Yes, An Early Spring

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 13, 2012

After a guide trip the other day I walked the neighborhood and witnessed flowers coming up in a garden, so yes, we are experiencing an early Spring, we just don’t need the April showers just yet.

With all of the snow melt and some significant rainfalls this past week anglers are finding their favorite rivers running high and dirty. While not necessarily ideal conditions, fish are playing our game as many of the winter fish are staging around spawning gravel and new, fresh fish migrating upstream with the increased water levels. Look for fish to be in the deeper holes and just off the seam line avoiding the increased flow. Expect spawning to start taking place soon if it hasn’t started already. As the temps are just getting into the 40’s the fish are becoming more active and with the increased water flow you will have your hands full.

Visibility on the Betsie and Manistee is less than 1.5 feet and with more sun, the particulate reflects more and decreases visibility further making low light hours and shade a great place to target. Now is a good time to cast large egg patterns like clowns, sparkle eggs and Chartreuse glo bugs with large, dark flies like stone’s, leeches and buggers tied below them.

Good luck and safe wading,

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

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Early Spring?

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 8, 2012

Now that it is March, it seems that April Showers – both rain and snow came a little early. The big storm last week left plenty of snow here in Northern Michigan but the 50 degree temps and rain this week has melted most of it. There is no doubt that a significant amount of water is in the local rivers and they will continue to rise as more melting takes place with the extended forecast. Thankfully a lot of the water went into the unfrozen ground, restoring the water table after a pretty dry winter.

The Manistee is experiencing a good number of fish and water rising. Many steelhead are staging around the gravel areas and this burst of water should bring more fish upstream to play with. The water closer to the dam is going to have better clarity than downstream however that should change as the Pine River and Upper Manistee’s dirty water flows through the pond and under the dam by the weekend.

The Betsie River has had some good pushes of fish move through it lately with timing being paramount. Some of these fresh fish are stopping to hang around with the winter hold over fish while the others continue to move through. The water is rising rapidly and as of Wednesday it still offered good clarity but it was changing and today it is colored up.

Flies: eggs flies in a multitude of colors – clown, steelhead orange, chartreuse, and Oregon Cheese are good bets along with bigger nymphs including steely buggers, leeches, caddis, hex nymphs, stones and fry patterns. Little stone flies are hatching so have a few in the box especially for any sunny days as slight bumps in water temps increases bug densities.

To check on water levels on various rivers (there isn’t one for the Betsie) click on the USGS Waterflow site. Be careful wading.

Good Luck,
Ted

February, Ground Hogs and Steelhead

Posted by Ted Kraimer - February 2, 2012

While the weather has been up and down, the fishing has been relatively consistent. Most anglers are spending their time looking for steelhead and are finding them in the predictable winter lies.

Despite the warm-ups and mild winter temperatures, the fish are in winter mode preferring the slower, deeper water since water temps are in staying in the upper 30’s and not fluctuating too much. A few fresh fish have moved throughout the Manistee and Betsie, but most of the fish being caught are those fish that have wintered over after coming up in the fall and early winter. Good flies have included alevins and fry as the salmon eggs are starting to pop and transform into fish, as well as small black stones, sow bugs, hex nymphs and small, pale colored eggs. With the fish holding in the slow water and often on the inside of bubble lines, strike indicators and floats come in handy.

Regardless of what the Groundhog signifies, if the weather pattern we have experienced so far this winter continues, look for an early spring run of steelhead and relatively low water levels.

Good luck,
Ted

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Bonus Weather

Posted by Ted Kraimer - January 12, 2012

The break in the weather made fishing pretty comfortable over the past week, but it appears that winter is going to settle in again.

A few days of temps in the upper 30s and low 40s made the river the place to be for steelhead anglers. With the sun warming up the water a bit, the fishing seemed to improve later in the day, however the clear water of the Manistee makes using light line and fluorocarbon a must in with the bright sun. The Betsie, too, is clearer than normal but has its typical tinge to it which makes fish a little less cautious.

Fish have been coming from the deeper, winter holes and runs often just on the inside of the seam line or in the tail out. Successful fly patterns included small pale egg patterns, stones in various sizes, hex, prince, hares ears and pheasant tail nymphs. Keys to fishing right now include trying to avoid those cold water temperature fluctuations – anytime it drops a couple of degrees quickly you are in for a tough bite – keep track of overnight low temps to help chose your best days and/or what time to start.

Good luck.

Ted

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Happy New Year

Posted by Ted Kraimer - January 2, 2012

Once Mother Nature figured out it was a new year, she adjusted the weather to be in step with what it normally is this time of year – winter like.

Steelhead fishing remains the target species for those looking to get outside after a month of over eating, holiday parties and perhaps a little too much time with visiting relatives. Water temps are in the upper 30s and as such the fish are acting like it- kind of lazy in where they are sitting and how they are eating. Look for fish to be on the inside edges and tail-outs of slower moving holes especially if they have structure and wood in them. With the rare appearances of the sun this time of year, look for steelhead to be in shallow slots over sand sunning themselves. The first cast is always the most important but be sure to methodically cover the water since the fish aren’t aggressively moving to eat the fly; with slight warm ups of a degree or two, their willingness to move to a fly can change.

Good luck and may 2012 be filled with a lot of good fishing for you.

Ted

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Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report