forests lists 5 species, including salmon, steelhead and brown trout. 9 guides and 1 shop nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Grayling & the Au Sable.

Updated · Sources: Blue Ribbon Trout Streams, Huron-Manistee National Forests | Manistee National Recreation River | Forest Service, USGS Water Data

The Manistee River curving around a wooded island below forested hills
Photo credit

The Manistee River, Michigan. Photo: Eric Schmuttenmaer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it is

Manistee River is a freestone river in Michigan. Our destination hub Grayling & the Au Sable is 7 mi away in a straight line and lists it among its waters.

Flow now at 2 gauges
Reading the gauges…

Check any river's flow

Follow Manistee River for flow alerts

Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.

Follow this water

Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.

Where to fish

About this

Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.

Nothing on this page grants or implies access.

Michigan where to fish

Manistee River on the map

About this

Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles

Map of Manistee River: gauges, shops and guides

RestroomsAccess map

Map of Manistee River with 2 USGS gauges.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles

Restrooms near Manistee River

Restrooms near Manistee River

Restrooms within 2 miles of Manistee River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.

No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.

Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.

Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.

More water near Manistee River

  • The shallow, clear Boardman River flowing between spruce and pine near Traverse CityBlue RibbonRepresentative photo · not North Branch Manistee River
    Photo credit

    The Boardman River in the Brown Bridge Quiet Area, near Traverse City. Photo: Phoenix-Five, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not North Branch Manistee River.

    North Branch Manistee River

    Michigan · about 9 mi

  • The Au Sable River curving through green floodplain forest, seen from the Highbanks bluffBlue RibbonRepresentative photo · not East Branch Au Sable River
    Photo credit

    The Au Sable River from the Highbanks, Huron-Manistee National Forests. Photo: Jessica Piispanen / USFWS, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not East Branch Au Sable River.

    East Branch Au Sable River

    Michigan · about 11 mi

  • The Black River flowing dark and smooth through northern forest in Cheboygan CountyBlue RibbonRepresentative photo · not North Branch Boardman River
    Photo credit

    The Black River in Cheboygan County, Michigan. Photo: SweetCanadianMullet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not North Branch Boardman River.

    North Branch Boardman River

    Michigan · about 18 mi

  • Canoeists on the Pere Marquette River in autumn, between colourful woodsBlue RibbonRepresentative photo · not North Branch Au Sable River
    Photo credit

    The Pere Marquette River in autumn, Manistee National Forest. Photo: Yetiwriter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not North Branch Au Sable River.

    North Branch Au Sable River

    Michigan · about 20 mi

  • The broad Muskegon River near Newaygo between banks of red and orange autumn treesBlue RibbonRepresentative photo · not South Branch Au Sable River
    Photo credit

    The Muskegon River near Newaygo, Michigan. Photo: Marc Steensma, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Branch Au Sable River.

    South Branch Au Sable River

    Michigan · about 20 mi

  • The Huron River between wooded banks at Ann ArborBlue RibbonRepresentative photo · not Cedar River
    Photo credit

    The Huron River at Ann Arbor, Michigan, from the Broadway Street bridge. Photo: Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Cedar River.

    Cedar River

    Michigan · about 22 mi

Sources Michigan where to fishOverture Maps places (guide map points)

Where the map point comes from

Position: the USGS gauge MANISTEE RIVER NEAR GRAYLING, MI.

The map shows USGS gauges (tap one for its flow reading), and shops and guides within 40 miles that publish a street address on their own website. Everyone else is in the lists below.

Regulations

About this

Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.

4 official designations

Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout, salmon & steelhead.

The water on the map

About this

Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.

Length
157.8 mi (148.2 in MI)
Drains
1,320 sq mi
Drop
574 ft · 3.6 ft/mi
Watershed
Manistee

Public land along it

About this

Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.

56.8 of 148.2 mi on public land

  • Cadillac State Forest AreaState Department of Natural Resources · 43.2 mi
  • Manistee National ForestForest Service · 11.2 mi
  • Kirtland Warbler Unit ManisteeState Department of Natural Resources · 1.9 mi
  • MNRTF Parcel 79State Department of Natural Resources · 0.4 mi · restricted
  • MNRTF Parcel 144State Department of Natural Resources · 0.1 mi · restricted

Nothing on this page grants or implies access.

Guides and shops near Manistee River

About this

Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.

