Hex Season

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 27, 2020

It’s that time of year where darkness brings out the big bugs, big fish and big crowds.

The rivers are in good shape with a little more water in them than normal (2 inches?) and a slight stain compared to the typical clear, low water found this time of year. Most of the local rivers in the region are experiencing hex bugs at night – both spinner falls and hatches. But in keeping in-step with the rest of our hatches this spring, they have been as fickle as the fish – sometimes being there, other times not. Having some stable weather in the forecast should help make more reliable hatches/spinner falls, but as I wrote a few weeks ago regarding bugs, I no longer predict hatches.

There haven’t been too many other bugs on the water but to be prepared, you will want some Isonychias, Brown Drakes, Bat Flies, Sulphurs and Med Brown Stoneflies in your box as these have been around, just not in heavy numbers.

There seems to be even more folks on the water than normal for this time of year. After the three months we have all gone through it’s seems the water is the place where people can get out and maybe forget about those past three months – can’t blame them for that. Most have a smile on their face, are pleasant with a nod and smile, and even some friendly words rather than the territorial grunt of a hunter-gatherer typically experienced this time of year. Let’s keep that attitude going forward to help make it a nice experience for everyone out there.

Lastly, water temps are increasing so when you hook into that fish, take advantage of that 6 wt rod and 1x tippet and get them in quick and back in the water. Sadly, most of the local trout rivers are not stocked by the DNR and these adult fish are responsible for future generations through natural reproduction and that can’t happen if the fish dies after a 20 second photo session.

Good luck.

Ted

New to the Sport? Bass and Bluegill fishing is the perfect way to learn to fish after a quick casting lesson.
Tricos & Terrestrials – A great way to start a summer day. Float and Trout fish the Manistee in July and August.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates are available in November – a great way to finish a fishing season.

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Mid June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 15, 2018

As we hit the mid-point of June it’s time to hit the trout rivers with a head-lamp for those late evening emergences and spinner falls. With the hot weather/temperatures forecast the big hex bugs should get going pretty soon. Until then, be armed with Isonychias, Brown Drakes, Stones – medium brown, golden and little yellow sally, Light Cahills, and the very last of the sulphurs. Consistent hatches have been hard to find this year but when we find them it offers up some good fishing with fish looking up. You can learn more about the other hatches that precede the Hex Hatch here.

With air temps rising, so do water temps – please play the fish fast and release them quickly for their survival. Remember, the MI-DNR doesn’t stock a majority of our rivers so do your part to help the fishery.

The bay fishing is hit or miss when it comes to the carp. Some days we find them and they are happy, other days we find them, and they aren’t happy. Then there are the days we don’t find them. Smallmouth bass have mostly come in to do their spawning, but some still can be found cruising the shallows. It’s best to hit the big water with an open mind – that is take whichever species presents itself. Carp are mostly in a pre-spawn mode unless you can find warm water that has remained warm for a few days – then they are in spawning mode.

The lake fishing for bluegills and bass remains strong. A lot of the bigger bluegills have left the shallows, but not all of them. With the moon cycle, they should be in again for a second round. Look for shallow water near drop offs for your best fishing. The bass fishing has been fun with smaller poppers and small streamers fished on floating lines.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – The big Bugs of June will be here before you know it…. Isos, Drakes and Hex – limited dates available.
Stillwater- Bluegill, Bass and Carp. With the best trout fishing in the evening, try fishing lakes during the day.
Fall Steelhead – With Summer just arriving, it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates – Oct. thru Dec.

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May Days and Trout Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 9, 2017

Trout fishing is the main theme right now as the next two months are some of the best for anglers looking to fish dry flies and streamers for brown and brook trout. All local rivers are pretty much experiencing ideal conditions and with that comes the emergence of various bugs.

On the upper Manistee, AuSable and Boardman rivers, look for the Hendricksons to continue to come off in the afternoons and their spinner falls to drop in the evenings. A few other mayflies including BWOs, Black Quills/Borchers Drake, and even a few Sulphurs/light Hendricksons are around to compliment the caddis that are a little more consistent these days. This is only the beginning of an emergence calendar that keeps us thinking about trout, dry flies and being on the water.

