ALL WAYS

LAKES AND RIVERS NEAR CADILLAC

From easygoing river floats to summer boating adventures, our waterways provide scenic beauty for any age and skill level.

CADILLAC AREA WATERWAYS

Between the rivers & lakes, the area boasts an incredible sport fishery. You can find walleye, pike, perch, rainbow trout, and all manner of panfish in the immediate area.

Lakes Cadillac, Lake Mitchell, and nearby Lake Missaukee have large populations of walleye, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, perch, largemouth, and smallmouth bass. Lake Cadillac & Mitchell are connected by a man-made canal built during the logging era. Today, the canal serves as a convenient link between two of Michigan’s most popular fishing lakes.

Find Local Beaches

The Big Manistee River and Pine River are two rivers within an hour of each other, and access points are within 30 minutes of downtown Cadillac.  The Big Manistee is known for its wide, smooth-flowing waters, while the Pine is known nationwide for its swift currents and challenging turns (especially in early spring).

Permits: If you are not renting your watercraft from one of our local liveries, then you may need a permit in certain areas. Watercraft permits are required for all watercraft (including tubes) on the Pine River between Elm Flats and Low Bridge, from the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend through the Monday of Labor Day Weekend.

Fishing In Cadillac

5 Reasons Cadillac Is the Perfect Northwest Michigan Getaway

Northwest Michigan is booming with things to do year-round, and summer in Cadillac is no exception. When summer arrives, Cadillac makes it easy to spend every possible moment outdoors. Set between Lake Cadillac and Lake Mitchell, this welcoming community offers...
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Jump into Reel Life: Greater Cadillac Fishing Guide

Did you hear the news? The fish are biting, and the docks are in at Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac.    Greater Cadillac is an outdoorsman’s paradise, and fishing here is like that sandy Caribbean beach you can’t leave – it’s everywhere. If water is your thing,...
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Spring in Cadillac: Seven Fun Spring Things to Do in Greater Cadillac

The snow starts melting, animals return from the long winter, the weather gets warmer, and flowers start blooming. Spring may be a jumble of all four seasons in one for Michiganders, but it’s a welcome sight after a long, grueling winter. But part of the problem is...
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Winter Paddling The Pine

Northern Michigan is packed with fun things to do and the winter season doesn't slow us down! Jake and Alaney Miltner at Pine River Paddlesports have pioneered a new way to enjoy The Pine River which see’s thousands of paddlers every summer and now you can enjoy the...
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Paddling 5 Northern Waterways This Fall In Cadillac

You don't have to go north to Ontario or the Upper Peninsula to  enjoy a wilderness-like paddling experience. In less than an hour's drive from Cadillac, one can find stretches of the Pine and Manistee River as well as the Tippy and Hodenpyl backwater impoundments...
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A Quick Guide to Fun Summer Rentals in the Cadillac Area

When in Cadillac during the summer, enjoying our lakes and rivers are a must! Kayaking, swimming, boating and jet skiing are only a handful of the things you can do. But the cost of investing in equipment is expensive, especially when you can only use it for just a...
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Conditions on The Pine River
Pine National Scenic River Watercraft Permits (Huron Manistee)

STAY IN CADILLAC

We have a variety of resorts, hotels, motels, cabins & campgrounds perfect for all seasons!
PLAN YOUR STAY
Rivers & Lakes in Cadillac Michigan

GRAB A RIVER MAP

Download the Pine River Map
Download the Big Manistee River Map
STOP INVASIVES: CONTROL THE SPREAD OF DIDYMO!

Currently, there are no effective methods to eradicate didymo once it is established in a river or stream. To prevent spreading didymo and other aquatic invasive species to new locations, it is critical for recreational users to thoroughly clean, drain and dry waders, equipment and boats upon leaving a waterway.

  • Clean by removing mud and debris from all surfaces.
  • Drain water from all bilges, wells and tanks.
  • Dry equipment for at least five days or disinfect with hot water or a dilute bleach solution.

Click here to learn more about didymo.

WATER SPORTS RENTALS