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Mid-August Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 20, 2019

Not a whole lot has changed since the last fishing report.

A long period of virtually no rain has the rivers running low and clear which tends to be the case for this time of year. Cool nights have kept the water temps on the upper Manistee and Boardman rivers in the low 60’s making them ideal for the brown and brook trout that reside in them.

Some mid-morning trico hatches have been providing decent surface activity making it suitable for the 4 wt. rod. It seems that the bug density is starting to wane but it’s hard to say as the season and its hatches are still a bit fragmented (I saw a hex last week, mid-morning). A few caddis are starting to show up but it is pretty much full-on terrestrial season on the local rivers – grass hoppers, ants, beetles and foam bodied/rubber legged patterns – that have been teasing the fish. Attractors and Isonychia patterns are worth tying on as well when not fishing sub-surface with some twitch flies.

The bass and bluegill fishing remains decent for those looking to either learn the sport or experienced anglers bringing a largemouth to the surface to crush a popper or slider. With the warmer weather, weed growth has continued and makes it a great place to target both species. Lakes with drop offs have been out fishing the shallow waters because of water temps. With the big moon in the sky right now, look for some of those overachieving gills in the shallows spawning one last time but also eager to eat your fly.

Good luck.

Ted

Salmon/September – No salmon or trout dates are available this September, sorry.
Trout– Terrestrial & Trico fishing for Brooks and Browns through August and into September.
Fall Steelhead – October through December – a fall favorite for many. A few dates remain open.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through August of 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

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Summer Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 29, 2019

As August comes around, we find that the seasons are becoming a bit more aligned with where they should be for this time of year.

Trout fishing has eased up with less hatches to match, but with fish still looking to come up to eat a dry fly. The Tricos are like most mayflies this season and are running late and are just now beginning to emerge which should make for a few weeks of good August fishing.

Isonychias, Cahills, Great BWOs, and Little Yellow Sallies can be seen on the water when not fishing with terrestrial patterns like ants and hopper-ish looking flies that are always important this time of year. Some days they want movement, other’s they want dead-drift. On the overcast days, look for fish to be anywhere there is a darker bottom indicating depth/structure/current. Small streamers fished on a floating line is a nice addition to the presentation this time of year as they are twitched through likely seams.

Water levels are fine for the wading angler. They are a little higher than normal for this time of year due to rains but by no means are they considered high. Clarity is fine, too. Water temps fluctuate daily this time of year on the Boardman and Upper Manistee so factor that into your plans as fishing late in the day after a few hot days can be slow and stressful to the fish.

Lake and pond fishing for bass and bluegill remain great options for those who have spent enough time chasing trout and trying to please them. Some bigger gills are still in the shallows in part because of the late start to the season spared them from anglers keeping a lot of them. Bass fishing on top with poppers, deer hair bugs and sliders is a lot of fun this time of year when they come from the weeds or depths to chomp on your fly.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Terrestrial & Trico fishing for Brooks and Browns through August and into September.
Salmon – The Kings of September are running big this year – a limited number of dates available.
Fall Steelhead – October through December – a fall favorite for many. A few ideal dates remain open.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through August of2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

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Late July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 20, 2019

As we get deeper into July we can look back and claim this year’s hex hatch as a strange one. It started much later than normal and when the bugs did come off, they came off quite heavily. With a string of cool evenings, some days there was both a spinner fall and emergence at odd times of the day complete with daylight. Now instead of fishing until the early hours in the a.m. we start our day early in the morning. I personally like taking the head lamp out of the gear bag and starting the day on the water.

With recent temps and the bright sun, the morning fishing seems to be best for the brook and brown trout as the upper Manistee can cool off overnight a few crucial degrees. Not a whole lot has been hatching as the Tricos – like most of the other bugs this year – are behind schedule. Some smaller Isonychias, Cahills, Bat Flies and Summer Olives can be found on the water with some fishing looking up. Have a few hex in your box, you know, just in case. Terrestrials are starting to get active on land which makes fishing “foam and rubber” attractor/terrestrial patterns a good approach. Click here to read more on trout fishing after the hex hatch.

Rivers are running a little higher for this time of year after some showers and thunderstorms which have left a slight stain to them.

Lake fishing continues for both bass and gills. Weed growth has really developed recently and has given us more structure to fish, especially the bigger bass that like to lurk. The occasional pike can surprise you and your light tippet when fishing weeds near drop offs, but it’s all fun even if it is short lived.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through July 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

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Late June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 27, 2019

As June winds down, we seem to be waiting for more mayfly hatches to ramp up.

Fishing the past week has been tough on the local rivers which have warmed up into the mid 60’s. Hatch densities and fish looking up for bugs has been less than what we have come to expect for this time of year with just a light trickle of bugs emerging and riding the surface. On the days when the stars are aligned and some cloud cover/overcast days coincide with some hatch activity, fishing is far much better.

The Hex Hatch on the Manistee has been off – a few bugs have been witnessed but really no significant emergence has taken place yet. The rivers are busy this time of year with people anticipating the big mayfly and the big fish that eat them, so be sure to share the river.

Isonychias, Brown Drakes, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown Stones, Golden Stones, Cahills and an errant Sulphur have been on the water, but again not in impressive densities. Not sure if all the high water we have had the past 6 weeks have pushed bugs around affecting the hatch cycles and densities or if we are just experiencing one of those years where mother nature does what she wants and doesn’t necessarily follow a script.

Bass and bluegill fishing on certain lakes has been decent especially when the sun is high making the trout fishing difficult. The water on the Grand Traverse Bays are warming up and the carp and smallmouth fishing is improving the further north you go as the water becomes more comfortable for them. It will be a busy week-plus out there with the 4th of July Holiday so look for early mornings to be your best fishing on the bays.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

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Big Bug Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 20, 2019

Water levels on the local rivers are falling back into shape. While they are a higher than normal for this time of year, they are fishable and have a little stain to them – almost ideal. Water temperatures are still cool due to cool nights and a lack or significant warmth and sunshine the past month which is delaying some of the hatches.

Bugs have been fickle on the Manistee with the best hatches above M-72 as that water has fallen into shape sooner than the lower sections. Look for the last of the sulphurs, Isonychias, little mahoganies, gray drakes, brown drakes, yellow cahills, and some little yellow and medium brown stoneflies. No sign of hex on the Manistee but there are rumors of some on parts of the Au Sable river system.

Its that time of year that the riverbanks are active with more anglers wearing headlamps. Bring bug spray to keep the mosquitoes and ticks away, respect private property and share the resource.

Lake and pond fishing has another round of bigger bluegill in the shallow water with the week’s full-moon. These are a great species to target with a light rod and offer both experienced anglers and beginners the opportunity to bend the rod and just have fun. Some bass are around the shallow water, too, as they come out of the post-spawn funk and are a little more eager to eat both on the surface and below.

Stop your rod tip high.

Ted

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