Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

Trout Opener

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 25, 2012

After getting a significant rainfall, the water level came up, but a push of steelhead did not. The Manistee rose nicely, but is already falling back down and not much has changed as far as conditions. I guess I was optimistic and hopeful a bunch of fish would come in or perhaps I was stubborn to accept that they wouldn’t. While there are fish in the river many of them are stale and are doing their spawning with the few fresh fish that make their way upstream. Fishing for drop backs is still happening for the more aggressive fish, but they seem to be waning in numbers as well. To sum up the 2012 Spring steelhead run – it was definitely unprecedented and I’m pretty sure I won’t experience another early run like we had. At least, I hope not. Thanks to all of you that joined me and put in your time for much earned and memorable fish. In the meantime, fall steelhead are only 6 months away and there is a lot of other fishing to do between now and then.

Trout fishing continues to be decent on the upper Manistee with early hatches. The cooler weather of the past week or so has diminished bug densities but Hendricksons, BWOs, stones and caddis have been coming off with some fish feeding – look for some warmer temps to improve things. The much needed rainfall has pretty much come and gone and the river is still pretty clear. Look to both the inside and outside of bends to be holding fish as fishing pressure has been light and the fish aren’t necessarily bunkered in the deep wood.

Fishing below Tippy Dam on the Manistee for trout has been offering anglers an option when the steelhead aren’t playing along. Casting fry patterns and other small streamers with floating lines in the darker water and around wood is working as are big streamers on sink tips in the deeper runs and holes. More and more caddis are building in the afternoons and the fish are just starting to look at them on the surface.

This weekend is “Trout Opener” – good luck, be safe and have fun.

Ted

hendrickson, manistee, opening day trout season, streamer, tippy dam, trout opener

Steelhead and Trout Limbo/Combo

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 18, 2012

We finally received some rain, but with the ground so dry, most of it went there rather than into our rivers having little impact on river levels and the much anticipated re-start of the Spring Steelhead run.

Some fresh fish continue to trickle in on the Manistee, but not as many as there typically is for this time of year. Look for the fish to be on the spawning gravel with a number of dark, males accompanying the female doing her thing. With the clear water conditions, be prepared to be stealthy and go light with line and flies – the males are becoming cranky and are taking leeches and fry patterns pretty good as they are fending for their territory. Other flies that have been working include small (#10 and 12) and realistic egg patterns, caddis and stones – not much new here. Targeting drop-back steelhead remains decent as the fish are putting their feed bag back on after a few weeks of not eating as they head back to the lake.

The trout fishing below Tippy dam is picking up for those targeting the dark water with nymphs where as streamer anglers working the cover are finding some better fish – mostly when the sun isn’t high and bright. The trout have been planted below the dam so you might have to increase your streamer size a bit to keep the stockers off your line to help with their survival and success rate. Look for conditions to improve as warmer weather sets in with warmer water and more aquatic life making for a good combo approach – steelhead in the morning and trout in the afternoon.. With the stocked fish in the river, consider fishing a big fly pattern like the Fin Clip to emulate the “natural” food source of some really big trout – it’s not a numbers thing, but the fish you get tend to be big.

Trout fishing on the Upper Manistee is pretty good for those who hit the right day – that’s when it’s warm enough for bugs to emerge or when the shade offers ideal streamer fishing as the water is still quite clear. Hendricksons have been emerging in the afternoons on the warmer days and the fish are starting to expect them. Be sure to have some stone flies and BWO in your box, too.

Good Luck!

Ted

The Spring Newsletter just went out – click here to read.

– Book a Trip for the Upcoming Fishing Seasons –

April: Steelhead and Trout fishing on the Manistee River
April-May: Trout – Streamers & Dry Flies. Hendricksons & Early Bug Hatches on the Upper Manistee
June: Trout -Big Dry Flies – Drakes, Isonychias and The Hex.
Booking for all 2012 Seasons – Some Fall Dates Remain Open

fin clip, hendrickson hatch, late spring steelhead, manistee, streamer fishing, tippy dam, trout, upper-manistee

“Well, We’re Waiting”

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 13, 2012

A classic quote from the movie Caddy Shack comes to mind as we wait for some rain to inspire the remainder of the steelhead to move upstream. While we have had some rain and some snow, no significant amount has fallen and the steelhead run remains stagnate, stale and otherwise unprecedented. The forecast is calling for some this weekend and the lack of hot days has pretty much put water temps in check with normal readings for this time of year. Surf/Pier fishing reports indicate that fish are there -also waiting.

