Manistee River Deward Tract

Doesn’t it seem that the first thing beginning fly fishing students want to do, is to learn how to cast?!

In the eyes of a novice, dry fly fishing is the epitome of fly fishing in general. It is what draws them to the sport. Surely, it must have something to do with that Redford movie, ("A River Runs Through It" movie trailer.)

Consequently, the surest way to get a neophyte hooked on fly fishing, is to get the neophyte hooked onto a trout . . . using a dry fly. In the northern lower peninsula, that means heading to the upper Manistee River near Deward (northwest of Frederic).

Footings and Foundations: Remnants of old sawmill and logging camp.Don’t bother looking for Deward on a map. You won’t find it. It’s a ghost town now. It once was a vibrant logging community of 800 people (named after the lumbering baron, David E. Ward) until the white pine was exhausted. Then, lumbering activity dried up and the sawmill and left the banks of the Manistee. (http://www.wabash-railroad.com/Det&Char.htm Deward in its heyday.)

The upper Manistee is where I got my initiation into dry fly fishing. Without a mentor to guide me, I was happy to find a bunch of willing brookies that would take whatever offering I presented, no matter how sloppily I presented it. That was back in the mid 1970’s, after I left the Navy’s USS Ogden (LPD-5) to pursue a “civilian” lifestyle. Each year, I make a pilgrimage back to revisit my roots.

Oh, the brookies are a little smarter, now-a-days, but not much. It is still an excellent spot to break in a “newbie”. Plenty of casting room . . . easy wading . . . great early season hatches . . . some of the most beautiful scenery in Michigan . . . and (except for “opening day”) very few other anglers. Besides the willing brook trout, there is also a reasonably healthy population of brown trout in the mid-teens. Of course, it takes more stealth, and generally low-light conditions to hook into those. But for beginners wanting to catch a trout on a dry fly, the brook trout are the main attraction.

Plenty of room to cast.While back in the 70’s, I could drive my Jeep Cherokee right up to the banks of the river and pitch a tent. Those days are gone forever (thank goodness). Back in 1980, the DNR designated 4,700 surrounding acres as the “Deward Tract”. Now they limit vehicle access and campsite locations. Anglers must hike a couple hundred yards to the river. In my book, these are all positive developments, and should help guarantee a quality fishing experience for untold generations. Here’s the official DNR website link to the tract, http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/wildlife/viewingguide/nlp/5....

Another excellent source of information concerning access to the Deward Tract, is the guide to the Manistee River, produced by the Challenge Chapter of Trout Unlimited. (http://www.challengechapter.org/ Click on the “River Guides” link in the left hand column.) Concentrate your efforts from access point #2 all the way down to Cameron Bridge Road.

Fly selection is pretty easy, here. The brookies are more sensitive to size and hue, rather than specific patterns. Parachute Adams in size 14 and 16 is always a good choice. Be sure to carry a selection of Sparkle Duns in a variety of colors in sizes 12 to 16. Blue Wing Olives, again in parachute style, in sizes 16 and 18 should be in your box, too. You might also carry some caddis dries in size 14 to 16.

If brookies are not actively rising, don’t sweat it. Tie on a dry fly anyway, and toss it to likely feeding lies (foam lines, current seams, next to logs, etc.) I’ve even done this in the middle of the day in Catchable brookies and brownsJuly, last year, and had a number of brookies take a swipe at it. You do need to manage a drag free drift. But, there is plenty of casting room. It’s a good spot for beginners.

Although my annual pilgrimage to the Deward Tract is generally in early May (Hendrickson and BWOs, you know), the middle of summer can be a lot of fun, too. Small hoppers, caddis flies and Stimulators (size 14 to 16), fished tight up against the bank, being the ticket to success.

If you are looking for monster brown trout, this is not the spot for you. Quantity, rather than size, and “catch-ability” are what draw anglers to Deward. On the other hand, if you are a beginner, trying to perfect your presentation without having to worry about a parade of anglers wanting to “play through”, give Deward a try.