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Port of Manistee MI - Dock Report

Useful Information: WUG-Marine Forecast, Lake Michigan Open Water Forecast, Manistee Marine Forecast, Surface Temp Map DNR Harbor Information
Manistee Dock Reporters: Captain Tom & Mary Rasmussen
Report
Pictures
July -22 -2010 - Boats are catching salmon 60 to 100 feet down in 120 to 180 feet of water. Try meat rigs with green spinnies and flies.
 
July -15 -2010 - Salmon fishing has been good 70 to 120 feet down in 130 to 260 feet of water. Thermoclines were fairly deep so downriggers and divers are a must. The best baits were meat rigs or green spoons and flies.
 
July - 07 - 10 - Salmon and trout have been caught in 120 to 220 feet of water. Fish are being caught deeper in the water column on green or blue flies.
 
July - 01 - 10 - Trolling along the "Shelf" has taken salmon and trout 80 to 160 feet down. Green or blue spinnies and flies worked well.
 
June -24 -2010 - Salmon and trout have been caught in 80 to 160 feet of water. Try glow spoons in the early morning then switch to green or blue spoons. Pier fishing is slow.  
June -17 -2010 - Boaters are catching salmon in and around the harbor in the early morning when using glow spoons. Once the sun comes up, boats are heading out to waters 100 to 200 feet deep. Pier anglers have caught trout and salmon when casting spoons or using live bait.
 
June -10 -2010 - Salmon and trout were caught in the top 60 feet of waters 100 to 200 feet deep. Pier anglers caught brown trout and freshwater drum when using alewife.
 
June -3 -2010 - Catch rates were hit-or-miss. Small trout and salmon were caught 50 to 100 feet down in 100 to 200 feet of water on green or blue spoons.
 
May- 28 - 10 - Boats are catching salmon 40 to 80 feet down in 150 to 200 feet of water. Try using green flies or spoons. A few brown trout were caught in the harbor.
 
May- 20 - 10 - Trout and salmon have been caught by those trolling blue or green spoons in 100 to 200 feet of water. Pier fishing was slow.
 
May- 13- 10 - Boat and pier fishing has been slow. A few chinook and lake trout were caught in the top 50 feet of waters 100 to 200 feet deep. Orange spoons worked best. Brown trout action has slowed for those trolling the shoreline.
 
May- 4- 10 - Brown trout along with a few salmon have been caught when trolling the shoreline with small spoons or body baits. Pier anglers reported slow catch rates for perch and brown trout.
 
Apr- 29- 10 - Steelhead fishing is basically done. Brown trout and a few chinook salmon were caught by those trolling or fishing off the piers. Perch fishing was slow.
 
Apr- 23- 10 - Brown trout fishing was good for those trolling. Most are long-lining in the shallows with body baits. Chinook salmon have also been caught. Pier fishing was slow for perch and brown trout.

Manistee River - Steelhead fishing is winding down, although there are still some fish up at Tippy Dam.

 
Apr- 15- 10 - Boaters are catching brown trout and the occasional salmon when trolling along the shoreline. Try body baits in natural colors or small spoons. Pier fishing was slow for perch and brown trout  
Apr- 08- 10 - Boaters are taking brown trout when trolling near the piers and along the shoreline. Pier A few perch and brown trout have been caught off the pier.

Manistee River - Good numbers of steelhead have been caught up at Tippy Dam. Some are floating spawn, flies or wax worms while others are casting spinners. Fair to good sucker fishing.

 
Apr- 01- 10 - Pier and boat anglers trolling along the shoreline have caught steelhead. Most are fishing shallow waters north of the port. A few perch were also caught.

Manistee River - Fresh steelhead are moving into the river. Catch rates were good in the early morning or evening when floating spawn bags or flies. A few brown trout have also been caught.

 
Mar 25- 10 - Pier and boat anglers trolling along the shoreline have caught steelhead.

Manistee River - Fresh steelhead are moving into the river. Catch rates were good in the early morning or evening when floating spawn bags or flies. A few brown trout have also been caught.

 
12- 03 -09 - Pier anglers are still heading out for steelhead.

Manistee River - Steelhead fishing continues to be the only fishing activity on the river right now.

