July Fly Fishing Traverse City/Northwest Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 7, 2017

July is here and fishing seasons are mostly caught up and in check after some cooler weather and more rain.

Trout fishing remains good for those looking to spend mornings or evenings on the water. The low-light hours and overcast days have offered significantly better fishing than when the sun is bright. Despite the rains, water levels and clarity are pretty much normal for this time of year on the Upper Manistee and Boardman Rivers.

The Hex hatch has is mostly over with but the truncated emergence and inconsistent weather will ensure there will be bugs around for a little longer, they will just be really hard to predict. Other mayflies seen around the water include Isonychias, Bat Flies, Yellow Sally Stones, but also some terrestrials including large flying ants, deer flies and beetles.

The bay is still offering some shots at carp on the flats as there is a mix of pre-spawn and spawning fish. While it can be frustrating trying to catch them while they are preoccupied, target the lead fish and the trailers as those are usually the ones most likely to eat the fly. Hex nymphs and crayfish patterns are your best bet with the emergence and full moon’s affect on crayfish.

Lake and pond fishing remains good on the local lakes with some gills/sunfish making a second round in the shallow water. Weed growth is catching up offering more cover for the larger bass as they sit in the shade ready to ambush your diving/slider fly pattern or eat the bluegill on the end of your line.

Good luck.

Ted

Lost and Found: I found a fly rod and reel at 4 Mile Bend Access on the Upper Manistee June 9th. If you are the owner, contact me to identify the make and model and I will see to it that it gets returned.

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.

bass, carp, grand traverse bay, guides, hex hatch, smallmouth bass, steelhead, terrestrial fishing, traverse city fly fishing, upper manistee river

Late June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 27, 2017

The recent cool-down and rains have had an effect on all of our fishing – some of it for the better, some not.

While this time of year is considered the “High-Holy Days” of trout fishing with the Hex emergence, the bugs have been fickle. Once they started to get going, the moderate weather turned them off again. Look for bugs to come off and spinners to fall sporadically but better when the sun is out warming up their muck banks and evening temps don’t drop too fast. Last year’s 12 days of solid, warm weather and ensuing consistent hatch spoiled us.

The upside to the higher and cooler water (upper 50’s) is that daytime fishing has been better than usual for this time of year. Dries (Isos, BWO, Bat Flies, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Golden Stones), attractors and twitch flies all have been working as have hex emergers fished along hex beds for fish looking for the mayfly that resembles a floating porterhouse. Mid-sized streamers fished on floating lines and short sink-tips too have had an impact when covering the water waiting for an emergence. It can be a busy time of year on the water as the once a year angler makes his way to the river so give others some space and share the water to help make it fun for everyone.

The lake fishing continues to provide a lot of good surface action on some nice bluegill as they enter a second spawning period in the shallows. The bass, too, are lurking around and are getting aggressive with some larger flies but also the bluegill that you are trying to bring in. Weed growth is a little behind this year so targeting fish has been easier as there are less weeds for them to hide in.

Carp fishing continues, not so much catching. With all the changes in weather – cool nights, winds, etc., the carp have been more elusive than we would prefer. The smallmouth bass however are still cruising some of the flats that have the cooler water offering some action as we look for he carp. It’s a good time to have a fly tied on that both species like for when either species presents themselves: crayfish and swimming hex are good bets as the hex are starting to emerge on East Bay.

Good luck,

Ted

Lost and Found: I found a fly rod and reel at 4 Mile Bend Access on the Upper Manistee June 9th. If you are the owner, contact me to identify the make and model and I will see to it that it gets returned.

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.

bass fishing, carp fishing, crayfish, fly fishing traverse city, golden stones, hex hatch, isos, smallmouth bass, streamers

Mid June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 19, 2017

As we get deeper into June the trout fishing remains solid, especially for those looking for match-the-hatch opportunities. The Manistee, Boardman and Au Sable all have been getting decent emergences most nights, but as bugs sometimes go, some nights there are very few bugs.

Look for the last of the Sulphurs, at twilight along with Isonychias, Gray Drakes, Brown Drakes, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown Stones, Golden Stones, Bat Flies, and Mahoganies to be mixed in with some caddis. Just a few reports of the Hex have been around in the lower sections of rivers where the big bugs typically begin early in the season, not on the upper sections where the water is cooler. With the cool down in weather I suspect things will need to warm up again for the emergence to get on schedule again.

After quite a few rains the past week, look for the river to be higher than normal and with a little bit of a stain to them but still very fishable.

The local lake fishing continues to offer some really good bass and bluegill fishing. Some big gills are still in shallow water on the smaller lakes as are some largemouth bass looking to eat the smaller bluegill on the end of your line. A rare pike is making an appearance, but those are mostly hiding out in the weeds in a little deeper water. The lake fishing remains a great learning experience for those new to the sport while fun for those with experience.

Carp fishing has been a struggle this year with the cooler water in the bays. Some days we find them, most days we can’t. We are still in pre-spawn mode but with the higher water in the bays, the fish aren’t as predictable as they have been in the past. The smallmouth bass however have been cooperating a little better as the cooler water has prolonged their season and keeping the fish in shallow enough water that we can get a fly to them. Crayfish and minnow patterns have been working well.

