Late May Fly Fishing for Trout and More

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 23, 2016

The week of high sun and warmer weather has done a good job of helping us to forget that it snowed just over a week ago. With the better weather the fishing has improved as the waters on both rivers and lakes have warmed up and the hatches on the local trout rivers are pretty much where they should be for this time of year.

This is a great time of year for the serious dry fly angler as there are plenty of bugs overlapping and offering good match-the-hatch situations. On the Manistee and AuSable look for Mayflies to include: Sulphurs, Mahoganies, March Browns and Great Speckled Olives (think #12 Borcher’s Drake), Stoneflies: – Little Yellow Sally and Yellow Belly Brown Stones, and Caddis: #14 black, #16 Tan. While some of the smaller fish readily come to the fly, the bigger fish are demanding good presentation in the clear water conditions. If you love to fool fish on the surface the next few weeks are ideal for you. More on the fishing the hatches this time of year – click here.

Evening spinner falls have been offering good chances at trout, but in low light, fishing small spinners to sippers can be a challenge. Make sure you are stopping your rod tip high, getting a good turn over and don’t forget to mend. The softer, placid water just below riffles are collecting good numbers of bugs and is a good place to look for soft risers. The larger fish are only giving us one chance, so make sure you can execute -here’s an article with some tips for better dry fly fishing.

The bass and bluegill fishing is in full swing. The bigger gills have moved from the depths and into the shallows providing a lot of fun on both the surface and below. If they aren’t coming up try fishing nymphs like small damsels, minnows and even bead headed soft hackles for success; as you slowly strip the fly, keep tension on the line and wait for the slightest bump/tug and set the hook.

Good luck.

Ted

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for your opinion on the state of our fisheries.
Please take a few minutes and let them know what you really think – don’t hold back!
Remember, this is an agency that is supposed to be working for us. Click here for the survey.

May Fishing – It’s a great month for streamer and dry fly fishing for Trout.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and the Hex – got dates?
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

ausable river, bluegill fishing, borcher's drake, fly fishing, Great Speckled Olive, manistee, march browns, Northern Michigan, sulphurs

Mid-May Fly Fishing Report – Northwest Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 12, 2016

Mid May fishing has anglers headed to their favorite trout stream and river with spring-like weather and good water conditions.

Hendricksons are still around but seem to be winding down; those armed with rusty spinners either late morning or in the evening might find themselves in a fun dry fly situation as the Hendricksons drop to the water to lay their eggs. Other bugs to have with you include: tan caddis, black quills, mahoganies and with the season being off – one never knows when sulphurs might just start coming off so have some of those with you, too. This is an ideal time to have Borchers Drakes or Emergers with you as they imitate a number of different mayflies commonly found on the Manistee, AuSable and Boardman Rivers this time of year.

Without any surface activity, try fishing a streamer on a sink-tip or even a floating line if wade fishing. If fishing from a boat, try some of the larger streamers to get something big to come out and play, otherwise, if wading try some mid-sized streamers like my Brook Trout and Lamprey Leech patterns. There is no shortage of effective and innovative streamer patterns on the market today so be sure to mix them up if you aren’t having success. Don’t discount big wet flies that can be twitched and stripped just because everyone is fishing streamers – sometimes being different is good.

Bluegill/Panfish are just starting to hit the shallow water on some of the warmer lakes and ponds. This can be a lot of fun whether you are experienced or a beginner. It’s always more fun having them come up to the surface, but you might find large nymphs and small streamers fished sub-surface could be the ticket to a slab-sized bluegill and a bent rod.

Good luck!

Ted

May Fishing – It’s a great month for streamer and dry fly fishing for Trout.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and the Hex – got dates?
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

ausable, bluegill, boardman, borchers drakes, hendricksons, manistee, mayflies, streamer

Trout Season Begins Just in Time

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 3, 2016

Trout Season is now open throughout the state and it’s a good thing because the steelhead run is pretty much over. While a few fish remain in local rivers like the Manistee, Betsie and Boardman, quality steelhead fishing just isn’t around due in part to some nice weather, a lack of rain and possibly a reduction in the fish population. I suspect some more fish will enter rivers in the weeks ahead after some rain but with water temps in the 50’s, they won’t be around for long as they are quick to come and go in these conditions.

