Trout

Posted by Ted Kraimer - January 12, 2023

Traditionally Trout season begins the last Saturday of April and runs through September, but some sections of rivers like the Manistee remain open year-round. Within an hour’s drive of Traverse City we have a number of trout rivers/streams, good hatches, beautiful scenery and great fishing. Here is what you can expect throughout the year.

April – May

Hatches are going in earnest by the month of May and often start earlier in April which include: Hendricksons, Little Black Stone Flies and Caddis, offering some really good dry fly fishing. Later in the month of May, expect Sulphurs, March Browns, Black Quills/Borcher’s Drakes, and others extending into June. With water temperatures rising and angling pressure low, this is a great time to be on the water for the angler willing to mix up their fishing between streamers and dry flies.

These are the months to throw streamers for some trophy fish. Streamer fishing has become common the past few years and remains a great way to cover water when the bugs aren’t on the surface. Not necessarily for beginners, we cast some big flies on sink-tip lines for big fish. There is nothing like watching a 20-plus inch fish come out of nowhere and pounce on your fly.

June

The “bug month,” June has so many different aquatic insects hatching that it can sometimes be maddening trying to determine which bugs the fish are eating at a particular time. That’s why a lot of anglers like to fish Michigan in June. Sulphurs, March Browns, Mahoganies, Tan Caddis, Borchers Drakes, Isonychias, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Big Stones, Brown Drakes, Grey Drakes and of course, the Hex (Hexagenia Limbata). Looking for dry fly fishing? Then this is a great month for you.

Note: The month of June books early for guided trips. Secure your dates »
Hex fishing is the time of the year that 2-1/2″ – plus mayflies hatch in the last minutes of light and into the dark hours of our longest days. With the dark comes those wary night-time roaming brown trout feeding on the surface, often making a noise hard to accept from a fish that is typically such a nocturnal recluse. While the West is known for its Salmonfly Hatch, we have the Hex as our claim to fly-fishing fame.

July – August

Coming off of a very busy month of hatches, we look for the small Trico hatches in the morning to bring fish up to the surface. Grasshoppers and other terrestrial patterns come out of the box and on the water making for some fun and exciting fishing. Evenings typically produce some bug activity including Isonychias and others like Light Cahills and Blue Wing Olives.

Night Time

“Mousing” — the casting of big surface flies resembling mice and other surface disruptions — can bring up those nocturnal brown trout which are out in the shallow flats looking to eat big without much work. Not necessarily for beginners, mouse fishing is for anglers who are looking for a unique opportunity to fish at night with glow-in-the-dark fly lines and big flies for big fish. Find out what the allure is to this fishing and remember to set the hook on the feel, not the sound!

September – November

With kids back in school, college football on TV and the salmon and steelhead in some rivers, trout rivers in the Traverse City and northern Michigan regions are yours to claim. Water temps have dropped and streamer fishing gets going again with some good terrestrial fishing on top. Enjoy the river and the fall colors with an opportunity to catch some trout that themselves are changing color and are as vivid as the foliage. The trout fishing below Tippy Dam at the end of October and in November can be some of the best fishing of the year on both nymphs and streamers as they are coming off a diet of eggs and looking to keep the feed bag on.

Off-Season

“Off-season” is considered fall, winter and early spring. When most anglers are in pursuit of steelhead or salmon, hit the extended season rivers and have the trout water to yourself. Both the Manistee and Boardman Rivers have sections that are open all year. Sometimes we experience warm-ups throughout the winter, and often a change of a couple degrees is enough to get some fish feeding. It’s always good to get out and get some fresh air, sunshine and hopefully fish. Streamer fishing during ideal conditions can bring out the hibernating browns that are looking to eat big — some of the largest fish of the year are taken at this time — well before the traditional trout opener arrives.

Obviously, being a fly fishing guide for trout in northern Michigan can be a year-round endeavor with each of our distinct four-weather seasons which offer unique conditions to all anglers. Simply put, we don’t get bored guiding just one species, one way. And we have lots of equipment to prove it.

Rivers

Local trout waters that Current Works offers guided fly fishing trips on include both the Upper and Lower Manistee and the Boardman River, located close to Traverse City. For more information on these rivers, check out the Rivers / Hatches section of the website.

: Winter Fishing

: Brown Trout and Streamer

: Morning Trico Hatch

Check out the local Hatch Chart for additional bug details.

