Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

Fall Colors, Spawning Salmon, and Super-Charged Steelhead

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 12, 2013

With another week of mild weather its hard to believe that it is mid-October. Since we haven’t had a frost yet in the region the fall colors aren’t as brilliant as usual, but the fishing has been making up for it.

After last week’s rain, river levels came up and have since dropped while leaving the water with a slight stain – which is a good thing with all the bright sunshine we have been experiencing. The spawning salmon continue to populate the gravel sections of local rivers, most notably the Betsie and Manistee. Below Tippy dam there are countless numbers of salmon on gravel spawning with others right behind them in pocket water and still some fresher staging fish in the bigger, deeper holes waiting for their time to come. Look for steelhead to be in the dark water right behind spawning fish and the egg collecting runs below spawning areas. With water temperatures near 60 degrees the fish tend to jump out of the water a bit and make it hard to bring them to hand. Majority of the steelhead have been coming from egg patterns with smaller, natural color’s being best. Mix it up throughout the day as sunlight and angling pressure changes.

I haven’t been on the trout waters nor have I heard reports of people fishing the Upper-Manistee, but I imagine the terrestrial fishing on the surface is going strong considering the mild temperatures. The brook trout can be amazing this time of year and we are getting closer to when the browns spawn and sometimes – given the right weather conditions, the streamer fishing can be outstanding.

Good luck,

Ted

Steelhead -A few fall steelhead dates remain and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.
Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing once the salmon leave.
2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

betsie river, brook trout, egg patterns, fly fishing, spawning salmon, tippy dam

October Fly Fishing in Northern Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 3, 2013

With the flip of the calendar, a look at the fall color in the trees and chrome in the water- the only thing wrong is we only have four weeks to enjoy what the month has to offer.

October Fly Fishing in Northern Michigan is one of my favorite months to fish. Cool mornings, clear days and big fish. Steelhead fishing has picked up a little on the Manistee as they take full advantage of the salmon eggs drifting downstream. There are still good numbers of King Salmon in the Betsie and Manistee Rivers with the majority of the fish on gravel doing their thing. Steelhead take note and residence in the holes, pocket water and slots below them taking advantage of the “protein drip”. Egg patterns have been the most effective patterns lately with a few nymph patterns also proving worthy – caddis, pop’s buggers, and pheasant tails. The water is still clear demanding light leaders and the steelhead have been hard to land with water temps being as warm as they are – the fish are spastic to say the least.

Even though trout season has closed on a number of rivers throughout the state, certain sections of certain rivers like the Manistee remain open. Brook trout fishing remains solid and the brown trout are becoming a little more responsive to our antics now that they are getting closer to their spawning season and angling pressure has dropped off. The streamer bite has picked up a bit – still smaller patterns with the clear water vs. the really big stuff and on top: BWOs and terrestrials like ants and beetles and the occasional smaller Isonychias.

Good luck

Ted

betsie river, brook trout, egg flies, egg patterns, king salmon, manistee, october steelhead fishing, trout, upper-manistee

It’s officially Fall and Time for Fall Fly Fishing Northern Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 25, 2013

Now that the equinox has passed and we are fast approaching October the weather feels a little nicer than normal. Salmon fishing is taking precedent on local rivers like the Betsie and Manistee with good numbers of King/Chinook Salmon in both of them. Last week’s rain moved some fish around and they are scattered throughout the river systems; a north wind and some rain would drive even more fish into the systems including steelhead. There are a few steelies fish around but numbers are still pretty low.

The salmon have turned a little darker as a lot of fish have begun their spawning activity in the gravel sections of the rivers. The water’s clarity is a little too clear right now and lighter mono and fluorocarbon tippets are a must with the bright skies. With natural eggs in the system drifting down the fish are taking note and eating realistic size and colors. Click here to read more on egg patterns and fishing them for steelhead and salmon.

