Manistee Fishing Reports

9/18 & 9/19 and year end fishing report.

Wow, you should have been on the lake this week. Calm seas on the weekend and lots of fish from 100-350 feet of water straight out of Manistee. The fish were a mixed bag of 3 year old Kings, adult Coho and high jumping Steelhead. Standard size spoons in a variety of colors worked the best.  The few boats that were out came in with limit catches.

 2011 was mostly up with some incredible Steelhead fishing in June and the first few weeks of July for those lucky enough to have booked full day charters. The end of July and the first week of August were tough  fishing but the rest of the season was good to great with very large fish 15-38 pound Kings being caught during the last 3 weeks of August through the second week of September. There was more bait seen this year and bigger fish then we have seen in years. If you couple this with the amount of young fish we are seeing in October next year has the potential to be an incredible fishing year.  Now is the time to book or rebook for next year. Remember if offshore thermo break scum line fishing for Steelhead, Salmon and Lake trout interest you remember to book an all day charter and let your captain know your interest.

Have a healthy winter and we look forward to fishing with you in 2012.

Last night the wind blew from the south and started to warm up the water some. It was warmer near the pier head and there was an early morning bite until the sun came up. Plugs and small attractors worked in and around harbour. The fish offshore were caught from 200-350 fow with small black Hooch & aqua glow fly, Green & Blue attractor with green & White fly’s, meat and Sister Sledge, and Hay baby medium spoons all working with 10 color leads Dipseys at 125 and down riggers at 85 feet. There is still time to get a charter in this year and if you can’t, call a MAC captain now for a prime date next year.                

                                                Come enjoy the wonderful fishing off Manistee.

Very cold water 46 degrees near shore and very few fish. Good fishing was north from the 15s-18s over 200-320 fow with surface temperatures 56-61 degrees. Fish were coming on Hay babies, mixed vegetables and Wonder bread spoons down 20-75 feet. 5 color leads, Dipseys at 90&125 and downriggers at 75 feet all produced. We are starting to get a variety of fish with Kings, Steelies, Coho and Lake Trout all showing up in the catch.

Fishing remains good

Fishing is better now with the warmer water.  Break is at 35 to 50 feet down in the Manistee waters.  Most of our action was in 212 to 300 feet of water.  Fishing in the top 40 feet.  All our bites were on medium size spoons, mostly blues and a mix of yellow.  Riggers 25 to 45 feet down & 5 colors of lead and 1/2 coppers with a few divers back 100 to 140 and the ring set on 3, did most of the 20 plus bites.  A mix catch of steelhead, lakers but mostly 3 year old kings to 13 pounds. 

Good Luck The Capt.

Fishing is on the slow side with this cold water upon our Manistee waters.  Break is at 30 to 40 feet of water.  Most of our action was in the 190 to 240 feet of water.  Fishing in the top 40 feet.  All our bites were on medium size spoons.   Riggers 25 to 40 feet down and 5 color lead  had a couple hits.. Good Luck

The Capt.

The water was in the 40’s leaving the harbor. There was some success north of the harbor and in the harbor with most boats catching 1-3 fish and one lucky captain coming in with 8. The fishing will improve as the wind stabilizes.