Fishing Report 7/26/25
Northern Angler Fishing Report 7/26/25
This week, we had some tremendous storms roll through the area, and the rivers are up and stained—great news for water levels and fish, especially during a time of year when conditions are typically low and clear. We’re now in the “dog days of summer,” when fishing can be a bit inconsistent. One day the action is great; the next, you’re scratching your head, wondering if you’re even on the same river.
If you're floating, be sure to take a saw with you—there will likely be new trees down across the rivers.
Not much has changed over the last week aside from the rain and storms. This is a great time of year to explore some creeks and do a little blue-lining. Break out the maps and go for a hike!
Boardman River Report
The Boardman remains nice and cold—ideal for this time of year. We saw a quick bump in flows Wednesday night from the rain, but the river has mostly returned to typical summer levels. If you want to explore the Boardman, concentrate your efforts on low-light periods. Fishing has been best from 7 AM to noon and 6 PM to 9 PM. The water is clear, so focus on areas with depth or structure.
This is the time of year to start downsizing your setups—think 3- and 4-weight rods. Fish have been responding well to smaller terrestrials like Hippy Stompers, Chubby Chernobyls, Yeager flies, and flying ants. If you’re confident in your casting, adding a generic dropper can produce results—try pheasant tails, hare’s ears, or Pat’s Rubber Legs. On flat, calm water, use a dead drift; otherwise, work some twitches into your presentation.
Upper Manistee River Report
Cooler evening temperatures and recent storms have given the trout a nice break from the heat of early July. Water temps are looking good, and the recent spike in flow should offer fish some comfortable feeding conditions—this bodes well for the next few weeks.
Look for trout to be feeding mid-river as flows drop and the water clears. Summer streamer fishing should be productive over the next several days. If you're seeking dry fly action, head upstream above M-72 toward CCC Bridge, or even downstream to 3 Mile, as those sections will drop and clear quickly.
Flying ants, beetles, small hoppers, Hippy Stompers, Chubby Chernobyls, and Yeager flies have all been producing, and we’ve been finding some nice trout looking up over the past couple of weeks.