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Hendrickson Hair Wing Dun

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 20, 2018

Hendrickson Hair Wing Dun

When some of the local rivers maintain temperatures in the mid-50s, you can expect to see Hendrickson mayflies (Ephemerella subvaria) emerging, especially in the afternoon after the sun has had a chance to warm up the water. It’s also a chance to take advantage of fish that haven’t necessarily been pressured for a while as they come out of hibernation and start feeding on the first significant mayfly to emerge in late April and into May. It might be safe to say that Hendrickson’s are the first sign of spring to an avid dry fly angler.

This version of Rene Harrops’s classic Hair Wing Dun floats well, sits in the film and represents the insect’s profile very nicely.

Hendrickson Hair Wing Emerger

Since Henies can struggle to get off the water in the cooler temperatures common in the early season, they tend to be vulnerable to feeding fish. This pattern – with Its Elk Hair Caddis-like wing – allows you to skitter it on the surface just above a selectively feeding fish for added realism that can be just enough to convince a fish that has already refused your previous presentation.

By changing the tail materials to Gadwall Flank and some Z-lon, you can create an effective emerger. With the water often stained in the early season, I have a few of these ties with a piece of micro opal Flashabou as a rib to bring just a little attention to the pattern as it floats downstream.

Don’t limit this pattern just to just Hendricksons. With some minor adjustments to color and size, this pattern can be tied to represent most the mayflies found emerging in May and June.Tie some up and think Spring!

Hendrickson Hair Wing Dun with Rib

Recipe

Hook:                    Gamakatsu S10 #14
Thread: Uni 8/0 or equivalent – Tan or Camel
Tail: Moose Body or Coque De Leon
Dubbing:              Custom blend of 1/3^rd Olive &
: 1/3^rdCinnamon Fine ‘N Dry dubbing
: and 1/3^rd Muskrat Fur – hand mixed.
Hackle:                 Grizzly Dyed Dun Dry Fly
Wing: Medium Coastal Deer Hair

Tying Instructions

Step 1. Wrap a thread base from behind the hook eye to above the barb.

Step 2. Apply a very slight amount of dubbing to the thread
and create a very small and compact ball above the hook barb.

Step 3. Using a hair evener/stacker, prepare 4 to 6 moose body hairs and tie on top of the shank
– mid way- so the natural tips extend one hook shank’s length beyond the hook.
Divide the hairs on either side of the small dubbing ball to help split/spread the hairs.

Step 4. Dub a slightly tapered body to the half-way point up the hook shank.

Step 5. Choose a hackle feather that is one size too large and
tie in the hackle by the stem up against the dubbing.
To help secure the feather, trim some of the barbules close to the stem.

Step 6. Dub the thorax area stopping about one hook eye’s length shy of the hook eye itself.

Step 7. Wind the hackle fully through the thorax area and tie off between dubbing and hook eye.

Step 8. Prepare, clean and stack a clump of deer hair that is a little thicker than a coffee stir stick/straw.
Tie in the deer hair so the tips – when laid down – extend the length of the dubbed body.
Use a couple of loose lasso-wraps of thread before securing and flaring the deer hair.
The tips of the hair should be pointed back and upwards.

Step 9. Trim the deer hair off the front of the fly so that it sticks up a little.
Think of how an elk hair caddis is tied. Whip finish.|

Step 10. Trim the hackle on the underside of the fly, flat, so that it is doesn’t extend beyond the hook point.

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A Fly

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 22, 2016

” A Fly”

One summer I was struggling to figure out what the trout on the local rivers wanted to eat. Adding insult to injury, the deer flies were feeding better than the trout – but on me as I observed the river thinking of the hundreds of possible fly patterns that might work. Then the light bulb flickered and buzzed like an old fluorescent lamp with a bad ballast- “Hey, what if I fished with a fly that looked like a fly?”

I adapted a few terrestrial patterns and came up with the deer fly pattern that I call “A Fly.” The Brook Trout and Brown Trout noticed all the flies on the water, too, and my pattern to them was no different, at least before they decided to eat it. Other guides and anglers noting our success that summer would often ask what pattern I was using, I simply and honestly replied, “a fly.” I’m not sure they ever caught on.

