I lived on the Little Manistee not far from driftwood campground area. We use to swing off the rope years ago...lol. The weir closes it's gates in late August. The salmon have already started to head up river to spawn. There are always a few that get past the weir before it. I use to work for the DNR, harvesting salmon eggs in the fall. If you noticed just past the weir on the right side of the river is a huge Bald Eagle nest. Great Video. Thanks for sharing.
Great trip . It’s on my bucket list if my lungs get better . If not I’ll bring some small oxygen tanks and still enjoy it. Thanks for taking us along buddy
Great trip video! The faster water looked like a lot of fun and your second night camp site was incredible looking! Looking forward to Part 3! Thanks for sharing. -dave
It would have been nice to have more of that faster water, you can make some pretty good time! A nice campsite can sometimes make or break a trip so I was fortunate to find that one just in time, thanks Dave!
@ 7:50 that was Bear Track Camp Ground, Driftwood is just after the bridge on 10 1/2 mile road the next bridge after the one on Bass lake rd near your day 1 camping area. Our cabin didn't make the video but it was the next one after the cabin on the left with the fence @8:01, if we were there we could have supplied you with some coffee for the balance of you trip.
Thanks for sharing that information I really appreciate it, I will definitely be back on that river again someday to catch some of those salmon, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! Sorry I missed your cabin on the video. Next time up, I’ll be sure to bring extra coffee ha ha
Lucky.. I hope one day I can do something similar. Down in Louisiana we have breathtaking beauty in the swamps and bayous.. but I want to experience the great lakes too.
Michigan rivers are hard to beat and so is Pennsylvania, so clean and clear with great camping. I did a 50 mile stretch on the Edisto river in South Carolina, which was Blackwater and swampy looking, a totally different experience but still really cool.
Great video, as usual! From your experience, do you think the LM is free enough of obstructions to use an inflatable packraft rather than a hard shell kayak? Thank you!
Hey buddy. I live in northern Michigan about a dozen miles from the Manistee river. It's so beautiful. I can't kayak anymore due to injuries. I do still visit the river often.
It's funny, I always come back to your videos in the Winter months as I long for spring. Love this content, keeps me going when everything is dark and frozen in Jan, Feb and March lol.
There are no "sites" for camping along this river except for one campground at the beginning and another one about 1/3 of the way through. Normally when you don't see any no tresspassing signs you are on public land where it is ok to set up a camp. A little planning ahead of time to know where the public land is located is the wise thing to do. It often shows up on some map layers.
Hey there! I was just looking to see the camping areas you pinned. Looking to complete this trip next summer. Thank you so much for posting it 🙏🏼 Love your videos and very impressed. If you ever come down to Miami, FL to camp in Everglades national Park or in Big Cypress please hit me up. 🤙🏼
I actually spoke with the head of the DNR about the fishing regulations after my trip and he told me that is what they were as well as numerous fisherman along the way, so yes, they were.
My Grandmother lived on the Little Manistee for a long time, and we were volunteer river stewards! We were part of a group of people that generally lived along the river and volunteered to help maintain a certain section. Our section was between M-37 and N Peacock Trail, I've been meaning to float that section sometime soon...
Really enjoy the floating moments it's a real charmer as can feel like I'm right there having been down so many rivers. Thanks for letting us join in it reall6y takes me back. Am now curious to see if you cover any other regions as there's a lot of areas south and east of Michigan never got to explore river wise.
This was the perfect river because it had a little bit of everything, tight twist and turns like a creek early on and wide open beautiful views later on. All it needed was some good established camping areas along the way and it would have been perfect!
@@jasonwish-my husband and I want to do this paddle; you have inspired us!! We just paddle the Cuyahoga River aka Burning river from Kent oh to Cuyahoga Falls; only 6.5 miles from Burning River Adventures, it was a good paddle; our favorite Mad River!! Thanks Jason for sharing your adventures!!! ❤
@@kathleenlewis3480 that was a fun one! However, it is not floatable right now, it's only 37 cfs today and it needs to be over 150, and actually 200 is best like it was when we did it in the spring. This river is notorious for being low during the summer, spring is best.
