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Manistee River Tippy Dam State Recreation Area, Michigan
Walk-in access on the Manistee River — The manistee river in this area is designated a type 3 trout stream. Please refer to the inland trout and salmon stream regulations in the current michigan fishing guide.
Open in BirdTrout44.26841, -85.93562 · Manistee County. Directions → Tap the map to open this water in the live app.
What is here
- Type
- Walk-in access
- Facilities
- The manistee river in this area is designated a type 3 trout stream. Please refer to the inland trout and salmon stream regulations in the current michigan fishing guide.
- Fee
- No fee
- Listed for
- Brown Trout, Steelhead
- Listed by
- Michigan DNR Trout Trail site
From Manistee trave east on M-55 for 16 miles, then turn left (north) on High Bridge Road. Proceed 5.5 miles and turn right (east) onto Coates Hwy. Proceed 3.5 miles and turn right (south) onto Dilling Road. Proceed 3 miles and the road will dead end into the access site. From the M-37 and M-55 intersection, take M-37 north for 3.6 miles, then turn left (west) onto 34 1/2 Rd. Proceed 1.6 miles, then turn right (north) onto Warfield Road. Proceed for one mile, then turn left (west) onto Coates Hwy. Proceed for 6.4 miles, then turn left (south) onto Dilling Road. Proceed 3 miles and the road will end at the access site.
The Manistee River below Tippy Dam is one of the most popular fishing locations in Michigan. This site provides outstanding fishing opportunities year-round. The stocked brown trout grow very well here and can reach large sizes. However, the resident brown trout fishery is often overlooked, as anglers typically associate Tippy Dam with salmon and steelhead fishing. Fly fishing is a popular way to catch the brown trout, although bait fishing and tossing lures are also productive techniques. The Manistee River here is very wadeable, with large gravel riffles punctuated by pockets and deeper holes. From here, anglers can hike downstream for several miles, and can access other popular sites including Suicide Bend and the Sawdust Hole (although parking is available near those sites as well). This site offers many amenities, including a rustic campground, a boat launch, a universally accessible fishing platform, a fish cleaning station, rustic toilets, and parking for 42 vehicles. Several bait and tackle shops are available in nearby Brethren. A Michigan Recreational Passport is required to enter the state recreation area.
The water you can reach
- Manistee River 0.35 mi · Cold transitional large river (MDNR VSEC) · typed Cold-transitional
Walk-in access. Small enough water to wade and cross in most conditions.
What the river reads now
| Gauge | Distance | Water temp |
|---|---|---|
| Manistee River near Wellston | 0.7 mi | 62.8 °F |
| Manistee River near Mesick | 8.7 mi | 62.4 °F |
| Pine River at High School Bridge Nr Hoxeyville | 9.7 mi | 51.8 °F |
Live from USGS. A gauge miles away is a gauge miles away — the distance column is there so you can discount it.
The river this is on
Other access nearby
- Tippy Dam State Recreation Area Upper 0.6 mi · boat launch · Tippy Dam Pond - Manistee River
- Tippy Dam State Recreation Area Lower 0.7 mi · boat launch · Manistee River
- Manistee River Tippy Dam South 0.8 mi · walk in
Straight-line distance, not driving distance.
Fly shops nearby
- Schmidt Outfitters 3.9 mi · Wellston
- Andy's Tackle Box 4.4 mi · Brethren
- Johnson's Pere Marquette Lodge 25.4 mi · Baldwin
- Ed's Sport Shop 25.8 mi · Baldwin