Posts tagged "betsie river"

Mid March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 16, 2017

Not much has changed since the last fishing report. The weather has been up and down but it appears that mid-March is beginning to trend to warmer conditions. And with Spring officially starting Sunday, it would be good to see winter in the rear view mirror.

Recent cold weather slowed down some of the advancement of fresh steelhead into the Betsie and Manistee rivers, but that will change with some sunshine and warmer water temps. Water levels are ideal – about normal for this time of year and with a little stain to it.

There is a mix of fish in the rivers – both winter holdovers and some fresh ones, too. Look for the fish to be staging in deeper and slower runs near gravel sections as they are in a pre-spawn mode. Successful flies are all over the place: mid-sized eggs in a variety of colors with orange combos and chartreuse being the preferred colors. The winning nymphs include: Buggers, Caddis, Big Stones and Alevin/ Fry Patterns.

Good Luck,

Ted

The Spring 2017 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or sign up for delivery.

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.

betsie river, caddis fly, manistee, steelhead fishing, stoneflies

January / Winter Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - January 3, 2017

Happy New Year!

The end of 2016 found us chasing steelhead and trout when there was a break in the weather with mixed results. With the snow on the ground, anytime the air was comfortable to fish in, run-off would occur and drop the water temps a degree or two putting the fish off a bit. Sunshine – which is usually a bad thing with fishing – is ideal this time of year as the solar heat warms the water just enough to get those fish from their winter funk and increases their appetite.

The steelhead have been taking residence in their typical deep, slow moving holes like they do each winter. When the water does warm up just a bit, the secondary holes and slots are good places to target, too, with a focus on the inside of the current seams as the water is in the low 30s on both the Manistee and Betsie Rivers. A drag-free drift is key right now which makes fishing an indicator or float ideal. Slow moving swung flies on sink-tips will work too for those looking to put their time with a two-handed rod but that window of opportunity is getting smaller as cold temps are in the forecast again.

Trout fishing has been winding down as the water temps have been dropping. Look for the fish to be on the inside bends and edges behind fallen timber or diversions with just enough current to keep water moving through their gills. When not fishing realistic nymphs and small eggs, fish a slow moving streamer pattern that has lots of motion without needing to strip it fast; this is a good time to fish patterns with cones and dumbbell eyes on small sink-tips or even floating lines.

Alert! There is a weir proposed for the lower Manistee which will threaten the movement of migratory fish like steelhead in the river system.This weir will also have the potential of being a significant navigational hazard. As proposed I am opposed to possibility of the USFS granting a special use permit for the construction of this weir – please read more by clicking here to read the Manistee Resistance Board Scoping letter.

If you value your spring Steelhead fishing, I strongly encourage you to write a quick letter to the USFS voicing your concern stating your objections (contact info. within .pdf) by January 20th, 2017. This is serious and your comments do make a significant difference. This is no time to be in the silent majority.

Good luck throughout all of 2017.

Ted

Winter Fishing – Look for breaks in the weather to sneak out and fish a half day for steelhead or trout.
Spring Steelhead – Starting in March, Steelhead fishing gets going through the month of April. It isn’t far away!
2017 Fishing – Now booking trips for all seasons and species. Be sure to get your dates to get on the water.

betsie river, fishing report. winter. Spring Steelhead, indicator fishing, k streamer, manistee, proposed weir, steelhead fishing

Late October Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 23, 2016

As we get deeper into October we are finding that the salmon are mostly done on the local rivers. A few fresh fish slip in but for the most part the salmon are dark, beat up and trying to get through their spawning ritual. In review, this year’s run of salmon was far better than the previous two years which was welcomed. It’s hoped that with natural reproduction, a limited number of stocked King/Chinook salmon, and a slight recovery in alewife/baitfish populations – Lake Michigan and its tributaries will return to a healthy, sustainable fishery going forward.

