Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

The Unofficial Start of Fall

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 2, 2013

Now that Labor Day is behind us, the kids are in school and the salmon are in the rivers, it’s time to look forward to a long fall season of fly fishing.

While summer-like temps are usual throughout September, the cool summer brought the salmon closer to river mouths and into rivers much earlier this year. The Betsie, Mansitee, Bear and Pere Marquette all have fish in them and should throughout mid-October. The salmon – so far, have been on average a few pounds bigger than years past but the past week we have started to see some smaller fish swimming with the big ones. The big ones – while fresh, were hard to hold onto! We are a ways from spawning so look for fish to be in the deeper holes and eating nymphs and eggs and the occasional streamer fished on a sink-tip. Being salmon, some days they just don’t want to eat anything – mix up your fly patterns and put in your casts – it only takes a fish or two to make it a great day – more than that, even better.

There has been no shortage of anglers with this year’s early start and with the big fish come less than desirable anglers and their methods used to “catch” the salmon – program your cell phones with the DNR’s RAP Hot line (Report All Poaching) and report any violators you see: 1-800-292-7800. It only takes the word of a few tickets issued to curb some of the activity so your call can make a difference.

The warm weather over the past few weeks has warmed the trout waters but they will start to drop again with the cool down and cooler evenings. The Manistee and Boardman are running very clear right now but still have trout fishing going on. Terrestrials like hoppers, flying ants and beetles are a good bet as are some attractors. Sub-surface, try your bead head nymphs in the runs and slots and a small streamer twitched will keep you in the game. Look for the brook trout to get feistier as their spawning season approaches later this month and their colors become even more vibrant. You should have the trout rivers pretty much to yourself so enjoy the solitude and some technical fishing – there has been a decent BWO hatch on the upper Manistee in the early evenings and some remaining trico spinner falls in late morning.

Good luck,

Ted

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

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.

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Summer Returns – Late August Traverse City Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 23, 2013

It appears that Summer has started again with warmer temperatures and plenty of sunlight.

These conditions have been good for the trout fishing on the Manistee and Boardman as terrestrials thrive in these conditions. Hoppers, ants, beetles and foam and rubber leg attractors are the ticket for those fishing on top. Windy conditions can make it difficult to cast, but blow some bugs in and the fish are waiting. Very little is hatching: Tricos in the mid-mornings with smaller trout rising to them making for fun “target practice”. Have a few small Isonychias in your box as well as #14 tan caddis and #18 BWOs. Smaller streamers fished in the little runs and cuts around wood have been producing some fish also and days that are mixed with sun and clouds have tended to be better.

The cooler weather made for good water temps at the river mouths and some salmon moved up the area rivers. With the warmer weather the fish aren’t as eager to come upstream, but the ones that did over the previous weeks are scattered throughout the river systems. Egg flies, small streamers and classic nymphs like sparrows, stones and buggers have been producing. A good N.W. wind and some rain would really get fish moving upstream again.

Bass and bluegill are still eating the fly on local lakes. The bigger gills are harder to come by but there are plenty of small ones to keep you busy and the bigger bass have been eating the larger flies – both on top and bottom. The warm weather will improve things further for those looking to fish the weed lines, beds and structure for largemouth bass.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout Fishing – Morning Trico s and fishing terrestrials is a great way to start a day in August
Bluegill & Bass – Fishing for both species is a great way to spend some time on the water over summer.
Salmon & Fall Steelhead –Salmon season is all booked and just a few dates remain for fall steelhead.

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Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City Mid-August

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 15, 2013

Trout fishing has been consistent these past weeks as water temps have been much cooler than normal for this time of year due to the mild air temperatures. The Trico hatch has been going a little later in the morning on the upper Manistee River once the sun gets higher and warms things up a bit, however the water is very clear and too much sun is a good thing. Not much else is on emerging on the Manistee and Boardman but attractors are working well for the brook trout and smaller browns where the larger terrestrials and foam and rubber patterns are bringing up some bigger fish. With the weather forecast calling for warmer conditions, look for the terrestrial fishing to get even better.

