Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

Mid-June Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 18, 2024

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 week early and remains going strong. These nocturnal bugs bring out the big fish and more anglers so be sure to share the water. With the forecast, I don’t suspect they will go very long as the hatches have been relatively dense with all the sunshine and heat.

As water temperatures increase and get above 68 degrees, the fish get lethargic and playing any hooked trout as temps near 70 can be very lethal. While a fish may swim away, they may end up dead soon after due to the lactic build up from the experience. Take the night off when water temps are high – it is what sportsman do. We need these fish to survive for future generations and since MI DNR continues to manage our cold water fisheries so poorly we need to do our part.

<< You can monitor local river temps through these links:
Upper Manistee near CCC Bridge and various Great Lakes basin tributaries >>

Alternatives this time of year include fishing lakes for bass and bluegill. Weed growth, too, has accelerated and have created some good weed lines and structure for fish as water temps increase. Add a depth change to the equation and you have a formula for some good fishing. Surface activity remains strong especially in the mornings and evenings. Small streamers for sub-surface presentations and bigger fish seems to be the advantage.

Smallmouth bass in rivers is an increasingly popular species to chase when summer comes around. Fishing streamers and/or poppers in daylight seems to be the antithesis of technical match the hatch trout fishing, however, you still need some experience to make the most of this fishery. Watching these fish eat your fly, then pull on your 6 or 7 wt. makes folks wonder why they haven’t done this before.

Good luck & stay cool.

Ted

Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – July & August offer fun dry fly fishing on the upper Manistee river.
Smallmouth Bass – Fish the lower Manistee with streamers & poppers this summer for fish that can pull.
Learn To Fly Fish – 1/2 Day trips are perfect for beginners! Learn how to cast before hitting the water to fish.

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June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 11, 2024

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 should be for this time of year. If headed to the Manistee river, you can expect to see Gray Drakes, Brown Drakes, Isonychias, Little Yellow Sallies, Yellow Cahills, BWOs and medium yellow/brown stoneflies. After a few years of low-density hatches, it appears that certain mayflies are rebounding – specifically the brown drakes and Isos.

With the stained water and a cloudy day, smaller streamers fished through riffles and runs are producing some fish between emergences and any surface activity.

With the forecast of warmer days and sunshine, pack that headlamp because it’s likely going to be the last couple of hours of the day that gives you match-the-hatch fishing as bugs either emerger or the adult spinners fall – either way, it’s time for some tactical presentations for some memorable fish.

You can read more on fishing before the hex hatch and the bugs you are likely to see, here.

Bass and bluegill on the local lakes are back to eating flies on the surface but most of the really big gills are staying deep until late or early in the day. There is something about low light conditions that all species really like….

Good luck.

Ted

Gift Certificates – It’s not too late to get dad a gift certificate for Father’s Day – half/full day trips or lessons.
Smallmouth Bass – Fish the lower Manistee with streamers & poppers this summer for fish that can pull.
Learn To Fly Fish – 1/2 Day trips are perfect for beginners! Learn how to cast before hitting the water to fish.
Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – July & August offer fun dry fly fishing on the upper Manistee river.

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Late May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 30, 2024

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. It’s the spinners that typically collect in the evening to form decent numbers that anglers get excited about.

The upper Manistee has had it’s share of Great Mahoganies the past ten days and this is a hatch that seems to build in density each year. Sulphurs have been sporadic but are winding down, and those small #14 black caddis continue to feed a lot of the smaller fish. There are a handful of other bugs that can show up this time of year which can be intimidating when we try to match the hatch, but you can get by with a nice assortment of Borcher’s Drakes, Robert’s Yellow Drakes and Adams patterns to do a good job representing what you are imitating. And a drag-free presentation is just as – or even more important – than the pattern itself. Some medium brown/yellow stones belong in your box as do Isonychias and if it’s a warmer evening, stay till dark with some Brown Drakes – they should be starting if they haven’t already.

A fair amount of rain on Sunday and Monday brought the upper Manistee river level up while leaving a significant stain to the water. Those looking to get some streamer fishing would be best to do that before things clear up again.

Bass and bluegill fishing is mixed depending on the body of water you are fishing. Some bluegill have moved back into the shallow water for their second round of spawning thanks to a mild winter and early spring. The largemouth are in a post-spawn funk and the smallmouth bass are mixed but in the inland lakes, they are packed up and have mostly have moved deep again, only to hover around the breaks and drop offs. Weed growth in the past week has been remarkable and only helps anglers look for ideal spots to target fish.

Good luck.

Ted

Smallmouth Bass – Fish the lower Manistee with streamers & poppers this summer for fish that can pull.
Learn To Fly Fish – 1/2 Day trips are perfect for beginners! Learn how to cast before hitting the water to fish.
Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – July & August offer fun dry fly fishing on the upper Manistee river.

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Mid-May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 19, 2024

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 some of the smaller mahoganies (paraleps.) intermixed and around, too. Caddis continue to flutter on the surface with some fish noticing, but the real star of the surface fluttering is a smaller than normal (#12) medium brown/yellow stonefly. I suspect more bugs will be a part of the conversation over the next couple of weeks as this keeps the gear bag filled with fly boxes to match-the-potpourri-hatch situation that comes with this time of year.

Streamer fishing has been almost a bust in the low, clear water. If you are fishing subsurface, choose and use your smaller patterns wisely (less than three inches (and closer to two)). Fishing a weighted streamer on a floating line isn’t a bad approach in these conditions as it’s stealthy and allows you to easily switch to fishing dries when the emergence/spinner fall takes place.

Lake fishing for bass and bluegill is in full swing. This is the best time of year for the big bluegill as they move shallow enough and become accessible for the fly angler. Largemouth are keeping it interesting, too, as they are both in pre-spawn and post spawn depending on the lake you are fishing. It seems, for me at least, the occasional pike encounter hasn’t been there this year.

Smallmouth bass fishing in the lakes, is happening, too. Typically liking deeper water much of the year, you can find the hard pulling smallies in shallow water or on the edges/drops eager to eat a slow dropping baitfish streamer pattern or even a popper.

Good luck.

Ted

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May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 8, 2024

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 a drag-free drift.

You can expect the Hendricksons which are winding down, but also mahogany duns, Sulphurs, March Browns, and some caddis. BWO’s always belong in your box, but they might get used more now than other times of the fishing season. For the next 6 weeks, it’s a good time to have an assortment of Borchers Drakes and Robert’s Yellow Drakes as they will get you through a lot of hatch situations.

Between hatches, cover the water with streamers. The Upper Manistee and Boardman are running at good levels – they are full, not high, and have a nice tint to it for good streamer fishing. Fishing from a boat with a sink-tip is the most effective, but if wading, shorter, less dense sink-tip lines with a weighted fly is an effective approach.
More on streamer fishing can be read here.

Some of the local lakes are just now starting to see some bluegill/panfish start to move into the shallows but a lot of them are hanging at the drop offs. A little bit more warm weather and some moon phase and it should be game on – especially the smaller lakes and ponds with a dark, silty bottom.

It’s still a good time to fish those lakes for the pike that are still milling around in the shallow water where we can easily get to them with a fly. Like most fish, they like structure to hide in before pouncing on prey.

Lastly, the smallmouth bass fishing is going on lakes and some on rivers. Baitfish patterns fished sub-surface either on floating lines or intermediate tip fly lines in those magic areas when structure and depth combine should be your target.

Good luck.

Ted

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