Southeast of Fife Lake, along the scenic Manistee River, you’ll find a spot marked as “Rainbow Jim” on Google Maps. This is a popular boat access point off Coster Road.
Not far from the launch was an old cabin, once home to Jim Coster III, a legendary fishing guide affectionately known as “Rainbow Jim.” Standing tall at 6’4″ and weighing 250 pounds, Jim was a larger-than-life figure who welcomed fisherman from far and wide to his cabin. He would take them on thrilling fishing expeditions for trout on the Manistee River, using flat bottom boats he had built himself. A fun-loving soul with a penchant for a good drink, it’s said he hid bottles of whiskey along the riverbank to enjoy with his customers during their fishing trips.
Sadly, Rainbow Jim passed away from a heart attack in 1967 at the age of 72. However, his legacy lives on, as the Michigan DNR honored him by naming the boat launch after him.
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