where to fish on Big Manistee?

[LJA]

I've recently registered with this site since everyone seems to give good, straightforward information. I will be fishing the upper Manistee R. (upstream of Sharon, MI) this Friday morning for browns and brookies, but since it's such a long stretch of river and I've never fished it before, I don't know where to start. Any stretches which are overfished or crowded? How about the North Branch? Or would I be better off trying some of the feeder "creeks" such as Portage Creek or Goose Creek? Thanks again for any help.

[Northbound]

This posting comes a bit late. However you can use it next year.
There are a number of places to fish the Manistee. Some are crowded for good reason. My favorite place for the Hex hatch is CCC Bridge. Get there EARLY. Stay by the whole you want to fish. On weekends it's like Steal head fishing. However, once the hatch begins and they start hitting "Duns" and "Emergers". The action gets hot. You can hear guys yelling up and down the River.
There is an out of the way place south of M-72 and Manistee River Road(Total gas station on Corner) Go south from M-72 to the fork in the road. Stay to the left, In that area, on the left, you'll a place were one car can park.It's a short walk to the river. Hike through the woods.Then up stream and fish back down. When your finished you should drive south down the dirt road to "Yellow Trees". You can't miss it. Once you've parked, Hike west through the tag alders. You'll see trails. Carefull, there is a red cabin on the other side of the river. just down stream from that is a hole you wont be able to wade through.

[Northbound]

Ooops, that should be hike EAST through the tag alders at "yellow Trees"