 
11- 26 -09 - Pier fishing and surfcasting for steelhead and menominee has been good at times, depending on wind and wave action.

Manistee River - Steelhead fishing remains good with plenty of fish in the river. Water levels are down and clear which can make the fish spook easily. Try using light line with smaller baits.

 
11- 19 -09 - Good steelhead fishing off the piers and in the surf had been reported.

Manistee River - Steelhead fishing remains good however the water levels are low and clear. The fish are easily spooked during low water levels and that makes them harder to catch. Anglers will want to target the deeper holes and runs which support plenty of wood cover.

 
11- 12 -09 - A few boats are still going out and catching salmon along with some steelhead in waters 50 to 200 feet deep. Pier and surfcasting have caught fish. Whitefish were taken off the pier when using a single egg.

Manistee River - The fall steelhead run is in full swing with anglers fishing all the way up to Tippy Dam. The fish should be active and ready to put up a good fight.

 
11- 5 -09 - When the lake conditions allow, boaters are catching salmon and steelhead in 50 to 150 feet of water. Pier and shore anglers are catching steelhead on spawn.

Manistee River - Salmon are basically done and steelhead fishing has been hampered by high water levels. When the waters come down, fishing should be very good.

 
Oct 29 09 - Steelhead and salmon have been caught in 100 to 200 feet of water. Try fishing the top 30 feet with orange and red spoons. Pier and surf anglers are catching steelhead on spawn.

Manistee River - Salmon are fewer but steelhead numbers are improving, especially in the lower stretches.

 
Oct 22 09 - Steelhead along with a few leftover salmon are being caught in 150 to 300 feet of water. Red and orange were still good colors. Pier and shore anglers are catching steelhead on fresh salmon spawn.

Manistee River - There are still a few salmon on the gravel, although the run has begun to wind down. Steelhead were caught in the lower river.

 
Oct 8 09 - Light numbers of salmon and steelhead have been caught in waters 50 to 150 feet deep however the better steelhead action was out in waters 300 to 400 feet deep. Try the top 40 feet with orange or red spoons. Pier fishing was slow with only an occasional steelhead taken.

Manistee River - Salmon fishing is in full swing with fish actively spawning on the gravel. Light numbers of steelhead have been caught in the lower stretches. No word on pier fishing or surfcasting although that action should begin soon.

 
Oct 1 09 - Before the strong winds, boats were heading out to waters as deep as 400 feet as the fish were scattered. Some steelhead and salmon were caught in 50 to 150 feet of water. Orange and green spoons did the trick. Pier anglers were taking a few fish when casting glow spoons. Green and blue were good colors.

Manistee River - The rain and cooler weather has once again sparked the salmon runs as they move upstream to the gravel beds. Good chinook action at Tippy Dam.

 
Sept 24 09 - Boaters are still heading out and catching salmon and steelhead in 150 to 300 feet of water. Most fish were caught on orange spoons in the top 60 feet. Pier anglers caught a few fish on glow spoons.

Manistee River - Salmon fishing was a bit slow. There are some fish in the river however warm temperatures and low clear waters are keeping them off the gravel. Rain by the weekend should help but until then, concentrate on the deeper holes in the lower stretches.

 

Sept 17 09 - Boaters are still heading out deep and catching salmon and trout in 300 to 400 feet of water. Try the top 45 feet of water with orange spoons. A few boats fishing in front of the piers had limited success. Pier fishing was slow.

Manistee River - Salmon fishing has been slow especially at Tippy Dam. Good numbers of fish came in Labor Day Weekend, but the dry warm weather has the run at a stand still. Salmon remain concentrated in the lower stretches of the river.


 
Sept 10 09 - Boaters have found the salmon and trout to be scattered anywhere from the front of the piers to 400 feet of water. Early in the morning, salmon can be caught using glow plugs in front of the piers. Those fishing the Shelf found fish in the top 60 feet of water. Best colors continue to be green or blue.

