The fishing in the region has avoided some of the typical slow-down that usually occurs this time of year thanks to some cooler nights and much needed rain. The rivers like the Manistee and Boardman are moving along nicely with ideal temperatures and just a hint of color. Some days we need to wait until […]
July ended with some hot weather and it appears the start of August will continue with more of the same. With this heat, the water temperatures in the trout rivers are getting too warm at mid-day and through the evening making for dangerous conditions for the fish. Until water temperatures drop (thanks to cooler night-time […]
Late July fishing finds us headed to the upper Manistee river in the mornings looking for hatches and spinner falls of Tricos for some trout. When those little flies aren’t on the water, we are using the larger, attractor/suggestive/imitative terrestrial patterns often tied with foam and rubber legs – its what I call the “Foam […]
Trout fishing on the local rivers continues but with a more casual approach as we aren’t matching hatches in low light to finicky fish. Instead head to the river with a mix of general dry flies that imitate mayflies since they have been eating them regularly for the past 10 weeks. Beyond fishing those natural […]
The Hex flies have mostly finished a really heavy hatch period this year on the local rivers including the Manistee. This steady stream of bugs has left the trout fat and happy and like many of us after Thanksgiving dinner – second guessing that last serving. The rivers are in good shape: height, clarity and […]
The warm weather of last week made for some hot and heavy hex fly action on local rivers that has tapered off due to cooler (not cool) temps and significant rainfall. While water temperatures in rivers like the Manistee and Au Sable were reaching the high 60s and in some sections – into the 70’s, […]
The recent and ongoing hot weather has only accelerated our fishing and seasons. With the lack of rain and high temperatures, our trout fishing is experiencing warp speed hatch cycles. It seems that most hatches condensed and have taken place with the exception of the annual Hex hatch which started last week – a good […]
River conditions in the region are ideal with temps cooled and their levels filled. There is a little stain to the river to offer the fish some comfort and anglers some stealth. The recent rains and cooler weather has corrected the advanced mayfly emergences on the rivers to a schedule that’s closer to what is […]
With May coming to an end, the Mayfly hatches and trout fishing continues. This time of year it’s often time for headlamps and evening spinner falls at dusk when the mayflies drop to the surface to feed the fish. Hatches have been sporadic and with the weather, they can emerge at various times of day. […]
At the mid-point of May it sure feels like we are at the end of May based on the weather and fishing conditions. The hatches are progressing with the sulphurs winding down on the trout rivers. It seems the great mahoganies are increasing in density each year and this year is no different. There are […]
With May here, it’s time for the Mayflies on the local trout rivers. This time of year can be a great time for the technical dry fly fisherman as there can be a variety of hatches ( and various stages of those hatches ) with fish keyed in on just what they want, served on […]
As April winds down, I can say I’ve never experienced one like this one before. The steelhead fishing was affected by the lack of rain and high water from a snowpack that never happened in this El Nino year. Winter was mild and so was the run of fish as they seemed to be spread […]
