The leaves are gone, temps are dropping and it’s the time for the serious steelhead angler to go looking to hunt fish, not deer.
As is typical for this time of year, the river is running clear as it’s been a while since we have had a push of water from any significant rain. When we have had an increase in water, a small wave of steelhead ran up the Manistee and Betsie rivers, but fish numbers remain uncharacteristically below normal as they have been all fall.
Water temperatures remain in the mid-40s which is more than ideal for more fish to migrate up and as we have found out, they are active once hooked.
It’s been a while since the healthy run of king salmon naturally chummed the water with eggs from their annual spawning cycle, and as such we are starting to fish more nymphs in tandem with our egg patterns for the steelhead. It’s also a great time of the year to swing a big fly on a two-handed rod as it covers a larger portion of water and the flash of the patterns tends to get their attention.
With firearm deer season beginning on November 15 consider wearing hunter’s orange for safety – hunters, deer, firearms and adrenaline are an unpredictable mix.
Good luck,
Ted
Fall Steelhead – Just a few dates in November remain available – finish the fishing season strong.
Spring Steelhead – Most of the season is booked – get your dates for March and April while you can.
2024 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.