Manistee River - Salmon are in the river however cooler weather will bring more fish in. The better fishing has been in the early morning or at night with spoons, crank baits, body baits, yarn or spawn. Fish the deeper holes or up near Tippy Dam

 
Sept 3 09 - Boaters are catching salmon in the harbor and around the piers. Try using glow plugs in low light conditions and chrome plugs once the sun comes up. Pier anglers are catching salmon on glow spoons.

Manistee River - Fish are stating to be taken in earnest, especially in the lower river. Try casting body baits or floating skein under a bobber
 
Aug 29 09 - Captain Tom & Mary's Report - Thursday Aug 27th. - Was great due to the big king staging on the bank or shelf. Most of the big catches came on glow spoons or plugs and flashers with flies or meat, 70 ft to 140 f t - fishing over 140 ft to 350 ft of water. The general consensus of the pros is good fishing to late Sept.

These pros have a few days open for your fishing needs. Tight lines and good luck.

The Capt.

 
Aug 27 09 - Boaters are taking salmon 70 to 120 feet down in waters 125 to 200 feet deep when running glow plugs or green and white spinnies with green flies.

Manistee River - Fish are trickling in however the main run has not started yet. The better fishing so far has been below the dams.

 
Aug 19 09 - Salmon fishing has been good, when anglers can get out. Both the fish and the thermocline are more than 100 feet down. J-Plugs and meat rigs were good in the early morning and late evening. Pier fishing was poor due to warm water however night casting with glow spoons did mange to catch a few chinook.
 
Aug 13 09 - Trollers are catching salmon in 80 to150 feet of water early in the morning on glow plugs or spinnies and flies in either green or white.
 
Aug 6 09 - Salmon are being caught in waters 120 to 180 feet deep. Try 80 to 120 feet down with spinnies and flies. Best colors continue to be green or blue.

Manistee River - Has good steelhead and brown trout fishing with the low water.

 
Jul 30 09 - Catch rates were spotty however fish were caught off the Shelf when trolling spin/fly combinations. Hot colors were blue on blue or white on green.
 
Jul 23 09 -Fishing has been a challenge as the fish are scattered. Most are trolling deeper in the water column along the Shelf. Try the spin/fly combinations or green and blue spoons. A few lake trout were also caught on orange or red spoons trolled in the top 40 feet of water.
 
Jul 20 09 - Captain Tom & Mary's Report - The fishing is a little slow the last couple of days due to the north blow. Kings, a few steelhead and a laker or two was the general consensus of the pro’s on the big lake. Try fishing in 60-175 ft feet of water 23-90 feet down with rotators and spoons on downrigger and 10 color lead. The bite is short lived after the sun comes up. Offshore report was coho and steelhead 38-41 west line. Few fishing the offshore due to distance and fuel cost.  
Jul 16 09 - Boaters are catching a couple salmon in the early morning when fishing in front of the piers and off the Shelf. Those venturing out further have caught steelhead and lake trout when targeting the top 30 feet of water with orange spoons.
 
Jul 9 09 - Boaters are catching trout and salmon off the Shelf fishing 60 to 80 feet down. Try blue dolphins and blue whales. Steelhead were caught on orange spoons near the surface.
 
Jul 2 09 -Salmon fishing is slow and those that were caught where along the Shelf. Steelhead were caught on orange spoons near the surface.
 
Jun 25 09 - Salmon and trout are being caught along the Shelf in the early morning. Try 40 to 80 feet down with green or blue spoons. Those venturing out to deeper waters have caught smaller chinook and some steelhead on the temperature breaks.
 
Jun 23 09 - Captain Tom & Mary's Report - Fishing for Saturday June 20th in Manistee was a little slower due to the big storm that rolled thru the Friday night. This was the general consensus of the pros on the lake. This change in the bite found active fish 35 to 70 feet down over a total depth of 80 to 210 feet. These active fish were hitting spoons and flashers. The offshore fishing was steady with spoons, one pro said it was a steady peck of a mixed bag catch. These offshore fish were on the 30 to 32 west line and were active in the top 70 feet of water over 450 to 600 feet total depth. Tight lines and Good Luck The Capt.

 
Jun 18 09 - Boaters fishing off the Shelf are still taking trout and salmon, fishing the top 60 feet at various depths. A few scum lines were found by those venturing out towards deeper waters. Green and orange spoons were still the top producers. Pier anglers were still picking up the occasional king or brown trout when casting spoons.
 