With all of the salmon in the river spawning, their eggs help convince fall steelhead to swim upstream, proving opportunity at what some consider the best freshwater species we get to pursue. The water temperatures are warmer than normal for this time of year so fish numbers are a little behind but there is typically no mistaking when a steelhead is on – most of the hooked steelhead have been rambunctious this fall making them hard to land. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

With fall steelhead fishing, key in on gravel beds with salmon still spawning and fish tandem egg patterns behind them in the darker holes and runs for fish eating their eggs. With all of the leaves in the water (the leaf drop, too, is behind this year) I prefer to fish a large egg pattern with a very realistic size and color egg below it. Water clarity on both the Betsie and Big Manistee below Tippy Dam is running clear so fluorocarbon is recommended. Although we have received some periodic rains, we could use some more of them to keep pushes of fish moving upstream – with the weather this fall, look for an extended fall run of fish

On water still open to trout fishing, anglers are finding most of the brown trout done spawning and in a post-spawn mode. If you come across beds of spawning fish, please leave them alone as most of the rivers rely solely on natural reproduction. This is the time of year to put the dry fly rods away and cover some water with sink-tips and streamers. As salmon numbers decline below Tippy Dam, so do salmon anglers, making it a good place to target trout that become aggressive after a month of a steady salmon egg diet.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – Target post-spawn browns with streamers on the upper Manistee or Below Tippy Dam.
Fall Steelhead – Warm weather is making for comfortable steelhead fishing. Oxymoron, isn’t it?
Late Fall Trout – After gorging on salmon eggs, streamer fishing below Tippy Dam can be outstanding.

betsie river, egg patterns, fall steelhead fishing, fall steelhead with egg flies, post-spawn trout fishing with streamers, spawning salmon, Streamer fishing for trout, tippy dam steelhead fishing

Early October Salmon, Steelhead and Trout Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 1, 2016

October is here and it’s starting to look and feel a little more like fall. Despite much warmer than normal temperatures, some leaves are starting to turn, the nights are a little cooler and some big fish are showing up in rivers.

The Betsie continues to receive some salmon, especially after favorable weather like wind and rain. Many of the fish are hitting the gravel and doing their annual spawning duties, but fresh fish are still making their way up stream. Look for fish to be running through the slots as they move towards gravel upstream. The darker holding and pocket water near worked-over gravel sections are holding staging fish, too.

The Manistee this past week has seen some of the first fish hit the spawning gravel in the upper sections and more fish stage. Water temps below Tippy Dam are about 10 degrees warmer than they should be for this time of year. Once the water temperature drops – along with some rain – the river is likely to get a big push of fish, until then it will likely be a reduced migration of fish. Word from the boats leaving out of Manistee is there are still a lot of adult fish in Lake Michigan. I think a few years of early runs have us impatiently waiting for the big push when they are just a little behind. Regardless, the number of fish this year is significantly greater than the last two years with more to come.

A lot of trout rivers and streams closed September 30th, but portions of others – like the Manistee and Au Sable – are still open to fishing. As the brookies are spawning and the browns are getting ready to do the same, the pre-spawn bite can be decent for those fishing streamers on smaller sink tips and even floating lines. Have some Blue Winged Olives and Caddis in your box just in case of an emergence. On the warmer days ahead it isn’t unusual to witness some flying ants and other terrestrial patterns on the water so make sure you have some in your fly box.

Good luck!

Ted

Available Dates in October: 19, 23 and 3oth.

Trout – Have the Upper Manistee to yourself fishing wets, dries/terrestrials and streamers.
Fall Steelhead – Starting in October, extending into December. Fall Color Tour includes Chrome!
Late Fall Trout – After gorging on salmon eggs, streamer fishing below Tippy Dam can be really good.

betsie river, blue winged olives, caddis, manistee river, salmon eggs, steelhead, tippy dam

Late April Steelhead and Trout Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 24, 2016

The steelhead fishing has been stagnant as the water levels have dropped and cleared with the lack of significant rain. A few fresh fish have moved into local rivers like the Manistee and Betsie but majority of the fish in the rivers are fish that have been in for a bit and are on and around spawning gravel. Small egg patterns (#10) fished in tandem with fry and caddis have been the better combos. A few drop-back steelhead can be found in the deeper runs and holes looking to eat before heading back to the lake.

With rain in the forecast we are hoping for a fresh push of fish to enter the rivers. When fishing the Manistee, a second rod rigged for trout is a good approach. I would postulate that the run of steelhead will be well drawn out well into May.

For those looking to get out after trout, the warmer days and water temps have provided some surface activity on the upper Manistee with a few Hendricksons and Blue Winged Olives emerging in the afternoons. While waiting for hatches, cover some water with a streamer on a sink-tip. This one-two approach is a great way to spend the next month on the trout rivers.

Good luck.

Ted

May Fishing – It’s not far away and 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.

betsie river, egg patterns, manistee, steelhead

«‹9 10 11 12 13 ›»