The past week of fall weather had us thinking summer was over, then, well, summer showed up again.
The cooler weather combined with some favorable winds helped encourage a number of salmon to run up local rivers. Now that the summer weather and sunshine has returned, those fish are hiding and are wondering why they came in. This pre-spawn stage of the salmon run is usually best on the cloudy days or low-light hours. Of course, when the fish show up, so do the anglers so be sure to share the resource and show some respect to it and one another.
The trout fishing is a refuge for those looking to get away from the salmon fisheries. Some colors have started to show up in the trees and with warmer weather returning the water temps to ideal ranges, look for continued dry fly fishing with both terrestrials and attractors. When the wind is high and leaves and pine needles clutter the surface, go subsurface with some twitch flies and small streamers.
The upper Manistee is running very clear and the longer, well presented cast is necessary more than ever. Lighten your tippet, keep a low profile and look for some of those larger browns to come out from hiding the past 10 weeks. Or have a ball with the brilliant looking brook trout as they start to think about spawning.
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.