NORTHERN MICHIGAN FISHING REPORT - TROUT & SALMON CONDITIONS | SEPTEMBER 5, 2026
September is one of our favorite times to be on the water in Northern Michigan. The days are warm, nights are cool, and salmon have started to enter our rivers.
Need help planning your trip? Stop by the shop, give us a call, or book a guide trip. Our staff and guides are on the water daily and can help point you in the right direction.
Traverse City Weather Conditions
Lower Manistee
Salmon are in the lower river, and every rain will push in new fish. This is the time to throw streamers if you want to target them on a sinking line. The fish are fresh and hot to trot!
Deceivers, Glow-in-the-Dark flies, and other larger streamer patterns are all on the menu right now. Start early and fish until the sun hits the water, or head out in the evening as the sun starts to set. Low-light conditions are your friend.
Upper Manistee River
The longer, cooler nights have definitely improved the fishing. We are still playing the terrestrial game, but now ants are on the menu.
I've heard some old-timers say that ants are acidic tasting and that trout love that flavor. I can attest to that from seeing it both out West in Montana and here in the Midwest. When trout are keyed in on ants, they will literally sort through other bugs to find them.
Start early on warm nights and later on colder ones. Water temperatures are still good for fishing into the afternoon as long as daytime temperatures don't climb into the 80s.
It's still a great time to trail a small nymph or other attractor behind your terrestrial, especially when fishing the wide flats and inside bends where the rookies like to hang out.
What's Working
- Hippy Stomper 18,16
- Ants
- Chubbies size 16,18
- Tricos
Best Tactics
Boardman Ottaway River
- Wet Skunk
- Ants
- Hoppers