When nothing is happening on the surface, focus on fishing sub-surface with streamers. With the rivers having a slight stain to them right now, it’s a great time to cast a big fly on a sink-tip for those larger fish that haven’t totally gone nocturnal on us right now. After a mild winter, the fish are looking well fed and they don’t seem to be wanting to go on a diet right now.

Good streamers include baitfish patterns – especially in waters are stocked by the DNR. While Fin Clips do a good job of imitating stocked rainbows, there are other patterns that do a good job of imitating trout and other juvenile fish….Cheech Leech, Dirty Hippy, Brook Trout, mini D&Ds, Deceivers and more. And when those don’t work – or you are fishing non-stocked water – try sculpin patterns to imitate a prolific natural food source.

Bluegill are just starting to work their way up into the shallows of certain lakes and ponds. This week’s warmer weather should push them up from the depths and into water that is more conducive to fly anglers. This is a blast when you: need to fish closer to home, are introducing someone to the sport, or are simply looking for not overly technical fishing opportunities. Largemouth bass, too, are starting to get active where we can present small streamers on floating lines to them. But look out for aggressive pike that want to take your fly and keep it, too.

Good luck,

Ted

May Fishing – Trout, late steelhead, hatches, streamer fishing, bluegill on lakes – don’t overlook fishing in May.
Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

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Late May Fly Fishing for Trout and More

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 23, 2016

The week of high sun and warmer weather has done a good job of helping us to forget that it snowed just over a week ago. With the better weather the fishing has improved as the waters on both rivers and lakes have warmed up and the hatches on the local trout rivers are pretty much where they should be for this time of year.

This is a great time of year for the serious dry fly angler as there are plenty of bugs overlapping and offering good match-the-hatch situations. On the Manistee and AuSable look for Mayflies to include: Sulphurs, Mahoganies, March Browns and Great Speckled Olives (think #12 Borcher’s Drake), Stoneflies: – Little Yellow Sally and Yellow Belly Brown Stones, and Caddis: #14 black, #16 Tan. While some of the smaller fish readily come to the fly, the bigger fish are demanding good presentation in the clear water conditions. If you love to fool fish on the surface the next few weeks are ideal for you. More on the fishing the hatches this time of year – click here.

Evening spinner falls have been offering good chances at trout, but in low light, fishing small spinners to sippers can be a challenge. Make sure you are stopping your rod tip high, getting a good turn over and don’t forget to mend. The softer, placid water just below riffles are collecting good numbers of bugs and is a good place to look for soft risers. The larger fish are only giving us one chance, so make sure you can execute -here’s an article with some tips for better dry fly fishing.

The bass and bluegill fishing is in full swing. The bigger gills have moved from the depths and into the shallows providing a lot of fun on both the surface and below. If they aren’t coming up try fishing nymphs like small damsels, minnows and even bead headed soft hackles for success; as you slowly strip the fly, keep tension on the line and wait for the slightest bump/tug and set the hook.

Good luck.

Ted

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for your opinion on the state of our fisheries.
Please take a few minutes and let them know what you really think – don’t hold back!
Remember, this is an agency that is supposed to be working for us. Click here for the survey.

May Fishing – It’s a great month for streamer and dry fly fishing for Trout.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and the Hex – got dates?
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

ausable river, bluegill fishing, borcher's drake, fly fishing, Great Speckled Olive, manistee, march browns, Northern Michigan, sulphurs

Posts tagged "ausable river"

Hex Season

Mid June Fly Fishing Report

May Days and Trout Fishing

Late May Fly Fishing for Trout and More

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for your opinion on the state of our fisheries.
Please take a few minutes and let them know what you really think – don’t hold back!
Remember, this is an agency that is supposed to be working for us. Click here for the survey.

Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for your opinion on the state of our fisheries. Please take a few minutes and let them know what you really think – don’t hold back! Remember, this is an agency that is supposed to be working for us. Click here for the survey.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for your opinion on the state of our fisheries.
Please take a few minutes and let them know what you really think – don’t hold back!
Remember, this is an agency that is supposed to be working for us. Click here for the survey.