Early September Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 10, 2017

A cooler end of summer had kicked off the salmon fishing on local rivers, but things are starting to slow down with some nicer weather. Fish are scattered and spread throughout river systems with pretty much all rivers having fish in them including the Betsie, Platte, Bear Creek, Big Manistee, Pere Marquette.

With the fish running bigger this year, they have been hard to handle. Crowds have been unprecedented and some “angler’s” tactics to hook these fish have been unconscionable. With the DNR’s realization of high natural reproduction rates and their decision to reduce stocking – it’s imperative that we respect the future of the fishery. If you witness illegal activity, let them know and/or call/text the DNR’s RAP hotline: 800-292-7800. While the fish are around, we are losing our fishery to the heavy-handed approach of disguised snagging.

The salmon fishing has been making a case for late season trout fishing. The late summer terrestrial bite has been pretty good for brook and brown trout on the upper Manistee where it’s rare to see another angler on a miles-long float. The brook trout are vividly colored as we approach spawning season and remind us why they are the State Fish. Ants, hoppers, and smaller streamers fished on floating lines have been effective and as we go a little further into fall, have some larger streamers nearby with short sink-tip fly lines for the pre-spawn browns.

Good luck.

Ted

Salmon/Steelhead Combo – Late Sept. through early October offers a chance at both species on the Manistee.
Fall Steelhead – October, November and into December, these fish will bend your rod like no other – experience it.
Trout/Steelhead – The lower Manistee offers some great streamer fishing for trout in late Fall as another option.

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End of August Fly Fishing Report – Current Works Guide Service

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 30, 2017

As August comes to an end, September has most of us thinking about salmon and fall.

With the cooler temps the past few weeks, ideal winds and some rain, fish are starting to show up in the west coast rivers including the Betsie, Manistee, Bear Creek and Pere Marquette and should continue throughout the month. Many of these fish are staging and holding in deeper, slow holes in the lower sections of the rivers . Presentations can be difficult for fish that sit just on insides of seams and sometimes simply aren’t thinking about eating but perseverance and pattern changes can make the difference some days. Eggs and nymphs are the standard when it comes to nymphing, but those looking to put in time can sometimes get a grab on a streamer – it’s not a quantity thing, but a quality thing.

Not into the crowds, big fish and heavy rods? Trout rivers become vacant this time of year with school starting up, weekend football games taking place and vacations winding down. The terrestrial fishing can be good as the unpressured fish slip out from hiding. And as cooler temps continue with some overcast days, look for the streamer fishing to start up again. The water temps on the Manistee and Boardman are cool and the brook trout have take notice – they are about as vibrant as I have ever seen. Terrestrials, foam and rubber legged patterns and attractors are a great place to start on the surface with small streamers fished on a floating line working below the surface.

Bass fishing remains decent on local lakes with the top water fishing being a lot of fun with all of the weed growth found this time of year. The bluegill fishing has tapered off a little but are still around to put a bend in the rod for those looking for simple fishing or introducing someone to the sport.

Have a safe holiday weekend and good luck.

Ted

Salmon/Steelhead Combo – Late Sept. through early October offers a chance at both species on the Manistee.
Fall Steelhead – October, November and into December, these fish will bend your rod like no other – experience it.
Trout/Steelhead – The lower Manistee offers some great streamer fishing for trout in late Fall as another option.

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Mid-August Fly Fishing Report Traverse City Region

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 17, 2017

As we hit the August mid-way point, the fishing does too. After a long summer, the fish are starting to get wise to what we are trying to do and have been getting good at discriminating our presentations and angling attempts. In other words – they are getting wise, smart and elusive.

The Trico hatch on the upper Manistee and Boardman rivers is winding down after five weeks of relatively consistent match-the-hatch dry fly fishing for mostly smaller fish, but some nice surprises along the way, too. The water clarity has been commensurate with this time of year creating limited chances on the trout – one or two presentations before they get wise to our intentions and stop rising.

