November is here and as I type, so is the snow. Last week’s high water has pretty much dropped to normal levels leaving local rivers like the Betsie and Manistee running just a little above average re: fall levels/flows, with a slight tinge to it and in the mid-40s – kind of ideal if not […]
As October winds down, the river levels are on the way up. Recent rains have been significant and anglers will find the rivers like the Betsie and Manistee high and rising. Unlike Spring when high water events last a while, the rivers should drain out by later next week, providing we don’t experience additional showers. […]
With the colors at peak, anglers are finding that the peak of the salmon run is behind us. A few fresh fish are slipping through the river systems (Betsie, Platte, Bear Creek, Manistee) but the majority of the fish have been there a while and look like it. Crowds are still at unprecedented levels as […]
A lack of significant rain this month has local rivers running lower and clearer than normal and prolonging the salmon run. The upper Manistee river provided visibility like I had never seen before – it was a unique opportunity to see the water in greater detail as far as structure but also the number of […]
With August coming to an end it is apparent that the Trico hatch on the local trout rivers has also come to an end. This time of year typically is a transition time where fish start focusing on subsurface presentations and streamer patterns but it’s still summer-like and the fish are still looking up and […]
With August here we usually think about the dog days of summer, but seeing how we have already had five weeks of them, the trend continues as does our current fishing conditions. Trout anglers are finding the waters of the upper Manistee and Boardman in the low to mid-60s (depending on overnight temperatures) making for […]
We find ourselves in the middle of summer headed to the trout rivers in the mornings for the best fishing for brook and brown trout. Water temps remain cool in the 60’s as their spring fed nature allows them cool off in the evenings after a hot day. Recent rains have the river in good […]
The recent deep heat the region experienced for the last 10 days has finally let up, at least for now. I am happy to report that some cooler evenings and cloud cover has helped the local rivers drop into the low to mid-60’s making trout fishing an option again. I don’t ever recall such hot […]
Northern Michigan is experiencing unusually high temperatures without cool nights resulting in water temps well into the 70s. While this not only makes the fishing tough as the trout become lethargic, any hooked fish is pretty much assured mortality after bringing them to the net. As a result, trout fishing trips are being suspended until […]
It’s that time of year where darkness brings out the big bugs, big fish and big crowds. The rivers are in good shape with a little more water in them than normal (2 inches?) and a slight stain compared to the typical clear, low water found this time of year. Most of the local rivers […]
It’s the high-season for trout fishing right now. With warmer temps and the calendar in the 3rd week of June, fly-fishers are hitting the water in increased numbers looking for big bugs and big fish. Like much of the season so far on the upper Manistee, the bugs aren’t doing their part by showing up, […]
Without recent significant rains, the local rivers have dropped to what I refer to as full – not high, not low. Water temps currently in the low 60s are likely to climb this week with some hot days in the forecast. Bug/hatches should intensify with that heat, but I no longer predict hatches – picking […]
