Fishing Report 9/19/25
Northern Angler Fly Shop Fishing Report September 19, 2025
This week has been incredibly beautiful. Summer-like temperatures have been enjoyed by everyone in the area. Final week of shorts and sandals for the year most likely. We have been trout fishing with dry flies on the local rivers. Nick went out on the Platte and found some eager trout to rise to terrestrials. My daughter, Lili, Matt, Storm and I loaded up the skiff and floated the Upper Manistee with small terrestrials. It was a blast catching trout on dries all day long. It felt good to get out and fish for fun and to have Lili out on the water. Our guides had several trips on the Manistee below Tippy Dam and found some fresh kings willing to play in the nice weather. They are fun and spunky this time of year. Fresh out of the lake and willing to pull hard and fight well. The coming cooler weather and some rain should really get things moving again. There is a trickle of fresh fish hitting the river each day, but a ton more salmon to hit the river.
The weekend looks like a hint of rain and cooler temperatures start to roll in next week. It definitely looks like “goldilocks weather” in the foreseeable future. Not too hot and not too cold…just right. 50’s at night and 70’s during the day. The last part of September looks incredible. Fall colors, apples, and migratory fish! Bird season in swing and deer season just around the corner, Autumn is truly magical.
Boardman River Report
Low and clear is the report on the upper reaches of the Boardman River. Fish have been spooky, so wade with stealth. Foam attractor patterns have been still working, especially with a twitch added. Swinging bead head soft hackles have been good in the riffles and tail-outs.
Salmon are staging in the lower section of water below the weir. The pedestrian bridge is a great place to go see the fish as they stack up below the gates of the weir.
The DNR has installed the weir below front street and soon the raceways will be filled with water and the salmon egg collection will begin.
Upper Manistee River Report
Rain would be really welcome on the Upper Manistee. The trout have been cooperative and we had some fun times chasing trout on the Upper this week. Marco had some clients out trout fishing and were able to fish nothing but dry flies all day. Lili had a grand slam with a brookie, brown and a rainbow when we were out on Monday. Everything on dry flies with the purple hippie stomper being the top producer. Flying ants were happening and trout were happily looking up. There is still plenty of time to get out and chase some trout this fall!
Lower Manistee River Report- Below Tippy Dam
The Big Manistee has been really low and clear this week and we definitely need some serious rain to keep fresh fish pouring in for their fall spawning migration. We have seen a slow trickle of fresh fish and they have made us work for them and the afternoon sun has really made the bite tough. Thundersticks at first light and hunting the fish in pools and runs later in the day. Fish are pretty scattered throughout the system and with the water being low and clear we can see small groups heading over the sand flats in the lower parts of the river.
Betsie River
No big changes on the Betsie Rivre this week. The fish are scattered throughout the system and the fishing has been good, but just like everywhere else, some rain and cooler temps are welcome to keep things rolling right along. Look for the next rain to spark things back up on the Betsie. We had a light rain last night, but could really use an all day or two day soaker.
The Platte River
The Platte River has a good coho run going this fall. As of Sept. 16 they had just passed 2647 adult coho making it a total of 9965 adult and 1361 jacks or juvenile coho passed so far this fall. The Platte is a good river to fly fish on with a floating line and swinging flies in the fall.