Fishing Report 9/5/25
Northern Angler Fly Shop Fishing Report September 5, 2025
The cooler weather this week really makes it feel as though fall is upon us! We have had really favorable weather with winds and rain to get the salmon really moving in the Manistee and Betsie Rivers. This rain will be ideal for some fall streamer action this weekend and coming week. I noticed some of the maple trees starting to really show some fall colors on the way to the shop today and fall is in the air. Suddenly, I have a craving for some apple cider and cinnamon donuts.
Now is the time to get on the fall guide calendar if you have not already done so. This area offers some of the finest fall steelhead fishing outside of the West Coast, Alaska and BC. It is a special time of year and the fall colors are going to be spectacular.
Boardman River Report
The Boardman River is up and a bit off color, but it looks really good for some streamer action! Fishing on both the rising and falling sides of the rain event will be good as the browns and brookies look to get some extra protein and food going before they begin their spawning process later this fall. Fishing a sink tip line and streamers with rubber legs such as the conehead skunk, jj special, bow bugger in darker colors should get the fish going! Enjoy this little gem of a river before it closes to fishing above Beitner Road on September 27.
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
The Upper Manistee fished well this week for trout. Isonychias and bwo’s were hatching all day with the rains and clouds. The fish were looking up for Isos, flying ants, and foam attractor patterns. The water should be coming up with the rains we had yesterday and last night, so streamer fishing should be good this weekend and early next week.
It is so nice to float a section of water and never see another angler. Fall trout fishing is overlooked by so many anglers.
Lower Manistee River Report- Below Tippy Dam
The water on the Big Manistee has been low and clear and the weather this week will over a welcome change for the kings and coho that are really starting to run up the Manistee. Sounds like there are a really good numbers of coho and kings in the Big Lake this year. Speaking with some of the charter captains, it sounds like there are some good size steelhead being caught in