9 guides name it on their website

Guides

  • River Chasing Guide Service

    Wellston, MI · 64 mi

    Lake & stillwater · Beginners & lessons · Manistee River

    • Unclaimed

    Names this water

  • Chromeseekers Sportfishing

    Frankfort, MI · 68 mi

    Lake & stillwater · Manistee River

    • Unclaimed

    Names this water

  • Tilmann Outfitters

    Manistee, MI · 71 mi

    Lake & stillwater · Saltwater & ocean charters · Manistee River

    • Unclaimed

    Names this water

  • Cast Away Guide Service

    Baldwin, MI · 76 mi

    Drift boat · Multi-day trips · Pere Marquette & Muskegon

    • Unclaimed

    Names this water

  • Darkblue Charters

    Manistee, MI · 78 mi

    Beginners & lessons · Lodge packages · Manistee River

    • Unclaimed

    Names this water

  • Keepin' It Reel Fishing Charters

    Manistee, MI · 79 mi

    Lake & stillwater · Beginners & lessons · Manistee River

    • Unclaimed

    Names this water

  • Slipknot Charters

    Manistee, MI · 79 mi

    Jet boat · Manistee River

    • Unclaimed

    Names this water

  • Dominator Sport Fishing Charters

    Grant, MI · 111 mi

    Lake & stillwater · Saltwater & ocean charters · Manistee & Muskegon

    • Unclaimed

    Names this water

All Michigan guides

1 shop nearby

All Michigan shops

How these are chosen

Guides whose own website names this water come first, nearest first. Distances are straight-line.

Shops: fly shops first. A distance is shown when the shop’s website gives its location (within 60 miles); otherwise the shop is in one of the towns within 25 miles of the water.

Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories.

Species and hatches

About this

The species the agency lists here; presence varies by reach and season.

Listed by the state agency

  • Illustration of a brown trout in side view: golden-brown body with dark spots and red spots ringed in pale halos

    Brown trout

    Species guide

    Photo credit

    Brown trout (Salmo trutta), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service illustration. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

  • Two anglers in rain gear standing in a boat on a grey river, one holding a long rod

    Steelhead

    Species guide

    Photo credit

    Winter steelhead fishing on the Skagit River, Washington (Doug Wilson, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). Photo: Doug Wilson, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

  • Illustration of a smallmouth bass: bronze-brown body with faint vertical bars and a red eye

    Smallmouth bass

    Species guide

    Photo credit

    Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

  • salmon
  • walleye

When the bugs come off

Regional hatch months: Great Lakes
About this chart

2 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Michigan DNR.

  1. January: no charted hatch
  2. February: no charted hatch
  3. March: no charted hatch
  4. April: no charted hatch
  5. May: no charted hatch
  6. June: 2 charted hatches
  7. July: 1 charted hatch
  8. August: no charted hatch
  9. September: no charted hatch
  10. October: no charted hatch
  11. November: no charted hatch
  12. December: no charted hatch

Hex (Hexagenia) (June to July) · Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (June)

Grayling & the Au Sable

About this

Grayling sits at the head of the Au Sable River in northern Lower Michigan, with the upper Manistee River a few miles west and the Boardman River toward Traverse City.

Destination hub · 7 mi away in a straight line

Open the hubPlan a trip here

Fish these abroad

About this

Matched on the fish the agencies list for both waters first, then the same water type, an official designation or flagship listing on both, and a similar mapped size where USGS hydrography covers both.

At most two waters per country. A shared fish is a listing, not a promise: presence varies by reach and season.

Like the Manistee River? Same fish, overseas.

  • Evening sun on the green banks of the River Moy at BanadaFlagship water
    Photo credit

    The River Moy at Banada Priory. Photo: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    River Moy

    Mayo, Ireland

    Same fish: brown trout · also a freestone river

  • The wide milky-turquoise Santa Cruz River between low, dry Patagonian banksFreestone river
    Photo credit

    The Santa Cruz River from National Route 40, downstream of Lago Argentino. Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons

    Río Santa Cruz

    Santa Cruz, Argentina

    Same fish: brown trout & steelhead · also a freestone river

  • The Munster Blackwater running wide and calm between wooded banks below LismoreFlagship water
    Photo credit

    The Blackwater below Lismore. Photo: Gordon Hatton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Munster Blackwater

    Cork, Ireland

    Same fish: brown trout · also a freestone river

  • The Tongariro River running clear over boulders between steep native bushFlagship water
    Photo credit

    The Tongariro River from the Tree Trunk Gorge track. Photo: Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Tongariro River

    Waikato, New Zealand

    Same fish: brown trout · also a freestone river

  • The clear Radovna pooling below a spruce on a small island, beech forest aroundFreestone river
    Photo credit

    The Radovna. Photo: Mihael Simonič, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Radovna

    Gorenjska, Slovenia

    Same fish: brown trout · also a freestone river

  • The braided Oreti River across green farmland, mountains on the horizonFlagship waterRepresentative photo · not Mataura River
    Photo credit

    The Oreti River near Lumsden, Southland. Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons Not Mataura River.

