As much as we appreciate the cooler weather this past week, it takes a little while for the fish to get use to the change in water temps. Cooler water temps are good for the fish and after a day or two off relative consistent weather they are happy and playing our game again.
The hatches on the upper Manistee and Boardman have been quite limited lately with just a few bugs around including Isos, Cahills, Big Olives, and Tricos. Fishing a bead head nymph in runs has produced some fish as they aren’t looking up too much with the bright sun. A very small streamer fished on a floating line has been a good approach, too. When those two presentations don’t work, try small terrestrials and the big rubber leg and foam creations – hoppers, Chernobyl Ants and other large profile bugs that have a little motion in them. The rivers are pretty quiet and a morning spent on the river this time of year is not only a great way to stay cool, but have it to yourself while catching brown and brook trout
Fishing on the lakes and ponds has been good for those looking to cash in on bass on large swimming diver bass bugs and large poppers. Weed beds and lilly pads have been the ideal place to target these fish especially when they are adjacent to cover like wood and drop offs. Keep in mind leader size is important when casting those big wind resistant flies. Bluegill have been playing along too and closer to the shallow water since the big fish in the deeper water tend to eat them – small dries like hoppers, ants, spiders and beetles have been working on top with small baitfish streamers working bellow.
The Smallmouth Bass fishing on the Lower Manistee continues to fish well. Medium to large streamers with lots of flash fished on both floating lines and short sink-tips have been the ticket. Crayfish bounced along the bottom and twitched are always good around rocks especially with the big moon that is out right now. While they aren’t as big as the fish we catch in the bay, the river smallmouth fight hard, get us on the river and make us better fly anglers.
Good luck,
Ted
Trout Fishing – Evening hatches should transition to morning trico s and terrestrial fishing as July sets in.
Bluegill & Bass – Lake fishing for both species is a great way to spend some time on the water over summer.
Fall Steelhead – Its not too early to start thinking about fall’s best fishing fish. Late Sept. – Nov.