Ludington & Manistee
Manistee
A Lake Michigan port city where the river meets the lake, with a historic downtown riverwalk, three city beaches and a pierhead light to climb in season.
About 7 miles away (straight line)
River · Ludington & Manistee
Little Manistee River
A small wild-steelhead and salmon river with canoe access sites and the DNR weir at Stronach, where you can watch the spring steelhead egg take.
The Little Manistee is a small river with a big job. Come in spring or fall to watch the weir at Stronach at work, or bring a rod for its wild steelhead, salmon and brown trout. Paddlers and anglers with small boats use the state’s carry-down access sites at Nine Mile, Fox, Indian and Spencer bridges.
Plan around the winter closure: the river has closed to fishing from January 1 to April 1, so check current DNR rules before a winter steelhead trip.
The river rises in Lake County and flows into the southeast end of Manistee Lake, near Stronach and the city of Manistee. It is the smaller neighbor of the Manistee River.
The DNR’s Little Manistee River Weir, an egg-take and salmon harvest facility near Stronach, is the reason to visit. Since 1968 it has been the sole source of winter-run steelhead eggs for Michigan’s fish hatcheries and the main source for Ohio and Indiana, and it supplies chinook salmon eggs in fall too. The eggs go to state hatcheries, where the fish are raised and stocked across Michigan. The coordinates on this page mark the weir.
Go in spring to see it in action. Weir boards and jump screens stop the upstream steelhead run, ripe fish are spawned, and unripe fish are held or counted and passed upstream to keep the river’s wild run going. Visitors are welcome, and it is popular with anglers, students and anyone curious about fish.
On the water
Public access
The DNR's Little Manistee River Weir in Stronach is open to the public, and you can watch egg collection up close while it is under way.
Fishing
Steelhead are not stocked in the Little Manistee River. The run is mostly naturally reproduced fish plus strays from other rivers. In fall, coho and chinook salmon that reach the weir are harvested, while steelhead and brown trout are counted and passed upstream. Check current Michigan DNR rules before fishing.
In winter
Winter is the river's quiet season: a December 2018 DNR fishing report reminded anglers that the Little Manistee closes to fishing on January 1 and reopens April 1. Check current DNR rules for which stretches the closure covers before you go.
Public boat launches
Nine Mile Bridge access site
Carry-down launch for canoes and car-top boats, with a small lot. You need a Recreation Passport for vehicles at state boating access sites.
Fox Bridge access site
Carry-down launch for canoes and car-top boats, with a small gravel lot. You need a Recreation Passport for vehicles at state boating access sites.
Indian Bridge access site
Carry-down launch for canoes and car-top boats, with a small gravel lot. You need a Recreation Passport for vehicles at state boating access sites.
Spencer Bridge access site
Carry-down launch for canoes and car-top boats, with parking for about 10 vehicles. You need a Recreation Passport for vehicles at state boating access sites.
Fishing, launching at a state site or parking at a state park? See licenses and passes for what you need before you go.
Anything not listed here is unverified. Do not assume public access across private riverbanks. Check the Michigan DNR boating access listings and the current fishing regulations.
Through the seasons
Spring
The weir goes in during the first two weeks of March, and steelhead eggs are usually collected in April until the quota is met. You are welcome to come and watch.
Fall
The weir is back in from about mid-August to mid-November, and chinook salmon eggs are usually taken in the first two weeks of October.
Location
Map of Little Manistee River
2 places on an OpenStreetMap map
The pin marks one well-known point on the river, not its full course.
Places to stay near Little Manistee River
Riverfront homes and cabins are listed by the local rental managers and booking sites below.
Hotels and inns
Mid-range
Little River Casino ResortListed by Pure Michigan, the state travel bureau
Budget
The Ramsdell Inn
Search all hotels in Manistee: Booking.com · Expedia · Hotels.com · Google Hotels
We don’t take bookings or earn anything from these links. Rates, availability and any booking problems are handled by the booking site.
More places to stay in Manistee
- Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce lodging and travel directory · The chamber's member listings for hotels, motels, resorts, B&Bs, cottages and vacation homes in and around Manistee.
Vacation rentals
- Essential Vacations · miessentialvacations.com
Professionally managed vacation rentals in the Manistee area.
Disclosure: manages a vacation rental owned by a company related to this site's owner.
- Boardwalk Vacation Rentals · manisteevacations.com
A Manistee-based short-term rental manager with beach homes, condos and cottages around Manistee, Onekama, Bear Lake and Arcadia.
- Unsalted Vacations · unsaltedvacations.com
A West Michigan rental company with homes, cottages and cabins in areas including Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Manistee and Traverse City.
- West Shore Vacation Properties · myludingtonvacation.com
A local company managing vacation homes and cottages in Ludington, Manistee, Onekama and the surrounding lakeshore.
Nearby towns
Nearby attractions
Straight-line distances from the map point.
Trail
Big M Trail System
Groomed cross-country ski and winter fat-tire bike trails, and summer singletrack, in the Manistee National Forest near Wellston.
About 6 miles away (straight line)
Historic site
Ramsdell Theatre
Manistee's 1903 opera house, on the National Register of Historic Places, restored and still staging plays, concerts and live broadcasts.
About 7 miles away (straight line)
Waterfront
Manistee Riverwalk
A boardwalk along the Manistee River behind downtown, with benches, history markers and boats going by, open year-round.
About 7 miles away (straight line)
More lakes and rivers nearby
Lake · Ludington & Manistee
Manistee Lake
An all-sports lake beside downtown Manistee: ski, tube and cruise, then take the bridge-free channel to Lake Michigan. Three launches and a lakeside marina.
- All-sports
- Public launch
Lake · Ludington & Manistee
Chief Lake
A 126-acre inland lake west of Chief in Manistee County, with no local boating limits listed. Official information is limited, so check before you go.
- All-sports
Lake · Ludington & Manistee
Portage Lake
An all-sports lake at Onekama with marinas and a channel to Lake Michigan. Swim at the village park, fish for perch and bass, ice fish in winter.
- All-sports
- Swim beach
- Public launch