    Mataura River

    Southland, New Zealand

    Same fish: brown trout · also a freestone river

Fish it when it's winter here

Southern seasons open while ours close.

  • Lake Taupō's blue water framed by yellow kōwhai and bush, hills across the lakeFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Lake Taupō. Photo: Ériugena, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Lake Taupō

    Waikato, New Zealand

    Season open all year · DOC

  • Penstock Lagoon's open water below a shoreline of tall eucalyptsFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Penstock Lagoon, Central Highlands, Tasmania. Photo: Mike Cline, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Penstock Lagoon

    Tasmania, Australia

    Season open Aug–May · Inland Fisheries Service

  • The clear turquoise Río Limay flowing past green willows and rock outcropsTailwater
    Photo credit

    The Río Limay, Argentina. Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Río Limay

    Río Negro, Argentina

    Season open Nov–May · Patagonian fishing regulation

  • The broad blue-green Río Puelo between forested banks, mountains beyondFreestone riverRepresentative photo · not Río Petrohué
    Photo credit

    The Río Puelo at Las Gualas, Cochamó. Photo: Nicolás from seno de reloncaví, Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Río Petrohué.

    Río Petrohué

    Los Lagos, Chile

    Season open Nov–May · SERNAPESCA

  • The Río Simpson running past the edge of Coyhaique under cliffs and hills in AysénLake or reservoirRepresentative photo · not Lago Llanquihue
    Photo credit

    The Río Simpson passing Coyhaique, Aysén. Photo: Manxuc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lago Llanquihue.

    Lago Llanquihue

    Los Lagos, Chile

    Season open Nov–May · SERNAPESCA

  • Lago Nahuel Huapi's blue water and wooded islands below snow-capped Andes, framed by conifersLake or reservoir
    Photo credit

    Lago Nahuel Huapi from Llao Llao. Photo: David, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Lago Nahuel Huapi

    Río Negro, Argentina

    Season open Oct–May · Patagonian fishing regulation

  • The Waiau River flowing out of Lake Manapouri between bush-covered banks, mountains beyondFlagship waterRepresentative photo · not Mataura River
    Photo credit

    Lake Manapouri's outlet into the Waiau River. Photo: Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Mataura River.

    Mataura River

    Southland, New Zealand

    Season open Oct–Apr · Fish & Game NZ

  • Old timber pilings reflected in the still water of Great Lake, a low wooded shore beyondFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Great Lake, Tasmania. Photo: Peripitus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Yingina / Great Lake

    Tasmania, Australia

    Season open all year · Inland Fisheries Service

Gear checklist

About this

What to bring on a guided float fishing trip: rain gear, polarized sunglasses, sun protection, a dry bag and your license. Most guides supply rods and flies. Estimated prices and where to buy.

A woman rows a drift boat while a man stands in the bow and casts

Guided float trip

Usually supplied by the guide; a 9′ 5–6 weight if you bring your own · Trout on most western float rivers

Open the checklist
Videos for this water (5)

Watch: reading a trout stream

About this

Seams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.

Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.

  • How I Learned to Read Water (Fly Fishing)Embedded from YouTube · Mad River Outfitters · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
  • How To Read The Water with Tom RosenbauerEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
  • Reading the Water to Successfully Locate TroutEmbedded from YouTube · Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on reading water

Watch: nymphing basics

About this

Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.

Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.

  • 90° Nymph RigEmbedded from YouTube · Huge Fly Fisherman · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
  • Casting with an Indicator & Better Nymphing TechniquesEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on nymphing

Fish Tales

About this

Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Manistee River.

No stories from here yet.

Write the first story Share your day

Sources for this page

Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.

Something wrong?

All 18 sources and dates

A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.

Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge MANISTEE RIVER NEAR GRAYLING, MI. Water type is our own classification.