Late April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 21, 2021

It seems that this year’s April showers were replaced by April flowers as vegetation and gardens are 3 weeks ahead. We still haven’t had any significant rains and the rivers look like it – low and clear.

The steelhead have thinned out without many fresh fish showing up. Those that do seem to hit the gravel, spawn and leave, quickly. Still, enough time put into fishing runs and the dark water near spawning gravel will find you fish. It just hasn’t been the season we usually experience but it’s been stable, just fewer banner days than what usually comes with a season. I suspect fish will continue to trickle in over the next couple of weeks on the Manistee, but the majority of the spring fish have come and are already gone.

Trout opener is this weekend and it appears that the cold weather my be behind us by then and warmer days ahead might produce ideal conditions for some hatches and surface activity. Hendricksons, BWOs and black caddis should be in your box. When there aren’t any bugs around, go sub-surface with some streamers. The water is still cool (low 50s) so a little slower retrieve might be more suitable than the hard, quick rip and strip. As always, mix it up to see what they are in the mood for that particular day.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –
perfect for beginners or those looking to dial in a new technique.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December

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Mid April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 11, 2021

It’s approaching mid-April, but it feels more like the first of May with the recent weather. One could argue that it felt more like the end of May with the recent 70-degree days.

Steelhead fishing has been challenging as we had not received much precipitation and more anglers show up at the river for a reduced number of fish. Fish have been spawning on the Manistee and Betsie and a lot have completed the task leaving empty gravel beds. With the clear water a lot of fish slip off the gravel and wait low-light hours and take refuge in the darker pockets and runs nearby making them ideal locations to target. Drop-backs (fish that are done spawning) can typically be found in the medium flowing runs as they drop back to the lake.

We are finally getting some rain now and are forecast to get more in the next couple days which should help bring in some fresh fish to prolong the run. Suckers have been in the water well over a week and historically another run of steelhead takes place after the suckers.

The fry bite has been good as has small (Size 8 and 10), realistic looking egg patterns. With the suckers spawning, yellowish sucker spawn patterns might be worth fishing. Green caddis and Ice Buggers, too have been successful the past week.

I have not been on the trout waters but have heard a few Hendricksons and BWO’s have been coming off, but not heavily nor consistent. With the water temps still in the mid- 50’s fish tend to prefer eating subsurface until the upper 50’s. It’s a good time to go fish a streamer but have a dry fly rigged and ready should surface activity take place.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –
perfect for beginners or those looking to dial in a new technique.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December

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Early April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 2, 2021

With the start of April behind us, anglers are finding water levels on the Manistee and Betsie uncharacteristically low and clear for this time of year. The region hasn’t received any significant rain yet this year and the snow melt has been gone for over a month. Without the rivers rising and being stained, the steelhead migration has been more of trickle than a “run”.

The fall fish that wintered over and those that came throughout the winter have already performed their spawning and moved back to the lake. There are a lot of empty gravel beds which should help with wild fish reproduction rates – all of our rivers could stand a population increase. Fishing has been tough as we continue to experience more anglers and less fish. Sure helps make the case for catch and release for those that don’t practice it.

With the water being clear, lighter line and smaller flies have been working better than the bigger and bolder patterns. Eggs and beads in smaller sizes and natural color schemes (orange-ish) have been working better than others. The green caddis tied in size 8 and 10 have been working well and the fry bite is starting to take place as more juvenile salmon fry are swimming around clueless – the fry bite is one of the more aggressive takes while nymphing. Don’t forget your black stones and hex nymphs.

The long-term weather forecast is calling for more of the same – dry conditions and mild temps. With the water in the low 40’s it might be a good thing that we don’t have a big push of water as the steelhead run would likely be condensed to a short 5 day event. As it looks, it will be a long, slow trickle of fish, until any appreciable rain and runoff takes place.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –
perfect for beginners or those looking to dial in a new technique.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December

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Late March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 20, 2021

Spring officially has started which typically means cold nights and the promise of warmer days. And Spring Steelhead.

The local rivers – Manistee and Betsie – have been providing some fish but with the lack of rain/run-off, it’s been a case of earned fish rather than easy fishing. Yes, easy steelhead fishing does occur from time to time. Water temps are in the low 40s and are bouncing around with temperature swings that can range 30 degrees in a day.

As these fish migrate upstream to spawn, many are staging in areas near spawning gravel waiting for conditions to be just right. Look for fish in the holes near gravel or runs between holes. Some fish have begun spawning which should take place for another month or so. With angling pressure increasing, look for fish to seek shelter in secondary spots, specifically around the structure of log jams.

Some little black stone flies have been emerging which makes it a great pattern to fish when tied in tandem with an egg or bead. If the water becomes too colored/stained, the smaller stonefly is hard to see and larger patterns are suggested. Green Caddis, Hex Nymphs and Steelhead Buggers are all great pattern choices right now.

Please keep in mind that Steelhead will return to Lake Michigan after spawning and come back even bigger next year if you allow them to, not only making for bigger fish, but also more fish. MI-DNR was unable to collect eggs in 2020 to support their supplemental spawning program in 2021– this season it is more important than ever to limit your harvest to help the fishery absorb this loss. The steelhead population, simply put, is not infinite.

Limit Your Kill
– All Trips Remain Catch and Release –

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –
perfect for beginners or those looking to dial in a new technique.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December

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Mid-March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 10, 2021

Longer days and mild temperatures have steelhead on most angler’s minds. Rivers like the Manistee and Betsie are still running cold – just under 40 degrees with fluctuations coming from cold overnights, sunshine, and any leftover snowmelt – it’s mostly gone (for now – the snowblower is still gassed up and the shovels are ready).

Water levels are low and on the clear side which hasn’t encouraged an abundance of fresh fish into the local systems but the holdovers from fall and the steelhead that have trickled in throughout the winter have shuffled around and are getting eager for things to warm-up just a little more to begin their spawning before returning to the lake.

With the river conditions being low and clear, anglers will find good fishing throughout the river system. Egg patterns and beads seem to be outperforming the nymphs; however, a caddis and black stone fly are always a good bet this time of year, especially with the sunshine and slight bump in water temps. Indicator and floats, and duck and chuck are your best approach as the water is still too cool for consistent action on a swung fly.

As the spring steelhead season gets underway, please keep in mind that MI-DNR was not able to collect fish for hatchery operations in 2020 leaving a year gap in supplemental stocking. Natural reproduction does occur so please practice catch and release to help the fisheries and anglers endure a lost year of stocking.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –
perfect for beginners or those looking to dial in a new technique.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December.

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Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

Late April Fishing Report

Mid April Fishing Report

Early April Fishing Report

Late March Fishing Report

Mid-March Fishing Report

Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156