Dude, I live super close to the Little Manatee and right on the Manatee. You may not remember who I am, but I've done a bit of surveying in the past for you and your family when I lived in Bellefontaine.
@Jason Wish - Wishwell Farms I found your channel as a recomended channel based on the videos I typically watch. I enjoy the content you create. Keep up the adventures man.
I think I enjoyed the LMR as much as the Big and the Pine and the Ausable, just not enough camping options. I'm sure I"ll be back on it again someday. What are some of your other favorite rivers similar to the ones I mentioned?
Greetings Jason, I happened on you channel around the time of your 2nd leg of your Mad River trip that ended at the Glen Thompson Reserve. We live about 5 miles by car from the GTR. I had just been there about a weekish before you posted that.
I assume you are referring to the Little Miami River and not the Mad River. Both are great Ohio rivers...I will certainly be on the Mad again next spring! Thanks Frank!
Yeah, sorry. You are correct, I meant the LMR. I had a bit of insomnia last night so it wasn't best thinking. I'm looking to get into kayaking and fishing at 52. I have canoed some in my younger days. I heard you mention spear fishing about those King Salmon on the Lil Manistee. I've been wondering why you don't do any catch and cooks? Your great produce with fresh fish would be awesome.
@@FrankD518 I would have loved to catch a fish to add to my dinner...since i didn't know how far i was I didn't want to stop and take the time to fashion a spear but in hindsite I wish I would have. Next season I will make it a point to do a few catch and cooks for sure! Btw, I'll be 49 next month, never too late to get into it!
In another area that crosses over into your areas of expertise, we have started adding more to our little home garden. In past years it was a half dozen tomato plants and a couple jalapeños for salsa. This year, we added a dozen yellow corn plants and a few different types of heirlooms and a couple hybrids. Plus, the the lady of the house likes cherry maters so a couple of those. And then, I had the brilliant idea of adding yellow crook neck squash. And it went everywhere. Next time, I'll trellis it. It absolutely took over and choked out most of the tomatoes I think.
@@FrankD518 This makes me think of one of my favorite books as a child that my mom would read to me, Willie's Garden, he started with one seed and each year planted more and more until he had acres of garden 😂
I lived on the Little Manistee not far from driftwood campground area. We use to swing off the rope years ago...lol. The weir closes it's gates in late August. The salmon have already started to head up river to spawn. There are always a few that get past the weir before it. I use to work for the DNR, harvesting salmon eggs in the fall. If you noticed just past the weir on the right side of the river is a huge Bald Eagle nest. Great Video. Thanks for sharing.
Great information, thanks! Gorgeous area!
Great trip . It’s on my bucket list if my lungs get better . If not I’ll bring some small oxygen tanks and still enjoy it. Thanks for taking us along buddy
Hopefully they will continue to improve! Glad you're enjoying the journey...working on part three, the finale, right now.
Another awesome part to this journey! And man those salmon were huge!!
I should have speared one for dinner!! Thanks AJ!
That was excellent in so many ways. Your video was unreal. The coffee thing was too bad though. Hehe good bunker training!
Thanks! The scenery of Nothern Michigan is what is unreal...love it up there!
Great trip video! The faster water looked like a lot of fun and your second night camp site was incredible looking! Looking forward to Part 3! Thanks for sharing. -dave
It would have been nice to have more of that faster water, you can make some pretty good time! A nice campsite can sometimes make or break a trip so I was fortunate to find that one just in time, thanks Dave!
@ 7:50 that was Bear Track Camp Ground, Driftwood is just after the bridge on 10 1/2 mile road the next bridge after the one on Bass lake rd near your day 1 camping area. Our cabin didn't make the video but it was the next one after the cabin on the left with the fence @8:01, if we were there we could have supplied you with some coffee for the balance of you trip.
