What are the fishing regulations on the Manistee River, Michigan?

Manistee River fishing regulations

The Manistee River is designated Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 and Type 4 trout water over 145.4 of its 190.3 mapped miles. The season on Type 2 Designated water runs Last Saturday in April–September 30th. The creel limit there is 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. 44.3 miles of it are named Blue Ribbon trout stream. The posted signs and the current digest are the authority, not this page.

Open Manistee River on the map See Manistee River on the live map → Every reach coloured by water temperature, with the public land and access points along it.

By designated reach

Type	Miles	Season	Creel
Type 2 Designated	14.2	Last Saturday in April–September 30th	5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling.
Type 4 Designated	101.1	January 1st–December 31st	5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling.
Type 3 Designated	30.1	January 1st–December 31st	5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater and no more than one (1) Rainbow Trout. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling.

Gear and tackle

Type 2 Designated — Artificial lures and all types of natural bait may be used.
Type 4 Designated — Artificial lures and all types of natural bait may be used.
Type 3 Designated — Artificial lures and all natural bait types allowed. Aug 1–Nov 15: terminal fishing gear restricted to single-pointed hooks & jigs ≤½" from point to shank or treble hooks ≤⅜" from point to shank only when attached to artificial lures.

Minimum sizes

Brook trout: 10″
Brown trout: 12″
Rainbow trout / steelhead: 10″
Splake: 10″
Lake trout: 10″
Chinook salmon: 10″
Coho salmon: 10″
Pink salmon: 10″
Atlantic salmon: 10″

Type 2 Designated, 14.2 miles of this river.

Brook trout: 7″
Brown trout: 10″
Rainbow trout / steelhead: 10″
Splake: 10″
Lake trout: 10″
Chinook salmon: 10″
Coho salmon: 10″
Pink salmon: 10″
Atlantic salmon: 10″

Type 4 Designated, 101.1 miles of this river.

Brook trout: 15″
Brown trout: 15″
Rainbow trout / steelhead: 10″
Splake: 10″
Lake trout: 10″
Chinook salmon: 10″
Coho salmon: 10″
Pink salmon: 10″
Atlantic salmon: 10″

Type 3 Designated, 30.1 miles of this river.

Blue Ribbon water

Stretch	From	To	Miles
Manistee River	Deward Area	Junction with North Branch Big Manistee	37.3
North Branch Manistee River	Mecum Road	Junction with Big Manistee	7.0

Named stretches with their own rules

Rules change every year and the posted signs are the authority, not this page. The full state tables, with the date they were read, are on Michigan fishing regulations.

More about Manistee River

Manistee River — live water temperature, regulations and access