There are some steelhead in the Manistee and other area rivers with spawning taking place as water temps hover around 50 degrees. By no means are there as many fish around as there typically is this time of year but still some are around. As a few fresh females slip in, they are quickly attended to by dark males looking to do their part. With water clarity a little too good right now, they are pretty easy to see. Look for more respondent fish to be in the darker slots and holes near the bright gravel and cover a lot of water. Drop-back steelhead continue to play the game as they head back to the lake making for some spirited fights since their minds are back to eating and not spawning. Smaller, natural looking egg flies in smaller sizes are choice as are smaller nymphs like caddis, stones and fry when fishing near the gravel and hex, fry, buggers and leeches are working in the runs.

Trout fishing is well under way on the Upper Manistee with some hendricksons, bwos and black stone flies emerging as the day gets warmer in the afternoons. Water clarity is dramatically clear so stealth goes a long way with the fish being in all sorts of water – not just bunkered in the deep, woody holes. Streamer fishing smaller streamers with slower retrieves is working well with the cold water temps, but be prepared to mix it up if you aren’t getting the results you are looking for. Shaded water should demand your attention, but don’t overlook featureless water. Look for the bugs to continue to build in density with time and warmer conditions – it’s sure is a good to see trout rising again.

Good luck!

Ted

drop-back steelhead, hendickson hatch, manistee, steelhead, streamer fishing

April Fools

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 3, 2012

Now that April has arrived, I kind of feel like a fool – have the bulk of the steelhead already come or are there more fresh fish to come in the weeks ahead? Never accused of being overly optimistic but a realist, I am however thinking there are more fish to come.

Water levels are getting low and clarity is good with a slight stain. Temps remain right around 50 degrees so the lack of 80-degree days lately is helping to keep the water temp in this range. There still hasn’t been a surge of suckers or walleye in the Manistee River which serve as a gauge of where the steelhead run is at. Reports from the Betsie River is similar to the Manistee – that is, there are fish around, but they are skittish and some days fishing is better than others. Like last week’s report, what we need is a surge of water to bring more steelhead upstream and the weatherman isn’t predicting that to happen. He’s been wrong in the past.

Those looking to score fish are finding that sticking with the game plan, covering water and changing up flies is having success. Many of the fish are on gravel beds with the dark water near it (pockets and holes) holding fish – effective flies include a variety of smaller egg patterns in realistic colorations, stones, caddis and fry patterns. Drop back fish headed back the lake are in seams and runs primarily eating bigger nymphs like hex and buggers.

Good luck,

Ted

betsie river, egg patterns, manistee river, spawning, steelhead, tippy dam

Pack-boots and Sandals

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 27, 2012

Next to my front door are pack-boots and sandals. While it’s been a few weeks since boots were needed, last week’s sandal wearing weather made the latest cool down feel like pack boots might be a good call in the mornings. Confused on the weather? So seem the steelhead.

What started off as a great steelhead season a few weeks ago with a good run-off of snow, the Spring run has become stagnate the past week with few fish entering the Manistee and Betsie Rivers. Yes, some fresh fish have moved through but with water temperatures being in the high 40’s and even low 50’s, they seem to come and go quickly. The increased water flows/levels have mostly tapered off and clarity has left us with a nice, sun-shielding stain.

I think we need a good rain to increase flows and bring in the next wave of fish – then again, this Spring’s weather has been unprecedented so no one really knows what is going to happen. I do know that few walleye and suckers have come into the Manistee and since they typically share the water with a large percentage of the Spring steelhead, there should be more chrome to enter the river in the weeks ahead. Last year’s run that extended strong in to mid-May provides hope and proof that a run can pause before starting up strong again.

Most of the fish are in the “Occupy Gravel” movement doing their spawning with some fish in the dark water nearby. Low light is best, but is nothing new. Flies have varied – fry patterns, caddis, black stones, and hare’s ears below egg patterns that are smaller and more realistic looking shades like nuke eggs in Oregon Cheese/Steelhead Orange are good bets. With decent water temps, the drop-back fish are moving to Lake Michigan swiftly – target these fish with buggers, leeches, small baitfish patterns and even some bigger eggs in tail-outs and runs. It should be a decent spring for those dedicated to swinging flies on the two-hander/spey rods with the high water temps.

Don’t forget that new fishing licenses are required 4/1/2012

Good Luck!

Ted

– Book a Trip for the Upcoming Fishing Seasons –

Now-April: Steelhead on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers
April-May: Trout – Streamers & Dry Flies. Hendricksons & Early Bug Hatches
June: Trout -Big Dry Flies – Drakes, Isonychias and The Hex.
Booking for all 2012 Seasons – Some Fall Dates Remain Open

Betsie, drop-back steelhead, fry patterns, manistee, nuke eggs, spring run

«‹73 74 75 76 77 ›»