Jun 11 09 - Boaters fishing along the Shelf have caught trout and salmon in the top 60 feet of water. Most were still using green or blue spoons.
 
Jun 4 09 - Boaters have caught trout and salmon on green or blue spoons 30 to 80 feet down. Pier anglers caught a few browns when casting in the harbor, using green or blue Cleo's.
 
May 28 09 -The best fishing continues to be near the Ledge when using blue or green spoons 50 to 100 feet down.  
May 14 09 - Browns can be taken trolling along the shoreline with body baits in fire-tiger and clown patterns.
 
May 5 09 - Boaters are catching browns with anoccasional steelhead on body baits. Green and orange were good colors. Perch were caught off the pier but a lot of small ones have to put back.
 
Apr 30 09 - A few browns are being taken when there is a nice chop on the water. Boats trolling in the harbor and along the shoreline have caught browns on body baits.

Manistee River - Steelhead and suckers can still be found however the river is high.

 
Apr 23 09 - Perch fishing has been good off the piers on the right day. Wigglers have produced the best. Brown trout and steelhead action has been hit-or-miss.

Manistee River - Steelhead fishing is still going strong with lots of fish on the gravel.

 
Apr 9 09 - Pier fishing has been slow. Boat anglers and those surfcasting will want to look for brown trout in the shallows.

Manistee River - Steelhead fishing is going full bore right now.

 
Apr 2 09 - Steelhead and a few Browns are being taken from the pier. A few boats are trolling in the shallows for browns.

Manistee River - The steelhead run is in full swing. Look for some of the best fishing this season over the next two weeks.

 
Oct 23 08 - Boaters continue to catch fish when trolling orange spoons over the Shelf. Pier and shore anglers have started to catch more steelhead on fresh spawn.

Manistee River - Salmon are still in the river however the run is over. Some leftover fish can be found on the gravel but they are dark. Cooler weather pushed more steelhead into the river and there were reports of brown trout below Tippy Dam.

 
Oct 23 08 - Steelhead and salmon are being taken while fishing the Shelf in the top 40 feet of water. Orange spoons are working best. Pier and shore anglers caught steelhead on spawn.

Manistee River - Salmon fishing has ended but anglers have started to catch steelhead. We need rain to get the fish moving.

 
Oct 19 08 - Steelhead and salmon are being caught in the top 40 feet of water while fishing the Shelf. Try anything orange. Steelhead are starting to show up in the surf and off the piers.

Manistee River - Salmon action is going strong, but should be winding down this week. There are still good numbers of spawning chinook in the river. Steelhead numbers should improve if we get rain.

 
Oct 9 08 - Boaters are reporting limit catches of salmon 80 to 120 feet down over waters 80 to 160 feet deep. There have been a few steelhead caught in the top 50 feet on orange spoons.

Manistee River - Water levels are low and clear but cooler temperatures along with rain this week should push more fish into the river and on the gravel as they prepare to spawn.

 
Oct 2 08 - Tippy Dam, Big Manistee Lake and Big Manistee River are all producing very nice catches of Kings. Good results can be had while jigging or casting with Deep Jr. Thunder Sticks. Out on the big lake the fishing is sluggish due to warm water temperatures hovering at 66.  
Sept 25 08 - Salmon and trout action has been fair off the Shelf but has slowed around the pierheads with only a few fish taken on glow spoons in the early morning
 
Sept 18 08 -Kings are being taken in front of the piers and in the harbor. The best baits are glow and pearl J-plugs. Pier anglers are casting glow spoons and taking kings..
 
Sept 11 08 - Some limit catches of salmon are being taken. Fishing in the harbor and around the piers with chrome or glow J-plugs. Pier anglers are using glow spoons.
 
Sept 4 08 - Trout and salmon are being taken 60 to 120 feet down in waters 120 to 240 feet deep. Those fishing in front of the piers in the early morning have only managed to catch a few fish. Pier fishing has been slow due to warm water.  
Aug 28 08 - Some are reporting limit catches of salmon in the harbor and around the piers when using glow or chrome J-plugs. Those fishing in 80 to 120 feet of water are catching both young and adult salmon. Pier anglers are using small glow spoons. Wigglers are working well on perch off the pier as well. On the Big Manistee River anglers are doing well using junior husky jerks on salmon.

