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Mid-December “Fall” Steelhead Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 15, 2015

The warm Fall season continues, even though we should be thinking Winter which is scheduled to start next week. Real unseasonable weather has been around for a few weeks as there is no snow on the ground, water temps are still around 40 degrees, and the air temps have been comfortable – especially when you consider it’s the middle of December.

With the warm temps came a lot of warm rain over the weekend. The rivers are running really high and there is significant color to them. Thankfully it was a warm rain and it should inspire more fresh fish to move upstream keeping a nice inventory of steelhead in the river over the winter. Look for the fish already in the system to be scattered throughout the lower and upper sections but also sliding into the inside and shallower seams in the cover of high water – this is a pretty unusual scenario for this time of year. Time to use big egg flies and attractor patterns – an approach similar to early Spring Steelhead fishing.

As the water drops, the trout fishing should turn on again with mid-sized streamers and attention paid to inside bends and softer water near structure rather than the deep and fast runs. If it weren’t for the high water, we would be experiencing some really good fishing – as it drops, it should fish well.

Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Ted

The December/Winter Newsletter just went out – click here to read or subscribe.

Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Steelhead – Look for fishing to continue through December and through a mild winter on the Manistee River.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

high water, river flow, steelhead fishing, streamer fishing, tippy dam, trout fishing

Early December Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 3, 2015

It’s December, but the rivers are acting like it’s still November thanks to a mild fall. After some significant rainfall last week (it would have been a lot of snow!) and a bit more since, the rivers came up but have since dropped to just above normal for this time of year.

With the rain came a “shuffling of the deck” – that is, the steelhead moved around throughout the river systems. Steelhead are scattered throughout the Manistee system and can be found in a mix of water types as they begin to transition into a late fall/early winter pattern. Fresh fish that are migrating up with the water will remain in the bubble lines and cross-overs where fish that have been in the system are starting to make the deeper water of holes their preferred residence. Look for fish to move towards structure as they get into a winter pattern as water temps drop. Thankfully the majority of the rain that fell last Thursday was warm leaving the water in the low 40s.

This is a good time of year to target the steelhead with a number of different techniques including floats/indicators, bottom bouncing/Duck-and-Chuck, and swung flies as you can target a variety of water. Eggs still are working but a nymph bite has become stronger. As for swung flies: brown with copper and Olive with gold have been working.

Trout fishing remains an option for those looking to extend their season especially with the mild temperatures. Conditions below Tippy Dam remain good for those looking to fish streamers for some chunky browns and the occasional steelhead. White baitfish patterns like Dirty Hippies – Rainbow, CF Minnows – Rainbow, and Half and Halfs in gray/white/grizzly have been producing.

Good luck,

Ted

Late Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Look for fishing to continue through December for steelhead on the Manistee River.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

eggs, fall steelhead, guide, nymphs, steelhead fishing, streamer, swinging flies for steelhead, tippy dam, trout

Trickle-In Effect

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 19, 2014

The nice weather is continuing to hang-on leaving us a little behind in weather and our run of migratory salmon. With the lack of consistent (or at least a few days) of North or Northwest winds to really drive the water up along the shoreline with the fish, the salmon will continue to trickle into the area rivers. It is looking to be a long run on the rivers this year.

The Betsie – with it’s cooler water (low 50s) – has fish in it but there are more to come. With the calendar advanced and the cool water temps, some fish are starting to begin their spawning while some fish remain in holes. For the bigger, brighter and fresher fish look for the deeper holes and pocket water to hold the aggressive fish – any consistent pattern this past week has been chartreuse with orange egg patterns and black stone flies but since they are salmon, sometimes you have to go through the fly box to find what might work on that particular day.

The Manistee also has some fish in it, but there are many more in the lake that need to point themselves upriver to improve the fishing. Looking at the forecast, I don’t necessarily see that happening but there are fish to be caught – just not as many as there should be for this time of year. A steelhead or two are within the river and like the salmon, these numbers will only increase with time.

Trout fishing reports have been mixed on the Upper Manistee. The higher water levels offered some good streamer fishing however it has slowed with the water dropping and getting closer to normal. Look for this weekend’s rain to change that. The nice weather in next week’s forecast should get the terrestrials back to the river’s edge and hopefully on the water to get the fish looking up – the late summer/early fall can be a great time with terrestrials on those days when the bugs are active in the warmth. This time of year you pretty much have the trout fishing to yourself – enjoy it.