Thanks for sharing that information I really appreciate it, I will definitely be back on that river again someday to catch some of those salmon, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! Sorry I missed your cabin on the video. Next time up, I’ll be sure to bring extra coffee ha ha
@@jasonwish-some of those salmon are pretty rough shape by the time they get up stream like that.
I’ve been by hundreds of times!
Lucky.. I hope one day I can do something similar. Down in Louisiana we have breathtaking beauty in the swamps and bayous.. but I want to experience the great lakes too.
Michigan rivers are hard to beat and so is Pennsylvania, so clean and clear with great camping. I did a 50 mile stretch on the Edisto river in South Carolina, which was Blackwater and swampy looking, a totally different experience but still really cool.
Great video, as usual!
From your experience, do you think the LM is free enough of obstructions to use an inflatable packraft rather than a hard shell kayak? Thank you!
I think it would probably be ok. The first few miles might have some pretty tight areas to get through but after that it would be just fine.
@@jasonwish- thank you!
Hey buddy. I live in northern Michigan about a dozen miles from the Manistee river. It's so beautiful. I can't kayak anymore due to injuries. I do still visit the river often.
Sorry to hear you’re unable to kayak. That area is so beautiful, love it up there!
It's funny, I always come back to your videos in the Winter months as I long for spring. Love this content, keeps me going when everything is dark and frozen in Jan, Feb and March lol.
I do the exact same thing! When I get bored and long for the spring and summer weather I will often rewatch my own videos, lol! Thanks!
Great video! I bet coffee will be the first thing in your pack from now on. LoL 😂👍
Thanks! You got that right!
What an awesome kayak trip! Thanks for sharing Jason!
Thanks Chris! With this cold nasty weather were having right now its making long for those warm early fall days again!
What do you use to determine whether the site is private or open for camping?
There are no "sites" for camping along this river except for one campground at the beginning and another one about 1/3 of the way through. Normally when you don't see any no tresspassing signs you are on public land where it is ok to set up a camp. A little planning ahead of time to know where the public land is located is the wise thing to do. It often shows up on some map layers.
Great trip. Keep ‘em coming. Exciting to see a kindred spirit in their enjoyment of the outdoors. Cheers!
Thanks! Got more in the works!
Hi there! Planning on kayak camping this summer the Little Manistee. Did you post the Gaia GPS coordinates? Great video!
Thanks! I have all the GPX files of my trip saved on Gaia. I will try to add them to the description. Is there anything specific you are looking for?
I shared my Gaia GPS files of each day in the description. Just let me know if I can be of any further help.
Hey there! I was just looking to see the camping areas you pinned. Looking to complete this trip next summer. Thank you so much for posting it 🙏🏼
Love your videos and very impressed. If you ever come down to Miami, FL to camp in Everglades national Park or in Big Cypress please hit me up. 🤙🏼
@@MiamiMattOutdoors I've added pin drops in the video descriptions. If we can ever get away to the Big Cypress area we will give you a shout, thanks!
I’ve paddled 9 to 6 after a hard rain! Whoa buddy!
Every year in the spring we fish that river your prob the 6ths person ive ever seen on that river in a kayak 😂
Yes, most of that river sees very little kayak and canoe traffic, great river though!
@@jasonwish- yes it is it was cool seeing our fishing spot in your video
There are not king s i. That ric
Ver.
I actually spoke with the head of the DNR about the fishing regulations after my trip and he told me that is what they were as well as numerous fisherman along the way, so yes, they were.
My Grandmother lived on the Little Manistee for a long time, and we were volunteer river stewards! We were part of a group of people that generally lived along the river and volunteered to help maintain a certain section. Our section was between M-37 and N Peacock Trail, I've been meaning to float that section sometime soon...
It is still one of my favorite trips ever!
