Fishing Report 6/12/25

June 12, 2025 – Northern Angler Fishing Report

Dry fly fishing remains top of mind, with each evening bringing something a little different. Colder temperatures have been dropping right as the "magic hour" begins, keeping things interesting. We’ve seen some Isonychia activity and are hopeful that the Brown Drakes will start going soon, bringing more consistency to our evening hatches and spinner falls. The recent weather patterns seem to be setting us up nicely for those much-anticipated late June to early July Hexagenia (Hex) hatches!

Local Lakes

Local lakes have been productive for bass and bluegill on the fly—some of our favorite fishing of the year. There’s just something about watching a fish explode on a popper that never gets old!

Cheese Cup – This Saturday!

Speaking of warmwater, we’re looking forward to our annual Cheese Cup this Saturday! This event honors the memory of our dear friend Alex Hawke, who lost his struggle with depression in 2017. Join us for a day of fishing and fundraising, as we support Child and Family Services’ suicide prevention programs. It’s always a meaningful and fun event—we’d love to see you there.

Learn more about the 2025 Cheese Cup here!

Manistee River Below Tippy Dam

Thanks to cooler evening temps, trout fishing below Tippy Dam has remained solid. Dry flies like the X-Caddis, Body Double, and Missing Link have been productive. Smaller streamers in white and chartreuse have also moved some bigger browns and even some bass all the way down to Pasture Creek.

Further downstream, smallmouth bass are becoming more active. Streamer fishing has been productive, and it should only improve as water temps rise.

Upper Manistee River

The main focus continues to be dry fly fishing in the evenings, targeting Isonychia and Brown Drake hatches. We’re still seeing a mix of leftover Mahoganies, Light Cahills, and Caddis, with more stable temps expected next week. That should really kick off the bulk of our June mayfly action, which typically carries through into early July.

If bugs aren’t showing up, streamer fishing has still been effective. Bring a variety—think conehead patterns, chestnut lamprey-style flies, and naturally colored baitfish imitations.

Boardman River

The Boardman is in great shape and perfect for wading virtually any time of day. Small streamers and nymphs are the go-to. This underrated local fishery is right in our backyard—don’t sleep on it. Get out and fish!