Current Works Guide Service
  • (231) 883-8156
  • ted@current-works.com
  • Book a trip
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Home
  • Guide Trips & More
    • Guide Trips & Pricing
    • Casting Lessons
    • Gift Certificates
    • Book a Trip
  • Fishing Report
  • Fish & Seasons
    • Steelhead
    • Trout
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Salmon
    • Bluegill / Panfish / Bass
    • Golden Bones / Carp
  • Rivers & Hatches
    • Upper Manistee River
    • Lower Manistee River
    • Betsie River
    • Boardman River
    • Hatch Chart
  • Fly Tying
  • Articles
  • Gallery
  • About
    • About Your Guide
    • Testimonials
    • Newsletter
    • Area Information

Early April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 1, 2024

Some rain last week gave the rivers a nice little bump in water flow and some additional steelhead moving upstream from lake Michigan.

Clarity is still really good on the Manistee River below Tippy Dam, and is a little more stained on the Betsie River. Water temperatures have pretty much remained in the low 40-degree range as overnight temps and a lack of sunlight have kept things stable. With some significant rain in the forecast this week, water levels and clarity are likely to change.

The steelhead are mixed: from fresh fish moving upstream to spawning fish and drop-backs – all stages are within the river systems and be found in all kinds of water.

Smaller, natural color egg patterns and beads continue to be the first choice in the clear water. Shades and tones of yellow, gold nugget and steelhead orange have been productive. Fry patterns are starting to increase in effectiveness as salmon fry are starting to develop and swim making them prey to the steelhead as are the smaller stoneflies when the sun warms up that water just a bit and induces an emergence.

Good luck,

Ted

— PS: New, 2024 fishing licenses are required April 1 —

Trout Season – Mid-May into July offers some of the best match-the-hatch dry fly fishing of the season.
2024 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.

betsie river, egg patterns, fishing michigan, fry patterns, guided fishing trip, manistee river, steelhead fishing, stoneflies, tippy dam fishing, trout season
Traverse City Weather
50°
Cloudy
6:05 am9:12 pm EDT
Feels like: 46°F
Wind: 8mph NE
Humidity: 74%
Pressure: 29.82"Hg
UV index: 1
ThuFriSat
52°F / 41°F
50°F / 39°F
57°F / 39°F
powered by Weather Atlas

Articles & Fly Tying

Autumn Offender Streamer Pattern

Autumn Offender Streamer Pattern

Thing-a-Ma-Hex Fly Pattern

Thing-a-ma-Hex

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia Fly Pattern

Tilt-Shoot Iso – Isonychia Fly Pattern

Swing Leech - Rabbit Strip Leech

Rabbit Strip Leech Fly Pattern

A Fly

A Fly

Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156

© 2024 Current Works, LLC — All rights reserved
  • Home
  • Guide Trips & Pricing
  • Fishing Report
  • Fish & Seasons
  • Rivers & Hatches
  • Fly Tying
  • Articles
  • Gallery
  • About
  • Sitemap