Late April Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 23, 2018

Boy what a difference a week makes. While last week had us thinking we were stuck in winter, the past few days have us thinking spring. Sunny skies and warmer temperatures has the water warming up just a bit after all that run-off from the snow increased water levels but kept the temp near 40 degrees on the Manistee below Tippy Dam with smaller rivers like the Betsie warming up into the mid-40s.

Water levels are ideal and have a nice stain to them making black flies stick out a little bit in the conditions. With stoneflies flying around it’s a good time to pull those out of the fly box again and tie them on. Caddis and fry patterns have taken some fish also. Egg patterns that have been working include smaller clown patterns and natural looking patterns like nuke eggs.

With the warmer water on the smaller rivers increasing so did a nice number of fish. The Manistee didn’t get as many fresh fish but there are still pre-spawn, spawning and post spawn fish around to play the game. Focus on migratory slots and the pocket water near spawning gravel for your best fishing.

This Saturday is the official start of Trout season throughout the state – for those headed out for “Opener” to keep with traditions, good luck and think streamers more than dry flies until the water warms up a bit more. With the warmer weather some of the smaller rivers could reach the critical low 50’s in time to trigger some Hendricksons but I would guess we are a good 10 days behind.

Good luck!

Ted

Steelhead & Trout Combo – The first two weeks in May can offer steelhead in the morning and trout after noon.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity. It’s also a great time to fish streamers for bigger trout.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betsie river, caddis, fly fishing steelhead michigan, fry patterns, hendricksons, manistee, steelhead fishing, stoneflies, streamers, tippy dam steelhead fishing, trout season

Mid-April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 16, 2018

It’s hard to believe that it’s the middle of April when looking at the snow, freezing rain and ice. Old man winter is being a little ornery and just won’t leave and allow what we expect weather wise this time of year. Late last week – before the winter storm – brought some expected April showers and we sure needed a boost in river flows as the Betsie and Manistee were running exceptionally low and clear.

The increased water has the rivers looking completely different – they are higher and dirty but still fishable. With the snow pack, I am guessing that the high and dirty will be around for a few weeks. Since we have been dealing with low water we still had not received a big push of steelhead on the Manistee and I suspect with the cooler water we should get a decent run of fish spread out over the next couple of weeks. I would expect to see the last of the steelhead move through on the Betsie over the next week or so. The Platte should fish good, too, with the extra flow of water.

Last week’s effective flies no longer apply with the new water conditions. Fill your fly box with big and bold egg patterns and nymphs that have a large profile including – steelhead/ice buggers, egg sucking leeches and sparkle stones.

Fish are a mixed bag right now – fresh fish, spawning fish, and drop back/post spawn fish. Fishing the holes around the gravel and migratory slots should be your best bet in targeting fish in the stained water.

Good luck.

Ted

Steelhead & Trout Combo – The first two weeks in May can offer steelhead in the morning and trout after noon.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity. It’s also a great time to fish streamers for bigger trout.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betsie river, fishing tippy dam, ice buggers, manistee river, steelhead, steelhead and trout, steelhead fishing tippy dam, stone

Early April Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 8, 2018

Since the last report we have had some cold weather – especially low overnight temps – keeping the water temperature right around 40 degrees. While some snow fell, most of it is still on the ground so the water/river levels have not increased leaving us with unusually clear water conditions on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers. Without a surge of warm water to pull a bunch of fresh fish from Lake Michigan we are still working over a mixed bag of steelhead – some winter hold-overs and others that have trickled through the river system the past weeks.

Some fish are spawning but with the low and clear water you are likely to find those and pre-spawn fish in the pocket water near gravel sections. We are getting drop-back steelhead in the runs as they put on the feed bag before returning to the big water.

Effective flies have been mixed….. eggs patterns in Clown, orange and John 3:16 colors combinations. Nymphs too have been varied: green caddis, ice buggers and Hex Nymphs seemed to have worked best in the past week. With the clear water, you might have to drop tippet/leader size but know that the fish have been uncharacteristically feisty and strong-fighting with water temperatures as low as they are so drop down only when you need to.

