Early July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 9, 2019

July is here, the big hex bugs finally showed up – albeit about 10 days late – and they are still around some on the local rivers. The nocturnal hex are showing up at strange times due to the cool evenings so look for spinner falls to occur just about any time in the day. Water levels, temps and clarity are pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year – mid 60s, clear, and average flows allowing for wading in they typical sections.

In addition to the hex, have some Bat Flies, Isonychias, Stones – Golden and Medium Brown, Cahills and some caddis. Smaller streamers fished on light sink-tips or floating lines can be a good way to cover some water but a lot of the fish are still looking up and are only interested in those mayflies that are like floating porterhouse steaks to them.

Lake fishing remains good for those looking for bluegill and bass action on the local lakes and ponds. Target the weed growth near drop-offs as well as any other structure that might hold fish.

Smallmouth and Carp fishing continues on Grand Traverse Bay. The Carp are spawning in the northern sections where the water is cool and there are still some cruisers on the flats in the shallow ends.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

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Late June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 27, 2019

As June winds down, we seem to be waiting for more mayfly hatches to ramp up.

Fishing the past week has been tough on the local rivers which have warmed up into the mid 60’s. Hatch densities and fish looking up for bugs has been less than what we have come to expect for this time of year with just a light trickle of bugs emerging and riding the surface. On the days when the stars are aligned and some cloud cover/overcast days coincide with some hatch activity, fishing is far much better.

The Hex Hatch on the Manistee has been off – a few bugs have been witnessed but really no significant emergence has taken place yet. The rivers are busy this time of year with people anticipating the big mayfly and the big fish that eat them, so be sure to share the river.

Isonychias, Brown Drakes, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown Stones, Golden Stones, Cahills and an errant Sulphur have been on the water, but again not in impressive densities. Not sure if all the high water we have had the past 6 weeks have pushed bugs around affecting the hatch cycles and densities or if we are just experiencing one of those years where mother nature does what she wants and doesn’t necessarily follow a script.

Bass and bluegill fishing on certain lakes has been decent especially when the sun is high making the trout fishing difficult. The water on the Grand Traverse Bays are warming up and the carp and smallmouth fishing is improving the further north you go as the water becomes more comfortable for them. It will be a busy week-plus out there with the 4th of July Holiday so look for early mornings to be your best fishing on the bays.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

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Big Bug Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 20, 2019

Water levels on the local rivers are falling back into shape. While they are a higher than normal for this time of year, they are fishable and have a little stain to them – almost ideal. Water temperatures are still cool due to cool nights and a lack or significant warmth and sunshine the past month which is delaying some of the hatches.

Bugs have been fickle on the Manistee with the best hatches above M-72 as that water has fallen into shape sooner than the lower sections. Look for the last of the sulphurs, Isonychias, little mahoganies, gray drakes, brown drakes, yellow cahills, and some little yellow and medium brown stoneflies. No sign of hex on the Manistee but there are rumors of some on parts of the Au Sable river system.

Its that time of year that the riverbanks are active with more anglers wearing headlamps. Bring bug spray to keep the mosquitoes and ticks away, respect private property and share the resource.

Lake and pond fishing has another round of bigger bluegill in the shallow water with the week’s full-moon. These are a great species to target with a light rod and offer both experienced anglers and beginners the opportunity to bend the rod and just have fun. Some bass are around the shallow water, too, as they come out of the post-spawn funk and are a little more eager to eat both on the surface and below.

Stop your rod tip high.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

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Mid-June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 12, 2019

The weather can’t make up it’s mind – it goes from cool spring-like weather to full-on summer, then back to cool and rainy. And the trout can’t decide whether they want to play our game or not.

Trout fishing remains challenging on both the Manistee and Au Sable Rivers. Hatches have been decent, but most days the wind blows the bugs off of the water not giving the trout much opportunity to sip them. Spinner falls have been occurring and seem to be more prolific during the warmer parts of cloudy days rather than evenings when we are accustom to them falling. Best suggestion – get out when you can, but be careful.

River levels are up significantly for the wading angler on all of the local rivers with more rain in the forecast. This will also drop the water temperatures, prolonging the various hatches and delaying the start of other bugs.

Right now you can expect to see the sulphurs, great and small mahoganies, BWO, Cahills, Grey Drakes, Brown Drakes, Stones (little yellow, early brown, medium brown) and some caddis. Isonychias should make an appearance any day if they haven’t already on certain sections of rivers.

Streamer fishing continues to be tough and with all the high water washing subsurface food down stream, the fish seem well fed this year.

Lake/pond fishing remains good – some have bluegill fishing where other have come and gone from the shallows. The next full moon should get them back in shallow again for round two of spawning. Bass – small and largemouth are taking both surface and subsurface flies where shallow water meets a drop off. The bays have some smallmouth fishing accessible to the fly rod angler, but it’s been tough as the water is so much deeper than normal. Carp, too, have been moving in and out of the shallows wherever the water is warm which has been difficult to find with the cold bay and constantly shifting winds.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Father’s Day – Get dad on the water this year with a gift certificate for either a half and full-day trip.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

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Early June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 4, 2019

June is one of the most popular times on the local rivers for trout fishing. The technical dry fly fishing of May eases up as the bugs get a little bigger and the fish tend to look up more making for a little easier dry fly fishing when bugs and feeding fish coexist.

The upper Manistee is in good shape and the Au Sable levels are dropping back to normal levels. Water temps are in the low 60’s making for ideal conditions. Streamer fishing has been tougher this year than normal but it’s still a great way to cover water when waiting for some bugs and fish to appear on the surface.

This time or year you will want a lot of different flies in your fly box to have you covered for likely hatch scenarios. Sulphurs, Great Mahoganies, Little Mahoganies, a few remaining light Hendricksons, Black Caddis, Tan Caddis, Stones (little yellow & medium brown), March Browns, Grey and Brown Drakes, and some Isonychias could show up any evening. With the cooler nights/evenings, sometimes the heavier bug densities (spinners) occur at the warmest time of day, but it’s difficult to predict. A fly box with various sizes of Borcher’s Drakes and Robert’s Yellow Drakes will cover a number of bugs right now.

[You can read more about some of the bugs that emerge this time of year by reading, Trout Fishing Before the Hex Hatch.]

Local lakes have had a lot of the spawning bass and bluegill finish up sooner than expected considering the water temps are still a bit behind, but fish in post-spawn mode are still the shallow and transition water depths that are approachable to the fly angler.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Father’s Day – Get dad on the water this year with a gift certificate for either a half and full-day trip.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

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Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

Early July Fly Fishing Report

Late June Fly Fishing Report

Big Bug Fly Fishing Report

Mid-June Fly Fishing Report

Early June Fly Fishing Report

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