Really enjoy the floating moments it's a real charmer as can feel like I'm right there having been down so many rivers. Thanks for letting us join in it reall6y takes me back. Am now curious to see if you cover any other regions as there's a lot of areas south and east of Michigan never got to explore river wise.
so many Michigan rivers on my list to explore!
Always wanted to do the Little Manistee, I have a great love for small creeks/rivers. Thank you so much for this vid and keep up the good work!
This was the perfect river because it had a little bit of everything, tight twist and turns like a creek early on and wide open beautiful views later on. All it needed was some good established camping areas along the way and it would have been perfect!
@@jasonwish-my husband and I want to do this paddle; you have inspired us!! We just paddle the Cuyahoga River aka Burning river from Kent oh to Cuyahoga Falls; only 6.5 miles from Burning River Adventures, it was a good paddle; our favorite Mad River!! Thanks Jason for sharing your adventures!!! ❤
@@kathleenlewis3480 that is awesome to hear!
@@jasonwish- Next up is the Kososing River!
@@kathleenlewis3480 that was a fun one! However, it is not floatable right now, it's only 37 cfs today and it needs to be over 150, and actually 200 is best like it was when we did it in the spring. This river is notorious for being low during the summer, spring is best.
Dude, I live super close to the Little Manatee and right on the Manatee. You may not remember who I am, but I've done a bit of surveying in the past for you and your family when I lived in Bellefontaine.
Wow that is crazy! Pretty cool that you stumbled upon my channel...thanks for watching and commenting!
@Jason Wish - Wishwell Farms I found your channel as a recomended channel based on the videos I typically watch. I enjoy the content you create. Keep up the adventures man.
Howdy fellow Buckeye ,
We have canoed Michigan rivers for over 30 years
Never the little
I think I enjoyed the LMR as much as the Big and the Pine and the Ausable, just not enough camping options. I'm sure I"ll be back on it again someday. What are some of your other favorite rivers similar to the ones I mentioned?
Did that river in 1961 .... It has not changed......
Wow, that's incredible!
Bless you and the family
Loved that episode can't wait for the finale
Thanks Brian...working on the final episode now. It's so fun reliving the experience through the editing process. Glad you are enjoying it so far.
Greetings Jason, I happened on you channel around the time of your 2nd leg of your Mad River trip that ended at the Glen Thompson Reserve. We live about 5 miles by car from the GTR. I had just been there about a weekish before you posted that.
I assume you are referring to the Little Miami River and not the Mad River. Both are great Ohio rivers...I will certainly be on the Mad again next spring! Thanks Frank!
Yeah, sorry. You are correct, I meant the LMR. I had a bit of insomnia last night so it wasn't best thinking.
I'm looking to get into kayaking and fishing at 52. I have canoed some in my younger days. I heard you mention spear fishing about those King Salmon on the Lil Manistee. I've been wondering why you don't do any catch and cooks? Your great produce with fresh fish would be awesome.
@@FrankD518 I would have loved to catch a fish to add to my dinner...since i didn't know how far i was I didn't want to stop and take the time to fashion a spear but in hindsite I wish I would have. Next season I will make it a point to do a few catch and cooks for sure! Btw, I'll be 49 next month, never too late to get into it!
In another area that crosses over into your areas of expertise, we have started adding more to our little home garden. In past years it was a half dozen tomato plants and a couple jalapeños for salsa. This year, we added a dozen yellow corn plants and a few different types of heirlooms and a couple hybrids. Plus, the the lady of the house likes cherry maters so a couple of those. And then, I had the brilliant idea of adding yellow crook neck squash. And it went everywhere. Next time, I'll trellis it. It absolutely took over and choked out most of the tomatoes I think.
@@FrankD518 This makes me think of one of my favorite books as a child that my mom would read to me, Willie's Garden, he started with one seed and each year planted more and more until he had acres of garden 😂
Love it!
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!