Good luck.

Ted

Steelhead & Trout Combo – The first two weeks in May can offer steelhead in the morning and trout after noon.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity and it’s also a great time for fishing streamers.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betsie river steelhead fishing, egg patterns, flies, hex nymphs, manistee river fishing report, steelhead, steelhead nymphs, tippy dam

Spring Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 30, 2018

Steelhead fishing had been pretty solid for the past couple of weeks but with the increased pressure and lack of significant rainfall/runoff to bring up new fish, the numbers of fish in the rivers like the Betsie and Manistee are less than what we would expect for this time of year and the ones in there have gotten wise to our antics.

The rain we received earlier in last week stained the smaller rivers in the region but that’s ideal. The Big Manistee is running clear below Tippy Dam almost unprecedentedly for this time of year. Smaller diameter fluorocarbon lines are the key to helping the successful angler right now. Even though water temps are right around 40 degrees, the fish have been much stronger than usual when hooked sometimes causing that lighter line break. So much for the lethargic “alligator roll” that is typical in the colder water.

Orange egg patterns had been working the best with Chartreuse combinations a close second and in smaller sizes (#8). The more productive nymph has been the green caddis in size 8 and 10, black steelhead/ice buggers a second. As always, mix it up if your patterns aren’t working.

Some fish have started to spawn while most are in the pre-spawn stage surrounding the dark slots and deeper holes near gravel. But they are steelhead so they play by their rules and can also be found in some migratory slots and routes as they ascend the river.

Just a reminder – new fishing licenses are required April 1. Also April 1, certain sections of certain rivers (Little Manistee & Platte) have an early opening season.

As always, good luck.

Ted

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

Steelhead & Trout Combo – The first two weeks in May can offer steelhead in the morning and trout after noon.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity and it’s also a great time for fishing streamers.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betise river, big manistee river steelhead fishing, ice bugger, manistee tippy dam, steelhead bugger, steelhead fishing, trout fishing

Mid March Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 17, 2018

As the sun radiates off the water and the chirp of birds in the background is equally welcomed, it’s apparent that the longer days and increased sunshine has Spring Steelhead fishing on angler’s minds. The local rivers including the Manistee and Betsie have a mixed bag of winter and fresh fish in them with even a few fish that have started to spawn. Fish are spread throughout river systems and the deep holes near sections of rivers with spawning gravel are great places to target as the fish are holding and waiting for a bump in water temperatures.

Water levels are normal – some might even consider them low for this time of year – since we have had so many thaws throughout the past few months resulting in minimal run off. There is a little snow in the woods so barring any heavy rains, look for water conditions to remain this way for a while. With the lack of run off the water has good clarity leaving most river systems fish-able throughout them helping to spread out any pressure. On those sunny days, try dropping tippet size.

Effective flies have been mixed without any one pattern out performing the other: egg flies in orange or chartreuse are good choices when tied in tandem with a nymph like a fry/alevin, caddis and hex patterns. [I wrote an article a while back talking about the top 5 steelhead flies for our Lake Michigan Tributaries – click here to read.]

Bottom bouncing/Duck and Chuck still gets anglers down to where the fish are on the bigger rivers and deeper water, and nymphing with floating lines is ideal on smaller rivers like the Betsie. Fishing under floats is a great way to cover a bubble line when the sun is out and the fish are hiding, allowing you to target water where wood and other structure requires your flies be suspended off the bottom.

Good luck.

Ted

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

Spring Steelhead – Now through April, get on the water for Spring’s first opportunity to bend the rod.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity and it’s also a great time for fishing streamers.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betsie river, bottom bouncing, caddis patterns, drift fishing steelhead, duck and chuck, fly patterns for steelhead, manistee river steelhead fishing, spring steelhead

Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

Late April Fly Fishing Report

Mid-April Fishing Report

Early April Steelhead Fishing Report

Spring Steelhead Fishing Report

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

Mid March Fly Fishing Report

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

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