Little Manistee River

Overview

The Little Manistee River drains about 145,000 acres in Lake, Mason and Manistee counties. Below Luther Dam it runs free for 55 miles before entering Manistee Lake at Stronach, and Manistee Lake connects to Lake Michigan at Manistee. Michigan DNR describes it as one of the coldest, most stable streams in the state because it is fed mainly by groundwater, and more than half of the watershed is public land in the Pere Marquette State Forest and Manistee National Forest. DNR runs the Little Manistee River Weir near Stronach, where steelhead eggs are taken in spring and Chinook salmon eggs in fall. Since 1968 the weir has supplied the winter-run steelhead eggs used by Michigan's state fish hatcheries. DNR does not stock steelhead in this river; the run is mostly naturally reproduced fish plus strays from other rivers. Fish passage is blocked while the weir is in place, from early March until the spring egg quota is met and from about mid-August to mid-November. The facility is open to the public during egg collection.

Regulations

Gear restrictions apply on all waters of the Little Manistee River for part of the year. See the current Michigan Fishing Regulations and inland trout and salmon maps: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/fishing/fishing-regulations

Stocking history

Likely species (watershed)

American Brook Lamprey, Arctic Grayling, Bigmouth Shiner, Black Redhorse, Blacknose Dace, Blacknose Shiner, Bluntnose Minnow, Brassy Minnow, Brown Trout, Chestnut Lamprey, Creek Chub, Emerald Shiner, Fathead Minnow, Finescale Dace, Golden Redhorse, Golden Shiner, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Logperch, Longnose Dace, Mimic Shiner, Mottled Sculpin, Muskellunge, Ninespine Stickleback, Northern Redbelly Dace, River Chub, Rosyface Shiner, Sand Shiner, Silver Redhorse, Spotfin Shiner

Likely species come from USGS Aquatic GAP ranges for the whole watershed (HUC8). They show what may be here, not a count of this water.

Nearby waters

• Manistee River4.2 miles · MI
• Portage Lake10.6 miles · MI
• Hamlin Lake11.8 miles · MI
• Bear Lake16.5 miles · MI
• Big Sable River16.9 miles · MI
• Big South Branch Pere Marquette River19.4 miles · MI

More in Manistee

• Manistee RiverMI
• Bear LakeMI
• Hodenpyl Dam PondMI
• Portage LakeMI