Fishing Report 10/17/25

Boardman River
The Boardman River continues to fish well for salmon, and there have been scattered reports of a few steelhead showing up. Bright orange and pink egg patterns have been most effective during the early morning hours, while more subtle “dead egg” colors are producing better results later in the day when the sun is high. With low and clear water conditions, smaller patterns are outperforming larger ones, so downsizing your presentation is key to success right now.

Manistee River
The Manistee has been fishing solidly over the past couple of weeks. Salmon are holding on just about any gravelly stretch, and active spawning is underway. Steelhead numbers are improving day by day, though they’re still not quite where we’d like to see them for mid-October. Upcoming rain this weekend and into next week should help push fresh fish into the river and stir up those already in the system. Beads and egg patterns that closely match natural salmon eggs are working best, with 8mm beads outperforming larger sizes. Water temperatures are holding around 57°F and are expected to gradually drop, which should continue to improve steelhead activity.

Note: When targeting steelhead in warmer water temps, please take extra care when handling fish. Warmer water slows recovery, so be sure to properly revive fish before release. Give them time to regain strength—this small effort goes a long way in ensuring their survival.

Upper Manistee River
Fall has officially set in on the Upper Manistee, bringing a sharp drop in water temperatures over the past week. Streamer fishing has been productive, with patterns in the 2–5 inch range doing well. Smaller flies will generally move more fish, but don’t hesitate to throw bigger streamers if you’re hunting “The One”. Overcast days with light wind tend to produce the best results—too much wind can load the river with leaves, which noticeably slows the bite. This is a fantastic time to be out chasing trout on the upper river, and with minimal angling pressure, you might just have it all to yourself.