Steelhead Catches Rise as Manistee Salmon Run Slows

DNR fishing reports show salmon numbers dropping in Manistee-area rivers while steelhead activity increases across several western Michigan counties.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Fishing

Wide photograph of a weathered pier extending into cold grey-blue Great Lakes water at a river mouth, bordered by sand dunes and dark conifers. — Anglers along western Michigan's Manistee-area piers and rivers reported fewer salmon and more steelhead through late October, according to the DNR's October 28 weekly report. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Salmon numbers in the Manistee River have slowed in late October, according to the latest DNR weekly fishing report from October 28, 2026. Steelhead catches have increased across Manistee, Mason, and Benzie counties over the same period.

Why it matters

Shifting catch patterns affect where and how anglers across western Michigan spend their time on the water this fall. The reports help anglers decide which species to target and which waters to fish as the season changes.

Boat anglers trolling 20-90 feet down reported good catches in 80-160 feet of water, with steelhead taken higher on orange spoons and Chinook deeper. The report gives no total catch figures or prior-season comparison, and the reason for the salmon slowdown is not addressed.

The players

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

The state agency that manages Michigan's fisheries and publishes weekly fishing conditions reports for anglers across the state.

The details

Fishing along Manistee piers and beaches was slow, with only a few steelhead and coho taken on spawn and casting spoons. Steelhead remained slow on Mason County piers, while anglers took a few remaining salmon in the Betsie and Platte rivers as steelhead began moving in.

October 28, 2026: DNR publishes the weekly fishing report covering recent conditions.

Seasonal Patterns

The weekly Michigan Department of Natural Resources fishing reports track how catches move between salmon and steelhead as water temperatures and fish runs change through the fall. This October update continues that series by recording salmon declines alongside rising steelhead catches in the western Michigan counties it covers.

Anglers heading out this week can target steelhead along Mason and Benzie rivers and boat-fish deeper water off Big Sable Point for Chinook. Piers and beaches in Manistee County are currently slow, so shore anglers may want to plan for boat access.

The takeaway

Checking weekly DNR reports before heading out helps anglers match their target species and water depth to current conditions. Fall salmon and steelhead patterns can shift quickly, so a recent report is worth reviewing before each trip.