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 […]
June has arrived and usually the first of the big bugs on the river arrive with it. Isonychias should be in the fly box if you are headed out to the local rivers. Plenty of other bugs can be found on the water this time of year, too: March Browns, Sulphurs, Mahoganies and Black Caddis. […]
With May upon us, we find ourselves still under the squeeze of Covid-19. Anglers can still fish on their own or with members of their household, but in compliance with Michigan’s Stay Home/Safe order, not with others unless 6ft of distance can be maintained. I have been contacted by customers old and new about the […]
The Michigan Stay Home/Stay Safe order has been extended through the month of April, so guide trips will become available again starting May 1, 2020. <<Click here to read an overview/options for May fishing>> Anglers can still fish on their own if they maintain social distancing (6’) and will find steelhead in all the local […]
In compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order, guide trips have been suspended until April 13th, 2020. As interpreted, outdoor activities are still permissible, however maintaining the 6 foot distance between others is not feasible during guide trips which led to this decision. It’s not easy to walk away from three weeks of income, nor is […]
Most of the snow is gone (except for north facing slopes) and much of that runoff has found it’s way to the river systems. Water levels are up on area rivers and they have some stain to them. The Manistee below Tippy Dam is running 3,200 cfs and the Betsie, too, is running full. The […]
As we flip the calendar to March it’s apparent that the days have become longer, temps a little warmer, and the sun is making an appearance a little more often. Was it me or did it seem like the sun went south for the winter this year? Much of the snow pack has diminished thanks […]
It’s been a see-saw winter with snow, mild temps, more snow, etc. But the calendar notes it is January and any chance to get out and fish this time of year should be considered a bonus. Despite the warm-ups, the water temperatures on local rivers remain in the lower 30s. Whether you are looking to […]
While we are officially still in Fall, there is no denying that we are in Winter once we step outside or even look out the window. And the fish know it, too. Fishing has become tough the past couple weeks with water temps in the mid 30’s. If it is steelhead you are after, look […]
The mild fall came to an abrupt stop last week with a cold front and significant snowfall dropping the water temperatures in the local rivers. Temps on the Manistee and Betsie are in the upper 30s after dropping about 8 degrees in 10 days. Now as it rains, the snow is sure to melt but […]
November greeted us with full-on fall weather – a mix of snow and rain and some wind making for classic fall steelhead weather. Water temps have settled into the lower to mid 40’s on the lower Manistee below Tippy Dam and Betsie Rivers which are running higher than normal for this time of year, but […]
