There are certainly stretches of other rivers that offer more consistent and prolific hatches for the fly angler. Many areas of The Au Sable watershed seem to constantly have rising trout thanks to an incredible wealth of insect life. For the dry fly purist, it's pretty tough to beat the technical challenge that fishing these areas present. If you can fool a 20" trout during daylight on these waters with a dry fly, you're more than likely an exceptional angler.
The average angler, however, is not likely to consistently be able to exactly match the hatch or make a perfect drag-free drift in complex currents. They'll more than likely have an enjoyable day outdoors and land a few beautiful but smallish brookies or browns. If they do manage to take a sizable fish, it may have been more happenstance than skill.The Manistee, in my opinion, offers an ideal blend of a solid average fish size with many truly impressive trout. More importantly, because the hatches aren't as prolific, the fish tend to be more opportunistic. An angler bouncing a stonefly pattern or chunking an attractor pattern near the bank is much more likely to not only catch decent fish, but find at least one that's worth posting on Instagram. Don't get me wrong, there are great hatches here too including phenomenal Sulphur, Brown Drake and Hex hatches. There just isn't the variety or sheer biomass that some other fly water has. Access is a bit of an issue in places and the wading can be a bit touch and go with a more sand/silt bottom and more natural structure, but I've seen more "average" anglers have the fly fishing day of their life on this water than anywhere else.
Another nice attribute of this water is the lack of commercial canoe traffic and angling pressure in certain areas. Don't get me wrong. If a canoe will fit in a river, someone will find a way to rent it to another person. Due to the difficulty of access on this stretch and the location of the local liveries, however, the traffic is much more minimal than many other areas.
Like anywhere else you choose to fish, put in a little extra work to get away from the primary access points and find some water that's not been fished and you're going to have a lot more success.
If you really want to fall in love with this water, buy your own parcel and learn each fish that lives near each log jam and in every bend. Click HERE for details on a great vacant parcel that would put you right in the heart of the action on The Manistee flies only stretch.