The terrestrial and attractor bite has slowed a bit too but is still a good way to cover the water and get some fish to rise to the surface. Smaller hoppers, obscene foam and rubber patters and smaller ants and beetle patterns have all been working most days. Smaller streamer patterns fished on floating lines and less aggressively than the heavy-handed streamer approach have taken some nice fish, too.

The largemouth bass and bluegill fishing remains decent for those looking for some still water fishing and it’s a great way to start or end the day in when the sun isn’t so bright. The typical water and smaller patterns (think rubber legs and X) have been working on the smaller fish while mid-sized poppers and divers have been taken some nice bass along weed lines and structure. Diving/swimming frogs are a favorite of mine (and the bass) and are a lot of fun to fish. If you are using a lighter weight rod, consider using a large Turk’s Tarantula to get a similar diving action without the wind resistance.

Good luck.

Ted

Salmon/Steelhead Combo – Late Sept. through early October offers a chance at both species on the Manistee.
Fall Steelhead – October, November and into December, these fish will bend your rod like no other – experience it.
Trout/Steelhead – The lower Manistee offers some great streamer fishing for trout in late Fall as another option.

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August Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City Region

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 6, 2017

We are now in August and what is referred to as the dog-days of summer. Although it’s been warm, we have had some cool weather, too leaving the water temperatures ideal. Last week’s rain has left the local rivers (Upper Manistee and Boardman) running a little higher than normal for this time of year and there is definitely a stain which is uncommon in August. Close to 4 inches of rain will do that. Anyways, there is still clarity and in fact it is welcome after some really clear conditions for most of July; now fish aren’t as spooky.

The best trout fishing seems to be mid-morning when the Tricos are on the water and brookies and browns are looking up. While not easy or necessarily the best way to catch the biggest trout, it is a lot of fun for those looking to put that lighter rod to work casting to rising fish. Before and after the hatch, cover some water with bigger terrestrial flies like grasshoppers and attractors like Chernobyls, Fuzzy Wuzzys, Turks and the alike. Smaller streamers fished on a floating line and swung and twitched have been working, too. Other insects on the water include flies, large BWOs (BFOs) and Cahills.

The bass fishing on the local lakes is still active and bluegill remain in shallow, just not the fat-slabs we had access too for 7 weeks this year. This remains a great way to spend some simple time on the water and/or is the perfect and ideal way to get someone into the sport while they develop the skills.

Good luck,

Ted

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

Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – Through August. A half-day trip on the river is a great way to start the day.
Fall Steelhead – From late Sept. through November, these fish will bend your rod like no other – get your dates.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

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Mid July Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 17, 2017

It’s the middle of July and the fish are in summer mode. Trout fishing seems best in the early and late portions of the day but if presented with an overcast day, the fishing can be good too. We have had a number of rains pretty much all spring and summer which have left the Manistee and Boardman River levels in good shape. The cool evenings have kept the water temperatures in check, too.

Most of the match-the-hatch fly fishing is beyond us with the exception of the Tricos which are just getting started and should be around for another month. Other bugs include BFOs, Isonychias, Light Cahills and the occasional Hex. With fewer bugs on the water it’s time to reach for the terrestrial box and fish ants, beetles, hoppers and other attractors as we approach the “foam and rubber” season. To read more on fishing trout rivers this time of year, click here to read: Fishing After the Hex Hatch.

The bluegill fishing on local lakes continues to be good with some bigger fish still in the shallows eager to eat your surface bug. Big bass are around too and typically prefer diving/sliding deer hair patterns and smaller poppers fished near weed beds and drop offs when not trying to eat the bluegill on the end of your line.

Good luck.

Ted

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

Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – Through July and August. A half-day trip on the river is a great way to start the day.
Fall Steelhead – From late Sept. through November, these fish will bend your rod like no other – get your dates.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

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Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

Early September Fly Fishing Report

End of August Fly Fishing Report – Current Works Guide Service

Mid-August Fly Fishing Report Traverse City Region

August Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City Region

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

Mid July Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City

The Summer 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