After a week of high water, levels are starting to return to normal and clarity is reasonable on local rivers, however they are still stained. At first glance it seems that the water is real dirty but it has a significant amount of transparency to it where large and bold flies are no longer our top choice. More natural sized egg patterns seemed to be preferred by the steelhead, especially if you are fishing near vacant spawning gravel. A few coho and the occasional king/chinook are still around and the water directly below them is always worthy of some casts.
A number of fish moved through the Manistee and Betsie river systems and provided some good fishing some days and other days decent fishing. With water temps slowly dropping but still ideal, the fish are a handful once hooked. Fish are starting to settle into holes and around some wood – especially those fish that have been hooked or pressured; indicators and swung flies are reasonable presentations right now as the egg drop and corresponding egg bite starts to decline.
Good luck
Ted
Fall Steelhead – October, November and into December, these fish will bend your rod like no other – experience it.
Trout/Steelhead – The lower Manistee offers good streamer fishing for trout in late Fall for a combo of species.