|
|
MANISTEE
North Breakwater
Description
The structure is about 970 feet long and 31 feet wide. The first half features riprap, and the outer half has a raised walkway in the middle leading to a lighthouse at the end. Disabled anglers cannot negotiate cement slopes that lead to ledge areas on either side and are therefore limited to fishing from this raised center section.
Access
Anglers travel a few feet from the parking lot along a 7-foot-wide paved walkway to the seawall, which leads to the breakwater 300 feet away. The seawall has safety railings that are 42 inches high and the barrier-free walkway is 7 feet wide.
Amenities
The lot is paved and has parking for about 15 vehicles with one barrier-free space. Along the portion of 5th Ave. from Lakeshore Dr. west, five or six anglers can parallel park. Another 40 to 45 spaces are available on Lakeshore Drive. The nearest restrooms, which are not barrier-free, are located 1 block north at the beach.
South Breakwater
Description
The structure is about 2,300 feet long and features a moderate amount of riprap throughout. The first 240 feet is 10 feet wide, and the second is 12 feet wide and 250 feet long. Then, a 500-foot-long, 24-foot-wide steel portion leads to steps and the final 1,300 feet. This section is not fully accessible because of the steps. Also, each side has a 1-foot step from a lower ledge and a 6 1/2-foot slope to the center walk, which is 7 feet wide.
Access
Anglers walk about 650 feet from the south end of the Douglas Park parking lot on a paved barrier-free sidewalk that is 8 feet wide.
Amenities
The paved lot accommodates 26 vehicles but has no barrier-free spaces. A barrier-free chemical toilet is on site. A public boat launch with fully accessible restrooms is located near the end of 1st Street.
South Inner Pier/Seawall
Description
The barrier-free structure is several hundred feet long, and the final 160 feet includes a 14-foot-wide walk and 42-inch-high railings. It is made of steel sheet piling and extends into shallow waters of the harbor. Most anglers fish the river channel from the seawall, which is not barrier-free.
Access
Able-bodied anglers walk 250 feet over grass and down a slope from the parking lot at the north end of Douglas Park.
Amenities
The lot accommodates 50 vehicles and includes four barrier-free spaces. Restrooms are not barrier-free.
What's Hot?
- Brown Trout
- Chinook Salmon
- Coho Salmon
- Steelhead
- Walleye
- Yellow Perch
Anglers catch brown trout and steelhead in spring, a few walleye and yellow perch in summer, lots of chinook and coho salmon in late summer/early fall, and browns and steelhead again in late fall.
Tactics
Spring browns, along with occasional steelhead and salmon, hit Kastmaster spoons, K.O. Wobblers, Little Cleos, and Roostertail and other spinners in silver color or combinations of silver with blue, green, orange, and chartreuse. A hot local lure is the Scorpion Spoon by Michigan Stinger. Try green-and-glow or raspberry/black colors and weight the light hardware with a sinker. Salmon in summer sock these spoons along with M-2 Flatfish, Hot Shots, Hot n Tots, and Wee Willy lures in silver and orange, mother of pearl, gold, copper, and orange and black. Some anglers fish spawn after first chumming with a handful of single salmon eggs. A few even flyfish with weighted Woolly Buggers, deer hair offerings, and imitation egg flies. Jig, drift, or bottom bounce flatheads (goldeneye shiners) for perch and walleye. For fall trout, fish spawn or cast orange-colored hardware. For bait, tackle, and fishing information, contact Insta-Launch or Zajacs Bait & Tackle, 65 Cypress St. (231-723-5750). The Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce is at 50 Filer St., Ste. 224 (231-723-2575).
Stocking
The DNR annually stocks 500,000 to 750,000 chinook fingerlings on the Little Manistee River and another 100,000 or more fish at Solbergs net pen in Manistee. To the Manistee River, managers release 100,000 coho and upwards of 50,000 each steelhead and brown trout. These fish are yearlings.
Additional Information
Area Accommodations
Camping is available at Insta-Launch Marina & Campground, 20 Park Ave. in Manistee (231-723-3901) and at Orchard Beach State Park, 3 miles north of Manistee on Lake St. (231-723-7422).
Map of Access Area & Driving Directions
|
|
|
North Breakwater
From US-31, turn west on Monroe St., which becomes Lakeshore Dr., to 5th Ave. Turn right and drive to the turn-around, then left into the parking lot behind the Coast Guard station.
Anglers travel a few feet from the parking lot along a 7-foot-wide paved walkway to the seawall, which leads to the breakwater 300 feet away. The seawall has safety railings that are 42 inches high and the barrier-free walkway is 7 feet wide.
South Breakwater
From US-31, turn west on 1st St. and drive to Douglas Park at the end.
Anglers walk about 650 feet from the south end of the Douglas Park parking lot on a paved barrier-free sidewalk that is 8 feet wide.
South Inner Pier/Seawall
From US-31, turn west on 1st St. and drive to Douglas Park at the end.
Able-bodied anglers walk 250 feet over grass and down a slope from the parking lot at the north end of Douglas Park.
|
|
