Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

Mid-March Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 13, 2020

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 increase in water levels and recent big moon will help encourage more steelhead from the lake to migrate up stream, but with water temperatures in the upper 30’s, the run shouldn’t progress too quickly. As always, use caution if wading.

There is already a mix of steelhead in the rivers – fall hold-overs, winter fish and fresh chromers. With the higher water look for fish taking shelter in the deeper holes and moving fish to be near the soft seams. It’s a great time to fish your bigger egg patterns in bold colors as well as nymphs that have a significant silhouette in the darker water. A little flash might not be a bad plan either.

Fishing under indicators/floats and drift fishing with duck and chuck rigs are the primary presentations right now. Click here to read more on how to rig your equipment for steelhead.

Good luck!

Ted

Spring Steelhead – A few prime days in March remain open if your looking for fish and some fresh air.
Trout – May and June aren’t far away and offer ideal conditions for both streamer and dry fly fishing.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates in Oct. and Nov. remain available but they are starting to become limited.

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March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 4, 2020

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 to the recent sunshine and a continued gradual melt would be ideal as we start up our spring steelhead season. Last fall and early winter’s rain saturated the ground and filled the swamps so high water is just a weather event away.

River conditions on both the Manistee and Betsie are in good shape – clarity is fine and water temps are in the mid to upper 30’s depending on the day. A bit of sunshine can give the water a slight bump in temperature and help trigger the fish from their winter funk. Fish are mixed right now with some fall holdovers taking up residence in the deeper, slow water with some fresh fish trickling through the river systems and moving up the soft seams.

Like the fall, there hasn’t been any one pattern working better than another. With the clarity, consider using brighter eggs, but not bold, and the size should be a little larger (#6) than you would think to encourage fish to move a little to eat. Realistic nymphs like hex, caddis and black stones are all popular and proven winners this time of year whether you are fishing them below a float/indicator or bouncing them along the bottom.

Good luck.

Ted

Spring Steelhead – Only a few days in mid-March remain open for the spring season.
Trout – May and June aren’t far away and offer ideal conditions for both streamer and dry fly fishing.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates in Oct. and Nov. remain available but they are starting to become limited.

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“Winter Time, and the fishing isn’t easy”

Posted by Ted Kraimer - January 18, 2020

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 fish for trout or steelhead, the name of the game is to fish the slower water where fish are kind of doing the equivalent of hibernating. When a fly comes into their window, they have plenty of time to inspect it so leader size and realistic patterns can make the difference.

If fishing streamers for trout, small sink-tips or floating lines with heavily weighted flies is a good approach for a while until things warm up.

Steelhead anglers will find that fishing under a float or indicator might provide the best drag-free presentation right now; fishing a realistic and action-enhanced hex nymph pattern is one of my favorite flies to tie on this time of year.

Not into winter fishing? Here are some ideas on how to spend the new couple of months until the white landscape is replaced with green.

Good luck.

Ted

June’s Big Bugs – With summer comes some of our best dry fly fishing – don’t miss the Drakes, ISOs and Hex
Fall Steelhead – Spring season is almost all booked so be sure to get your fall dates before they too are gone.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

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December Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 10, 2019

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 for them to be in the darker, deeper holes/water just off the side of the main current seams.

Fish can be found in the Manistee and Betsie river systems, they are just spread out and it seems that their numbers are a little thin considering the number of fish encountered this past fall. Perhaps sore-mouthing them educated and encouraged them to head back to the lake; angler’s placing fish on a rope or in a cooler definitely had an impact, too. With river temperatures less than the lake temperatures, I’m thinking that new fish migrating upstream will be minimal until the days start getting longer again. I’ve been wrong before, though.

Just as the steelhead fishing slowed, the trout fishing also requires persistence. Those fishing streamers might be better served fishing the inside bends and soft water structure for brown trout looking to have their Christmas feast. Mid-sized streamers seem to be more effective after a few years of triple-tandem articulated, keel-shanked,and over accessorized rattling streamer patterns fished big and heavy. Try fishing those smaller streamers slowly either on a small sink-tip or floating line if the pattern has some weight.

Good luck, enjoy the solitude out there and Happy Holidays!

Ted

The Winter Newsletter just went out –
click here to read and/or subscribe.

2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through October of 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.
Gift Certificates – As we approach the holiday season, consider asking or giving the gift of time on the water.

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Late November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 21, 2019

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 add some cool water to the river, keeping the temps in the river pretty much the same, but still cooler than we steelhead anglers want or expect for this time of year.

With the increase in water, look for the fish in the river systems to kind of shuffle around a bit as things had gotten a little stale the past two weeks. The egg bite is starting to give way to some nymphs and even a swung pattern. The bump in water flow can help dislodge both old, pale eggs and nymphs from gravel sections inducing a natural chum line. There is no front runner as far as color, size or pattern – the same as it has oddly been all fall.

Steelhead can be just about anywhere in the river systems and the type of water they hold in as they start to transition into late fall/early winter patterns; deep holes, tail outs, slow moving runs and structure are all places to target whether you are drift fishing, fishing floats/indicators or wielding the two-hander.

Firearms deer season continues through November – a little blaze orange to your ensemble might protect you from an adrenaline fueled rifle shot while on the water.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Good November and December dates remain open for these prized sport-fish.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through October of 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.
Gift Certificates – As we approach the holiday season, consider asking or giving the gift of time on the water.

betsie river steelhead, fishing, swung fly

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The Winter Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

The Winter Newsletter just went out –
click here to read and/or subscribe.