The Manistee

The Manistee is a long, wide, gentle and sandy river.  It flows through stands of pines and hardwoods in dry, sandy soil as well as through sections of cool, dark cedar swamps.   It's definitely the best river for any beginner due to its width (You're not getting caught in trees on your back cast .)  The Manistee is a great river for people who want a full-length casting experience.  It has good hatches, and there are plenty of big fish to be had for anglers who like to streamer fish, especially in the early spring and late fall.  The areas I float are southeast of Kalkaska, just above and well below of the CCC Bridge.  The is also some beautiful, shallow, wading water in the Deward Tract, not too far south of Gaylord.  You can read about the history of the Deward Tract here.