Good luck,

Ted

The Fall 2014 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

Trout – With Labor Day behind us, have the Upper Manistee River and its trout all to yourself.
Salmon– A few great dates remain in mid-September for salmon fishing on the Betsie River.
Fall Steelhead– From the end of September through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.

black stoneflies, egg patterns, fly fishing report, manistee salmon, salmon fishing, september

Traverse City Fly Fishing Report : Hex to Terrestrials

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 19, 2014

The trout fishing continues to improve on the upper Manistee as it seems more bugs are around than they were when they were supposed to. Or at least there are a few more fish looking up to eat. Water temps are ideal as are the levels and the clarity is maybe a little too good right now making the lower light of morning and evening your best opportunity.

Some Hex bugs are still around in sections but are most likely unpredictable – have some with you if you are fishing into the evening and consider staying past dark. It seems the bugs are showing up just a little before dark rather than the typical after.

Other bugs to have include great Olives, Isonychias, Brown Drakes (yes – still one or two around) Cahills, little yellow sallies and golden stones. If fishing in the morning – tricos have been starting to congregate offering some fun fishing for some of the smaller fish.

Terrestrial fishing (foam and rubber leg) patterns have been starting to get some attention from the fish as summer progresses. Small streamers fished on light sink-tips or floating lines are a good way to tease out some fish this time of year. More on Terrestrial Fishing >>Click Here<<.

A few smallies are still around on the flats but they are hard to find because of the ever changing water temps. The same is kind of true with the carp – they have mostly returned to the deep. It was a decent year for these “golden bones” despite the water changing temps constantly.

Bass and bluegill fishing continues to be good on local lakes. Poppers and sliders are working well on the bass and the small terrestrials with rubber legs are doing a number on the gills/panfish. This is a fun way to spend a summer day – as either an experienced angler tricking bass out of the lily pads or a beginner learning the basics of fly fishing on the bluegill/panfish.

Smallmouth bass in the lower Manistee continues to be an option for the streamer angler or those that just like river smallmouth fishing. This should only improve as the summer continues.

Good luck,

Ted

Terrestrials, Tricos and Trout – July and August fly fishing for trout on the Upper Manistee River
Salmon– Fresh fish can enter rivers as early as mid-August and offer great fishing through September.
Fall Steelhead– From the end of September through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.

bass, bluegill, brown drakes, hex, isonychias, mi, smallmouth bass, terrestrail, travese city, trout, upper-manistee

Warmer Weather, the Start of Summer and Fly Fishing TC

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 26, 2014

Some warmer weather recently has had an effect on getting our seasons back on schedule but they seem to still be off considering hatches, etc. The Upper Manistee and Boardman still have a lot of water in them and have a slight stain thanks to some rain last week but water temps are getting closer to where they should be. The high water – I think – had washed in a lot of food (worms) and both the streamer and dry fly bite was off making for some tough fishing.

With more warm weather in store look for Sulphurs, March Browns, Great Speckled Olives, Black Quills, BWO and little Mahoganies to offer some great dry fly fishing – most likely in the evenings. Between hatches and surface activity try streamer fishing with patterns that suggest chestnut lampreys, night crawlers and sculpins. If fishing waters with smaller brook trout and stocked brown or rainbow trout, use patterns that look similar. Below Tippy Dam the carp are starting to show up and spawn which can slow the trout fishing down. Consider nymphing right behind the carp as the trout often sit right behind them to eat their eggs.

Ponds and lakes are just starting to come on-line with fish moving into the shallows. The bass have been slightly more active as the bluegill begin their spawning. Some of the year’s largest fish are taken on the fly over the next month as the big and wise fish stay deep most of the year. Surface activity is slower than subsurface right now so try small streamers and nymphs retrieved slowly but have some dries ready should the wind lay down and fish start looking up.

Spring steelhead are pretty much all done on the Manistee and Boardman although you will find a fish or two throughout their spawning grounds finishing up their important work. 2014 was a great Spring run with a lot of fish moving through once winter let up. I already look forward to the fall season and if the steelhead eat in the lake as well as they did last summer, we will certainly have our hands full with some strong chromers.

The big sun, warm temps and lack of winds over the weekend will help warm up some of the shallow water on the flats and get the carp and smallmouth bass fishing going soon. Pre-spawn carp can offer some of the best fishing of the year, they can just be fickle and difficult to find. When you do find them, they will often be nose down and “mudding” looking to eat.

Good luck,

Ted

Hatches and Big Bugs – Few dates remain in June for the big bugs – Isos, Drakes and the Hex.
Terestrials, Tricos and Trout – July and August fly fishing for trout on the upper Manistee.
Steelhead and Salmon – While Spring is late getting here, it’s not too early to reserve your Fall Dates.

boardman, carp, carp and smallmouth bass, dry flies, fly fishing traverse, Manistee below Tippy Dam, steelhead, sulphurs, upper manistee river

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