Brown and Brook Trout like to eat flies

When summer comes along and most of the match-the-hatch problems and puzzles have passed by, have some of these flies in your box. While some bigger fish do take A Fly from time to time, it’s mostly the smaller trout happily feeding in the summer months that this fly is effective with. It’s a great fly to fish on a 3 or 4 weight or to use as an indicator with a Trico attached as a dropper.

Being a smaller, darker fly, it can be tricky to see, so feel free to change the color and size of the “tracker,” but be careful because if it is too large, the fly won’t land right side up.

Headed to Chile this winter? Increase the size to a number 8 and watch what happens as this pattern imitates the local beetles.

Recipe

Hook: Gamakatsu S10-2S, Size 12
Thread: Uni-6/0 – Black
Body: Foam 2mm – Black
Underbody: Peacock Herl
Under wing: Angel Hair – Pear/Gold
Wing: CDC Feathers – Natural Gray
Rubber Legs: Sili Legs – Nymph Size, Olive Barred
Indicator: 2mm Foam, bright color

Tying Instructions:

Step 1. Wrap a thread base from behind the eye to above the barb then back mid-shank.

Step 2. Cut a piece of foam about 3/16″ wide and 2″ long.
Taper one end as shown by trimming with your scissors.

Step 3. Tie the end of the tapered foam on top of the hook from mid-shank and loosely
wrap backwards to above the hook barb – this helps prevent the thread from cutting the foam.
Now, wrap forward with tighter wraps to secure the foam.

Step 4. Take 5-6 strands of peacock herl and tie the tips in mid-shank and wrap
back to above the barb. Wrap/twist the herl around the thread to strengthen the peacock.

Step 5. Wind the peacock twist forward building a bulbous underbody
ending about 2/3rds up the shank. Tie off excess herl.

Step 6. Pull the foam up over the peacock underbody and secure with loose wraps all the way to the hook eye.

Step 7. Tie a sparse amount of Angel Hair as an under-wing so it doesn’t extend beyond
the foam back when it is pushed down. I typically pull just a few strands and
double back them over a number of times until I get the desired amount.

Step 8. Tie 4 to 6 CDC feathers so the natural tips are aligned
and extend to the bend of the hook and broadly fan out.

Step 9. Fold the remaining foam backward forming a bulge of foam up front and tie down so the foam
helps lay the wing down. Trim the foam just enough to maintain the pressure on the wing.

Step 10. Tie a rubber leg in on each side of the fly in the tie down region. It is important to note that these legs
are “Nymph” sized and are smaller in diameter providing adequate motion and maintaining a buoyant fly.
Trim the “X” of the legs so the rear legs are just short of the bend of the hook to avoid fouling.
Trim the front legs so they are shorter than the back legs.

Step 11. Tie in a piece of bright foam – your choice on color – to help you track the fly on the water.
Make this as small as you can but also large enough to help you see it.

Step 12. Whip finish and be sure to add two coats of thin
head cement to protect all of the exposed thread wraps.

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Ted’s Brook Trout

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 17, 2016

Ted’s Brook Trout Streamer Pattern

Big fish eat small fish. And, this classic-styled streamer pattern does a good job of imitating our native brook trout which are vulnerable to the larger brown trout that often share the same water.

While not large by today’s mega-articulated-tandem and otherwise over-accessorized streamer patterns, this kinder, gentler, natural profiled streamer allows you to sneak it into the territorial trout’s domain before it gets pounced on.

You can fish this brook trout with a shorter sink-tip (10-12′) or even a floating line. If using the latter, proper mending in the retrieve will allow you to dance and suspend the fly in likely fish-holding water and above structure.

Teds Brook Trout Streamer Brown Trout (921x651)

Brook Trout Eating Brown Trout

Brookies seem more prolific in the smaller rivers of Michigan where it is easier to pin-point the likely fish holding/sheltering lies vs. casting big, searching and covering water. When fish aren’t on the feed, this streamer approach sometimes is the difference between success and saying, “They just weren’t on a streamer bite today.”

Not a fly tier? Ted’s Brook Trout is available from Rainy’s Flies and can be bought in stocking fly shops. Below are tying instructions for you fly tiers.

