Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report

Here Comes the Sun

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 10, 2012

Last week’s rain has pretty much come and gone, returning river levels pretty much close to normal and leaving just a little color to it which is good considering the long-term forecast calls for a fair amount of sun.

The hatches on the upper-Manistee, Boardman and Au Sable Rivers have been offering some good dry fly fishing when hatch conditions are ideal. This time of year there is an assortment of bugs hatching including: light hendricksons, sulphurs (pale evening duns), golden stones (#10), mahoganies, march browns and black quills. Good flies to have include Robert’s Yellow Drakes in #14-16 and Borcher’s Drakes in #12-16. With overcast days, look for the sulphurs to hatch early – often during the day with most mayfly spinner falls returning to riffle sections late morning as the sun warms things up or evenings on the warmer nights. Since some of these bugs are small, look for small, dimple-like rises for rising fish – even the big fish can make a small appearance. Hatches will only become more consistent with sunny/warm weather.

When not fishing dry flies, streamer fishing has been good with all of the water in the rivers the past week. Big, bright patterns with a fair amount of flash had been working best in the stained water but look for the streamer bite to revert to more natural looking patterns now that water has cleared up. The nymph and wet fly fishing has returned below Tippy Dam on the lower Manistee with the return of normal water levels. This is a great fishery this time of year and as carp build in numbers to spawn, look for the trout to really key in on their eggs. Streamer fishing with sink-tips is a standard and can really bring some nice fish to hand.

The bluegill on local ponds and lakes are just getting started on their spawning and are moving into shallows. Be sure to fish both on the surface and with small, natural looking nymphs for the bigger fish.

A few carp are starting to be found in the shallow water of the bays but with cold nights and unfavorable winds, it is pretty sparse. Again, look for the sun to change fishing conditions for carp as well.

Good Luck,

Ted

The Adams Chapter of Trout Unlimited is hosting their annual fund-raising banquet Saturday, May 12 – 2012 – 7:00 pm, doors open 5:00 at The Williamsburg Dinner Theatre . Tickets are $45 and are available for purchase at The Northern Angler, Nolans, Apache Trout Grill, Streamside Orvis, or at the door. This is a fun event sponsoring an organization that promotes our regional coldwater fisheries. Raffle, auction and door prizes are just part of the evening’s events.

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

ausable, boardman, manistee

May Trout Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 3, 2012

Trout opener has come and gone and so have the anglers. While opener weekend had mixed results thanks to cold weather, the annual traditions of groups, families and friends seemed to be alive and well.

Stable and warmer temps this week has improved hatches and dry fly fishing – they should continue get even better with warmer weather. If fishing the upper Manistee look for Hendricksons – both light and dark, March Browns, Mahoganies, Black Quills, bigger stones (#10), BWOs, and lots of small caddis and some #14 tan caddis. The month of May offers some great dry fly fishing but be prepared for selective feeding – pay real close attention to what they are eating and what stage; emerger patterns are proving themselves as real fish catchers as more people are fishing them.

Conditions on both the Manistee and Boardman had been really clear with temperatures in the mid-50’s until we just received some much needed rain – just too much of it at once. River levels have come up significantly after a couple inches of rain. Streamer fishing will be most effective in the high water. Look for fish on the inside of bends eating all of the food washing downstream. The chestnut lamprey numbers are building so fishing streamer patterns that imitate them is a good place to start as are long, worm like patterns like mohair leeches and rabbit strip leeches. Other successful streamer patterns include zuddlers, protected witness, baitfish/deceivers and sasquatches.

On the lower Manistee below tippy, look for water levels to increase and create some good feeding as food is dislodged in the flush of water. Fishing nymphs under an indicator can be real effective when not fishing streamer patterns on sink-tips looking for the big and more aggressive fish. Fry patterns fished on floating lines is still effective as we are taking advantage of last fall’s prolific salmon reproduction. Some caddis, bwo and midge activity is taking place on the surface throughout the day for those who like it on top.

Good luck!

Ted

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

– Book a Trip for the Upcoming Fishing Seasons –

boardman, caddis, dry fly, fly fishing, fry pattern, lamprey, march brown, streamer, upper-manistee

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 –

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

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