Just back from Manistee, MI.........Salmon fishing was FANTASTIC

[JUSTINHALL]

If you liked fishing in the lake than you will love it in the river in the fall. When the salmon run up river to the dam is a blast, I have been going up there ever year for a long time. Unfortunately missed the last 2 years though but going to make up for it this year. Fishing in the lake is OK but fishing the main river or bear creek is loads of fun. Usually last week in Sept. first week in Oct. somewhere in there is best. Timing is very critical though, too early and not too many there and too late and most have lost all their energy.

[GeoFisher]

If you liked fishing in the lake than you will love it in the river in the fall. When the salmon run up river to the dam is a blast, I have been going up there ever year for a long time. Unfortunately missed the last 2 years though but going to make up for it this year. Fishing in the lake is OK but fishing the main river or bear creek is loads of fun. Usually last week in Sept. first week in Oct. somewhere in there is best. Timing is very critical though, too early and not too many there and too late and most have lost all their energy.

Most of the locals I've talked to don't even mess with them around the river. A GOOD friend of mine grew up in Manistee, and he has been arranging the charters for us.

We actually went up the river to do some fishing. They were not stacked up and in fact things were pretty behind for this time of year.

We did manage some trout in the river.

So, when you went that late, were the fish still in good shape, or had they started to turn. Seems the fish out of the big lake are really silver, and the meat pink as can be. Those in the river and Manistee seem to be darker, and from what I've heard are not quite as "good" as those early caught salmon.

I don't know......only what locals have told me.

I CANNOT wait until next year.

Later,

Geo

[JUSTINHALL]

Most of the locals I've talked to don't even mess with them around the river. A GOOD friend of mine grew up in Manistee, and he has been arranging the charters for us.

We actually went up the river to do some fishing. They were not stacked up and in fact things were pretty behind for this time of year.

We did manage some trout in the river.

So, when you went that late, were the fish still in good shape, or had they started to turn. Seems the fish out of the big lake are really silver, and the meat pink as can be. Those in the river and Manistee seem to be darker, and from what I've heard are not quite as "good" as those early caught salmon.

I don't know......only what locals have told me.

I CANNOT wait until next year.

Later,

Geo

If you catch them coming up river they are full of energy and the meat is all good. That's why I said timing is everything. If you get there too early they are full of energy but few and far between and if too late they have started to turn. They start dying from the tail up and they lose a lot of energy when this happens. I prefer to fish the creeks where they are spawning more actively if you go to the dam there are hundreds of thousands but too many are past their cycle and have less energy.

[GeoFisher]

If you catch them coming up river they are full of energy and the meat is all good. That's why I said timing is everything. If you get there too early they are full of energy but few and far between and if too late they have started to turn. They start dying from the tail up and they lose a lot of energy when this happens. I prefer to fish the creeks where they are spawning more actively if you go to the dam there are hundreds of thousands but too many are past their cycle and have less energy.

We didn't fish at the dam.....just went up there to see it. WHAT a site.



We ended up doing some "wade fishing" around an area called 6-mile, I think. Somewhere in the Manistee Forest ?? State land way up the Manistee or Little Manistee River. It was an unbelievable trout stream. Something out of the movies. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures because I left my camera in the car and didn't want to walk a mile back to get it......

We saw fish there and threw spawn bags at them. I'd never fished that way. Kind of Cool. Didn't catch anything but a few trout. I also took a big bait caster and "flipped" a spoon at them and a flutter spoon. Nothing.....

Again, it was really cool doing so.

I cannot wait until the next time.

Later,

Geo