Trout fishing has been up and down on the upper Manistee as it too is running very clear. Cloudy days are better (as usual) but a mix of sun and clouds is best as it warms the water a bit and gets the brook and brown trout looking at food. Smaller terrestrials like ants and beetles have been working as have other patterns like Fat Alberts and other foam and rubber leg creations. It seems like the fish aren’t interested in eating the big terrestrial and attractor imitations lately – after all, it’s been a long trout season. fall colors on the Upper Manistee are just getting going and if you haven’t fished up there this time of year, you should – the Brook Trout are beyond vibrant. Please note that some rivers and certain sections are closed to fishing beginning October 1.

Good luck.

Ted

The Fall 2013 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe

Steelhead -Just a few fall steelhead dates remain and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.

Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing once the salmon leave.

2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

Betsie, egg patterns, fly fishing northern michigan, king salmon, manistee river, salmon, steelhead, steelies

Salmon Continue to Migrate

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 17, 2013

It’s really starting to feel like September with cool weather in the a.m. and warm weather in the afternoon – lots of clothing layers are being shed throughout the day.

Salmon continue to be the primary target of anglers fishing in the region. Most area rivers like the Betsie and Manistee have decent numbers of fish in them. Remember, these fish are migratory and they can be in a particular section one day and have moved on the next. It has been a long season already and it should be interesting to see how long fish continue to move from Lake Michigan upstream.

The king/chinook salmon continue to sit in holes staging for their spawning ritual that has actually begun for some; a few fish have hit the gravel and started mating. Effective flies have been the usual suspects – various nymphs like hex, caddis, pheasant tails, stones and even some smaller leeches. Egg patterns, too, have taken fish recently but no real favorite color has out-performed – as always with salmon, mix up the colors and patterns until you find one that works.

Trout fishing is decent – some dry fly fishing has brought some fish to the surface as the warmer daytime temps increase the water just a bit. Terrestrials and terrestrial patterns have been working but so have some generic attractors and even the classic Adams. If heading out, be sure to have some BWOs as this time of year can offer some good match-the-hatch opportunities. Streamer fishing is starting to get better but it’s the smaller patterns fished on a small sink-tip that seem to be moving the most fish. The water on the Upper Manistee is extremely clear so wade carefully and cast a ways away – the fish are weary after a long summer.

Good luck,

Ted

– Sorry, at this time all salmon dates are booked. Be sure to act early next year to reserve your dates –

The Fall 2013 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe

Steelhead -Just a few fall steelhead dates remain and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.

Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing once the salmon leave.

2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

Betsie, fishing, fly fishing, manistee, salmon, steelhead

September Salmon Fly Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 9, 2013

It still feels like summer with the warm weather but temps more fall-like are forecast for later in the week.

Salmon fly fishing has taken most of the notice of anglers lately as the runs in the Betsie and Manistee Rivers have been good this year. Those of you that have been out know that the fish are running a few pounds bigger on average and have been tough to land. Being salmon, some days they respond to flies well, other days not so. Mix up your patterns, your presentation and even a slight angle change to the run/hole which can make the difference.

There hasn’t been a predominate or favorite fly pattern lately, just the usual nymph patterns like caddis, stones, hex fished in tandem with an egg pattern. Floating lines with indicators have been coming in handy when fishing the insides of runs where staging salmon often sit, but most of the time clients have been using the duck and chuck method with success. (Read more about rigging for salmon here.)

The trout fishing remains decent for those fishing terrestrials and small streamer patterns on rivers like the upper Manistee and Boardman rivers. Water levels are decent for this time of year and clarity is a little too good after a long season, but have the river to yourself while you catch brown and brook trout.

Good luck,

Ted

– Sorry, at this time all salmon dates are booked. Be sure to act early next year to reserve your dates –

The Fall 2013 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe

Steelhead -Just a few fall steelhead dates remain and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.

Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing once the salmon leave.

2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

Betsie, boardman, fishing terrestrials, fly fishing, guide. client, manistee, salmon, trout fishing

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