Its officially Fall, the calendar has flipped to October, but summer weather continues to hang on.
The unseasonable weather with warm temperatures and almost no rain over the past few weeks have the rivers like the Manistee, Betsie, and Platte running low and clear. The salmon are in the rivers and many have hit the gravel doing their part to ensure there are salmon again in our rivers in 4 years. Some steelhead have been eating our egg patterns and beads but mostly skippers, which is typical for the early fall.
There are plenty of salmon still in holes as they are in a pre-spawn mode waiting for conditions to change. Rumors of more fish in the lake waiting to come up promise to make it a long season. A good N.W. wind for a day or two and a bump in river flows would really kick things off.
Many of the trout rivers remain open despite traditional trout rivers closing on Sept. 30. Sections of the Manistee and Au Sable systems make fall trout fishing a great alternative for anglers looking to have the river to themselves. With the colors in the trees and some aggressive brook trout and pre-spawn brown trout coming out from hiding the past three months, you can have a nice day on the water. Terrestrial fishing remains viable thanks to the warm weather and water temps and those accustomed to fishing streamers in the fall might want to decrease the size of their patterns in the clear water.
Good luck.
Ted
Trout Fishing – Have the river to yourself with school starting and football keeping people off the trout rivers.
Fall Steelhead – Finish the fishing season with our favorite species to chase. Dates remain available in late Nov.
Spring Steelhead –The season will be here before you know it – get your dates secured Mid-March thru April.