 
Aug 24 08 - Captain Tom & Mary's Report - Captain Tom went 5 for 8 today and they were all adult kings. Fished north in 100'-140' of water. Got 2 hits on downriggers 80' down with a white hoochy. They got off. Also 140' slide diver with a little green glow J-plug. A mag diver 200' with a blue Spin Doctor / blue sparkle fly.  
Aug 21 08 - Captain Tom & Mary's Report - Fished the beach about 30' around pierheads and south. Got 4 salmon, on 5 colors of lead and riggers 20-25' on Glow J-plugs; glow silverhords and glow spoons.  
Aug 21 08 - Cold water pushed the salmon in close to shore. Limit catches were reported in the harbor and around the piers when using chrome colored plugs. Pier anglers caught fish on alewife or glow spoons in the early morning.
 
Aug 14 08 - Salmon fever is in full swing. Recent north winds pushed a lot of chinook into the harbor. Limit catches were taken in 100 feet of water in front of the piers when using pearl or glow plugs. Pier anglers have caught chinook salmon when casting glow spoons. Manistee Harbor is providing very good fishing for a variety of salmon. The best location is between the pier heads and good results are found using Castmasters, cleos, J-plugs and spoons.
 
Aug-11-08 - Captain Tom & Mary's Report Captain Tom fished the beach in 20-30 feet of water, straight out from Harbor then south. Had 14 hits; caught 8. Seven salmon and 1 brown trout. Used J-Plugs 15-20 ft down.
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Jul 31 2008 - Kings and lake trout are hitting 40 to 80 feet down in waters 100 to 200 feet deep. Try spinning flashers and green flies.
 
Jul-28-08 - Captain Tom & Mary's Report Captain Tom fished straight out of Manistee in 70'-220' of water. Had a couple hits on lead line 10 colors and downriggers at 55'. Spoons/blue dolphin was best. Taking 2 kings and 1 steelhead.  
Jul-27-08 - Captain Tom & Mary's Report Captain Tom fished yesterday an the water got a little ruff and a couple of the guys got sick so they only fished until around 10 am. He fished in 150'-260' water 40'-70' down, using Mags. They ended up with 2 salmon around 13# & 16#, 1 steelhead and 1 lake trout.    
Jul 10 2008 - Boaters are catching kings and lake trout off the Shelf in 100 to 175 feet of water. Good colors are green and blue.
 
Jul 3 2008 -   Boaters have tahen kings and lake trout on spoons in 150 to 250 feet of water. Good colors are orange, green, and blue.
 
Jun-26-08 - Trout and Salmon are being found in fair numbers in waters 150 to 250 feet deep. Good colors are still green and blue.
 
Jun 19 2008 -  Boaters should beware of floating logs and debris out in the big lake due to the number of trees and other debris that were carried away in the floods last week. Kings and lake trout are still being caught in 150 to 250 feet of water with the blue or green Dolphin working best, it appears the fish are scattered in the water column.  
Jun 12 2008 -  Fishing is picking up with kings being taken in waters 100 to 150 feet deep when using blue or green Dolphins.  
May-29-08 - Captain Tom & Mary's Report Fished the Onekama Ladies Tournament last Friday. We took 8 fish and won 5th place also biggest Salmon 16 pounds..We fished mostly straight out of Manistee in 100-140ft. Caught some on lead line 5 & 8 colors; Downriggers 20'-40' Spoons that were the best - Stinger Natural Born Killer, Moonshine Lures Happee Meal.

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May-22-08 - Here are 60,000 reasons why to fish Manistee. The state of Michigan plants salmon all around the state. However our Manistee Sportfishing Association has planted our very own salmon for many years. This is a picture of our little salmon smolts going into our holding pens on April 29, 2008. We care for these fish until they have acclimated with our Manistee River water. These pens with automatic feeders are our (Manistee Sportfishing Association) investment for the future. These little salmon will spawn and die in our Manistee River 4 years from now.

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