Bass and Bluegill on ponds and lakes has slowed a little with the cooler weather, but fish continue to play the game and eat flies – poppers, sliders, diving baitfish and baitfish streamers. The warmer weather should bring things back to where they should be for this time of year. Bluegill and panfish are taking smaller dry flies – small terrestrials like beetles, ants and small hoppers are great places to start. Smaller streamers fished just below the surface have been working, too.

The cool weather and water has brought some salmon closer to the river mouths and some fish have slipped up some of the local rivers but they are still low in numbers. It appears the fall run of salmon should be a good one this year.

Good luck,

Ted

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August Fly Fishing in Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 1, 2013

Now that August is here, it is full-on terrestrial fishing for trout. Water temps are cooler than normal for this time of the year on the Manistee and Boardman River and the fish are happy. The clear water and bright skies are making it tougher than normal, but there are still some trout around to play our game; look for overcast and cloudy conditions to provide your best opportunities.

When not casting terrestrials – hoppers, ants, beetles and other attractors, the most consistent insect on the water is the Trico – small mayflies that typically hit the water in mid-morning. Look for little dimples and mostly smaller fish to be out eating but always be ready to coax a larger fish to the net on the light tippet that might surprise you. Since these flies are so small, try fishing them behind a larger dry fly to serve as an indicator. Small beaded or coned streamers fished on floating lines and some bead head nymphs have been working in the deeper slots and holes with shade and/or wood.

Smallmouth bass fishing on the lower Manistee fishing is good for those looking to fish streamers, crayfish and the occasional popper. While they aren’t as big as the fish in the bay, they are a lot of fun and will make you a better streamer angler for other species including trout.

Bass and Bluegill fishing remains solid on the smaller lakes and ponds around Traverse City. If you haven’t gotten in on the bass fishing this year, it has been one of the better years we have experienced. While the larger bluegill are pretty deep most of the day and migrating into the shallows in the evenings, the largemouth bass have been accessible to the fly angler through poppers, streamers and diving baitfish. Small gills are almost always in shallow and offer beginners and kids a great opportunity to learn the basics and have fun doing it.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout Fishing – Morning Trico s and fishing terrestrials is a great way to start a day in August
Bluegill & Bass – Fishing for both species is a great way to spend some time on the water over summer.
Fall Steelhead –Few dates remain for these chrome favorites – act quick. Late Sept. – Nov.

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End of July Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City Region

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 25, 2013

As much as we appreciate the cooler weather this past week, it takes a little while for the fish to get use to the change in water temps. Cooler water temps are good for the fish and after a day or two off relative consistent weather they are happy and playing our game again.

The hatches on the upper Manistee and Boardman have been quite limited lately with just a few bugs around including Isos, Cahills, Big Olives, and Tricos. Fishing a bead head nymph in runs has produced some fish as they aren’t looking up too much with the bright sun. A very small streamer fished on a floating line has been a good approach, too. When those two presentations don’t work, try small terrestrials and the big rubber leg and foam creations – hoppers, Chernobyl Ants and other large profile bugs that have a little motion in them. The rivers are pretty quiet and a morning spent on the river this time of year is not only a great way to stay cool, but have it to yourself while catching brown and brook trout

Fishing on the lakes and ponds has been good for those looking to cash in on bass on large swimming diver bass bugs and large poppers. Weed beds and lilly pads have been the ideal place to target these fish especially when they are adjacent to cover like wood and drop offs. Keep in mind leader size is important when casting those big wind resistant flies. Bluegill have been playing along too and closer to the shallow water since the big fish in the deeper water tend to eat them – small dries like hoppers, ants, spiders and beetles have been working on top with small baitfish streamers working bellow.

The Smallmouth Bass fishing on the Lower Manistee continues to fish well. Medium to large streamers with lots of flash fished on both floating lines and short sink-tips have been the ticket. Crayfish bounced along the bottom and twitched are always good around rocks especially with the big moon that is out right now. While they aren’t as big as the fish we catch in the bay, the river smallmouth fight hard, get us on the river and make us better fly anglers.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout Fishing – Evening hatches should transition to morning trico s and terrestrial fishing as July sets in.
Bluegill & Bass – Lake fishing for both species is a great way to spend some time on the water over summer.
Fall Steelhead – Its not too early to start thinking about fall’s best fishing fish. Late Sept. – Nov.

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