The weekend found some decent weather and dry fly fishing for those looking to cast a floating line to feeding trout. Some Hendricksons have been on the surface along with BWOs and caddis on the upper Manistee and Au Sable rivers. Those fishing streamers have had mixed success when covering water and waiting for a hatch. This can be a great time of the year to cover water with streamers with a rigged dry fly rod in the boat for when the fish start rising. Hendricksons emerge from late morning until early evening with cloudy days being best – click here for an emerger pattern. Spinner falls have been light but will build in the weeks ahead with warm evenings offering some good fishing.

Those looking for a chance at Steelhead might find a few hours in the morning on the Manistee a good approach before the sun gets too high and switch to targeting trout after. Streamer and wet-fly fishing has been decent and will only get better in the weeks ahead. It appears that spring is finally here!

Good luck,

Ted

May Fishing – It’s not far away and it’s a great month for streamer and dry fly fishing for Trout.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and the Hex – got dates?
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

hendricksons, steelhead, tippy, upper-manistee

Late April Steelhead and Trout Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 24, 2016

The steelhead fishing has been stagnant as the water levels have dropped and cleared with the lack of significant rain. A few fresh fish have moved into local rivers like the Manistee and Betsie but majority of the fish in the rivers are fish that have been in for a bit and are on and around spawning gravel. Small egg patterns (#10) fished in tandem with fry and caddis have been the better combos. A few drop-back steelhead can be found in the deeper runs and holes looking to eat before heading back to the lake.

With rain in the forecast we are hoping for a fresh push of fish to enter the rivers. When fishing the Manistee, a second rod rigged for trout is a good approach. I would postulate that the run of steelhead will be well drawn out well into May.

For those looking to get out after trout, the warmer days and water temps have provided some surface activity on the upper Manistee with a few Hendricksons and Blue Winged Olives emerging in the afternoons. While waiting for hatches, cover some water with a streamer on a sink-tip. This one-two approach is a great way to spend the next month on the trout rivers.

Good luck.

Ted

May Fishing – It’s not far away and it’s a great month for streamer and dry fly fishing for Trout.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and the Hex – got dates?
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

betsie river, egg patterns, manistee, steelhead

Mid-April Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 16, 2016

It’s finally starting to feel like it did in March – that is “Spring like”. Warm weather has replaced two weeks of cold weather and the forecast is calling for more of it, thankfully.

Water levels on the big Manistee River below Tippy Dam and the Betsie River have dropped to normal levels for this time of year and clarity is just about right – slightly stained. Water temps are in the low 40’s but should bump up with this sunshine and warmer nights.

Fishing for steelhead the past two weeks have been pretty inconsistent with a good day followed by some slower days. It is my opinion that the fish just aren’t around in numbers that we associate with this time of year. With some warm rain we should see a nice push of fish, but until then, look for the run to be slower than normal with fish moving in daily, just not in the density we are accustom to. I think the spring steelhead fishing on the Manistee should continue well in to May this year. Again.

Fish are hitting gravel but aren’t staying there after little angling pressure. Look for your better fishing to be in the pocket water around spawning gravel and the choke points/funnels to intercept fresh fish moving through. There hasn’t been a consistent leading fly pattern, just the usual patterns. With the bright sun and improved water clarity, try dropping down in fly and leader size.

Good luck.

Ted

May Fishing – It’s not far away and it’s a great month for streamer and dry fly fishing for Trout.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and the Hex – got dates?
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

betsie river, manistee river, tippy dam

Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

Late May Fly Fishing for Trout and More

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for your opinion on the state of our fisheries.
Please take a few minutes and let them know what you really think – don’t hold back!
Remember, this is an agency that is supposed to be working for us. Click here for the survey.

Mid-May Fly Fishing Report – Northwest Michigan

Trout Season Begins Just in Time

Late April Steelhead and Trout Fly Fishing Report

Mid-April Steelhead Fishing Report

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

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for your opinion on the state of our fisheries. Please take a few minutes and let them know what you really think – don’t hold back! Remember, this is an agency that is supposed to be working for us. Click here for the survey.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for your opinion on the state of our fisheries.
Please take a few minutes and let them know what you really think – don’t hold back!
Remember, this is an agency that is supposed to be working for us. Click here for the survey.