Fall Fishing On The Manistique River

I got the bug for fall steelheading and took off to the UP ( Upper Pennisula of Michigan) to fish the Manistique River. Its been at least 5 years since I've fished the river and wasn't suprised by the changes. First I knew that they were going to cut the dam wall in half and the project was complete. Wow did it change the river! The first day I wandered around not really having a clue where to find fish, my 2 best fishing places from the past were just trickles of water. Not to say you couldn't catch a fish there but not with the water I was looking at.

Some of the upper wall holes are still there but shallower than they were but I did catch fish there when I was able to fish them by myself, you had to stand away from the drift or you would spook the fish with your shadow. I was hoping to catch a few steelies but only hooked 3 or 4 in 3 days of fishing. I did land a 15" brown I should have kept but released it. On Friday and Saturday there were a good number of kings in the river and I did hook into about a dozen each day so that was enough to get my arm and shoulder sore. Out of shape for this type of fishing, but also looking forward to a trip next spring and fall.

I took a few pictures but didn't take my camera alot because I was afraid of falling and getting it wet. I wasn't sure of the crossing places anymore since the changes that have taken place in the river. I just knew if I fell my only concern was not to float out to the BIG LAKE! I hope you enjoy the few pictures of the river I took, and the fish I kept.

Hopefully the posts will come more often as the hard water season takes off,

Steelheader

Its hard to tell but the enpoundment walls were cut in half and now alot of water is cascading over the area that flows into the middle channel. In the next picture you can see what this has done to the river, I think has changed the way the fish enter and move up the river. Next year when I fish the Manistique I will have more time and a heads up on where to concentrate my fishing time.

This is the middle chute of the river and alot more treacherous to cross than it was 5 or so years ago when I was here last. More fish are using this channel making for fewer fishable areas and thus tougher fishing.

This is fishable water in the Canadian hole, years past you could almost walk accross this hole but the water has changed alot!! I fished a couple of hours here and watched others and saw no fish hooked here. Also note there weren't alot of fish in the river on this trip.

This is the freshest King salmon I've caught in a Michigan river. It's almost silver and still firm and had some pink color in its flesh when I cleaned it. Also notice that in its lifetime it had a lamprey attached to its side. The discoloration just behind its front fin( caudal fin I think) my biology escapes me this morning. The scar shows up better in the next picture.

This is the fish I caught on my last day of fishing on the Manistique River, it weighed just under 14 pounds.

Stoked On A New Fishhouse....We Ride AGAIN!!

For those of you still checking the Fishhouse Chronicles once in awhile the pictures below are real. There will be a new (used) fishhouse ready to provide new adventures this winter. I picked up the house on Wednesday and will have it ready to go in a week or two, now all we need is good ice and a little time to fish...HEHE! Ouch I guess that is not a problem anymore( I'm retired now!). I guess all I need is enough money to fish this winter. I'll need about 4 subbing days a month.

Check-in for a wild ride this winter and fishing for all.

Steelheader