Recipe

Hook:              TMC 300 #2-6
Thread: Fly Master + or Uni 6/0 Olive Dun
Tail: Grizzly Marabou – Golden Brown
Body:               Golden Olive Tri-lobal or Estaz
Wing:               Marabou – Golden Brown
Throat: Calf/Kip Tail – Orange
Collar: Mallard Flank Dyed Wood Duck
Topping:          Peacock Herl
Lead:               .035” lead wire

Tying Instructions:

Step 1. Start a thread base behind hook eye and take back to above barb.

Step 2. Cut 3″ of lead wire and tie in a hook gape’s distance behind the eye and wrap backwards – cover somewhat with thread wraps.

Step 3. Tie in Tail so it extends ½ of a hook shank’s length.
Wrap base of feather over lead to help build up underbody.

Step 4. Tie in Estaz and wind forward stopping just ahead of the lead wire.

Step 5. Tie in a full marabou feather on the top of the hook with the tips extending to the tail.

Step 6. Tie in a clump of Kip/Calf Tail on the underside so the tips extend to approximately the hook barb.

Step 7. Tie a mallard dyed wood duck feather by the tips. “Break” the back fibers on the
side of the stem away from you by running the back edge of your scissor edge along the stem.

Step 8. Wrap a collar of the mallard flank feather.

Step 9. Tie in 6 to 8 strands of peacock herl on top of the fly.

Step 10. Build a large, smooth thread head and whip finish. On flies like this, I like to apply two
thin coats of Sally Hansen’s clear nail polish to both protect the threads and put a nice finish on the fly.

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Practice Casting Prior to Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 15, 2016

Don’t practice when you get to the river – fish instead.

Each spring we notice the days getting longer, the weather warmer and the fishing season rapidly approaching. But are you ready? What I notice year after year with the majority of returning clients is their casting skills improve only marginally if at all. Often after some casual conversation they reveal that they haven’t fished/practiced casting since the last time we were together . Most of the time they don’t need to tell me this, I can see it.

Just like an elk hunter doesn’t climb on top of a mountain to sight his rifle in on a herd – a fly fisher should have practiced and refined his cast so it goes where it needs to go when on the water.

While not everyone is a natural caster, everyone can improve – but you have to spend some time working on it. First, make it a goal. Second execute a plan. Here are some thoughts on how you can work towards a better cast:

Loop control. If you don’t know them already understand the mechanics of good casting and practice false casting with ever improving loop control.

Fish demand accuracy – especially rising trout.

Aim small, hit small. Just don’t cast – actually practice hitting a target. Some people use hula hoops, but dark patches of grass, yard flags, or even a stick work as something to aim for.

Cast short. In Michigan a lot of our trout fishing is closer than people think. Or practice. Try casting shorter distances with accuracy rather than showing off how far you can cast.

Practice what you fish. If you are likely to cast big or weighted flies, practice casting big or weighted flies. Casting dry flies requires different casting skills and approach.

If you fish in windy conditions, practice in the wind.

Tie one on. Attach a bright, easy to see fly on the end of your leader and cut off the hook to eliminate hooking yourself.

Sporting clays/sporting flies. Bird hunters often practice shooting clay targets on a range where the targets fly in life-like situations. Practice casting similarly – put a target under a shrub or a tree – you know, where trout sometimes often lie.

Like the wind. Be sure to practice when it’s windy because it’s often windy when you’re on the water.

Lesson learned. FFF certified instructors are available for lessons and can flatten the learning curve – especially when you practice what they teach you.

Read & understand fly casting.

Read about it. There are countless books on casting – consider reading more on the subject.

Movie star. After some practice, have someone take a video of you casting and evaluate yourself. With smart phones, this is easy to do.

Build muscle memory. Fly casting is more muscle control than it is muscle and power application. Helping the body develop muscle control/memory can be achieved by practicing often but for very short periods of time. Some people find keeping a rod rigged up where they can go into the yard or neighborhood park for 15 min. makes practicing easy. One customer last year said it was a great way to decompress after work – and it was evident on the water that he practiced!

Dedicate a line. If you replace your fly line, use the old one as a dedicated practice line. This keeps your new line in optimum shape. Or check out the discounted fly lines at your local shop.

Becoming a better caster off the water makes you a better angler on the water.

Good casting and the ability to put a fly in front of a feeding fish or likely fish holding spot is crucial. If you can’t put the fly where and how it needs to be, your success rate will typically go down as your frustration goes up.

There are enough variables in fly fishing to work through, why not control the few you can? Show up to the water a better caster and a better angler.

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