Good luck.

Ted

Lost and Found: I found a fly rod and reel at 4 Mile Bend Access on the Upper Manistee June 9th. If you are the owner, contact me to identify the make and model and I will see to it that it gets returned.

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.

AuSable fly fishing, bat flies, bluegill fly fishing, boardman river, brown drakes, carp fishing grand traverse bay, hex, manistee river fishing report, report, stone flies, streamer fishing, terrestrial flies

Early June Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City Region

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 7, 2017

The trout fishing and matching-the-hatch has kept smiles on angler’s faces when they figure out what flies the fish want. This time of year on the upper Manistee, AuSable and Boardman River a lot of different bugs can be found on the water making for some technical dry fly fishing.

If headed to the river, be prepared to see: Sulphurs, little yellow sallies, medium brown stoneflies, Isonychias, the last of the light Hendricksons, caddis, Mahoganies, GSO/Basale, Gray Drakes and more. In addition to having precise imitations of the duns/adults, it’s a good idea to have a selection of Robert’s Yellow Drakes for duns and Borcher’s drakes for the spinner falls as they both do a great job of imitating many of these mayflies in those stages. Have some Brown Drakes, too. Check the batteries in the head-lamp and be prepared to fish up until dark as with the warmer weather the spinner falls have been going late into the evening. And definitely have some bug spray for the mosquitoes and ticks – it’s that time of year.

To learn more about the various bugs you are likely to see on the water over the next couple of weeks, read, “Trout Fishing Before the Hex Hatch.”

River conditions are close to ideal and already in the low to mid-60s but running a little too clear on those sunny days. The streamer fishing has slowed a little except when it’s overcast, then present your favorite array of streamers – as long as they are olive, baitfish, and/or brown.

The carp on the Grand Traverse Bay are just starting to expose themselves to the shallow waters but with the cooler spring, they just aren’t in shallow and eating much just yet. With a forecast of warmer weather look for the waters to warm further and provide some good but challenging angling for these mysterious fish. A few smallmouth bass have been in shallow on pre-spawn maneuvers so keep your eye out for these guys cruising as well as fishing any heavy structure that looks worthy of a cast.

Bluegill fishing continues to offer some really good fishing in the shallows and near breaks with protective males and hungry females coming to the fly. While top water spiders/terrestrials are a lot of fun, the swum nymph and very small streamer can produce some bigger fish. The largemouth bass fishing, too, has been good with a mix of presentations working.

It’s a great month to fish – don’t miss out.

Good luck,

Ted

Lost and Found: I found a fly rod and reel at 4 Mile Bend Access on the Upper Manistee June 9th. If you are the owner, contact me to identify the make and model and I will see to it that it gets returned.

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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Late May Fly Fishing Report Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 28, 2017

Trout fishing has been good for those looking to test their skills with matching the hatch and presenting dry flies and emergers to selective fish. Lots of bugs right now on the Manistee, Boardman and AuSable Rivers and this time of year it’s a pretty good idea to have them all in your box because there is no telling what the fish will want from one day to the next.

Sulphurs, March Browns, Blue Winged Olives, Mahoganies, Light Hendricksons, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium brown stones and caddis are the usual suspects and having some brown drakes with you might not be a bad idea either – just in case. To learn more on the hatches this time of year, click here.

Evenings have been best for emergences and spinner falls but with cloudy conditions and cooling temps, things can happen earlier rather than later. Surface activity with bugs can be isolated from one bend to the next so move if you aren’t seeing much happening. Until bug activity occurs, cast a streamer – especially after the rain that we received today. Brown and copper or Olive and copper seem to have been working well, but each day is different so mix it up until you find their daily preference.

Bluegill and bass fishing on local lakes/ponds continues to offer some great fishing as the fish have moved into the shallows. While spiders, beetles and small poppers have been working on top, slowly swimming damsel nymphs and small leeches tend to catch some bigger, more selective fish.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
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.

bass fishing, bluegill, brown drakes, fly-fishing guide traverse city, hatches, hendricksons, manistee river, traverse city fly fishing

Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

July Fly Fishing Traverse City/Northwest Michigan

Lost and Found: I found a fly rod and reel at 4 Mile Bend Access on the Upper Manistee June 9th. If you are the owner, contact me to identify the make and model and I will see to it that it gets returned.

Late June Fly Fishing Report

Lost and Found: I found a fly rod and reel at 4 Mile Bend Access on the Upper Manistee June 9th. If you are the owner, contact me to identify the make and model and I will see to it that it gets returned.

Mid June Fly Fishing Report

Lost and Found: I found a fly rod and reel at 4 Mile Bend Access on the Upper Manistee June 9th. If you are the owner, contact me to identify the make and model and I will see to it that it gets returned.

Early June Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City Region

Lost and Found: I found a fly rod and reel at 4 Mile Bend Access on the Upper Manistee June 9th. If you are the owner, contact me to identify the make and model and I will see to it that it gets returned.

Late May Fly Fishing Report Traverse City

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