Northern Michigan Fishing Report – Steelhead & Trout Conditions | March 20, 2026

FEBRUARY 26, 2026 Northern Michigan Fishing Report

Steelhead, Trout & Seasonal Conditions Update

Just when we thought winter was behind us—WHAM! Mother Nature delivered a late-season sucker punch across Northern Michigan. We’ve been busy shoveling and moving snow, but the upside is that this fresh snowpack will help recharge the aquifers and keep river levels healthy as we move deeper into spring.

Despite the storm earlier this week, spring fishing season is underway and we’re settling back into a daily routine on the rivers. Steelhead fishing has been productive, and with the coming warm-up we should see even more fish pushing into the systems.

Book Your 2026 Spring & Summer Trips

Our spring calendar is already starting to fill up for 2026. Now is a great time to secure dates for both spring steelhead and upcoming trout trips.

  • March–April: Prime spring steelhead opportunities

  • May–June: Early season trout fishing

Give the shop a call at 231-933-4730 to get your trip on the calendar.

Manistee River

The Manistee River below Tippy Dam has been fishing well, with a good mix of winter fish and dime-bright spring run steelhead showing up in the system.

Water color is currently excellent, though conditions could change once the snowpack begins to melt. Ideally we’ll see a slow, steady melt so flows stay fishable instead of blowing out.

  • Flows: Holding below ~2900 cfs

  • Water temps: 35-39° Favorable and keeping fish active

  • Productive patterns:

    • Bright egg patterns (clown eggs, hot orange)

    • Chartreuse and steelhead orange combinations

    • Stonefly nymphs

    • Fry patterns

    • Steelhead buggers

    • Green caddis patterns

Fishing should remain strong over the next week. After that, conditions will largely depend on how quickly the snowmelt affects water levels and visibility.

Betsie River

The Betsie River is a fantastic spring steelhead river, offering great access for anglers willing to do a bit of hiking. Fish are currently spread throughout the system, and this upcoming warm-up should really get things going.

Anglers have success here with a variety of presentations, but a few approaches stand out:

  • Natural-toned flies often produce well

  • Swinging flies through classic runs can be very effective

  • Indicator fishing with a floating line is also a great way to cover water and present eggs or nymphs

With warming temperatures, expect more fish to move through the river in the coming weeks.

Boardman River

The Boardman River continues to surprise anglers with solid steelhead opportunities right in the heart of Traverse City.

A great story from the shop this week: a visiting angler stopped in for a few flies and some pointers from Ben before heading downtown to fish. Armed with nothing more than his 5-weight rod, he returned a few hours later grinning ear-to-ear, excited to show us a photo of the steelhead he landed.

Moments like that remind us how special this fishery can be. The number of fish in the system fluctuates, but recent reports have been positive following the storm, and anglers continue to find success throughout the downtown stretches.

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