Early October Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 1, 2022

It’s October and it feels like it – cool nights, mild days and some color staring in the trees.

Most anglers are focused on the salmon in local rivers as it’s been a good year with decent numbers and big fish. The run has been mixed with some fish having been in the river a while and are occupying spawning gravel while others are staged waiting for a change in conditions to really trigger their spawning activity. Colder rivers (Betsie) get fish going sooner where the warmer rivers (Manistee) take a little longer to get things going in full. Regardless, it’s that time of year and you won’t be alone on whichever river you decide to fish.

Trout fishing in September on the upper Manistee was kind of a dud. Typically, it’s that time of year where pre-spawn brookies and browns are taking advantage of little pressure and roam around putting on some weight before spawning eating both dries/terrestrials and smaller streamers. It was slim-pickin’s with few fish looking to play the game or witnessed swimming away after being spooked in the clear water. Not sure what the future holds for the water between M72 and M66 but one has to be an optimist because lately reality has been giving us a swift kick in the ass up there.

Just a reminder that certain rivers closed on September 30 while other rivers and/or sections rivers remain open. With most folks spending time chasing salmon and steelhead, hunting or watching football, you should find the trout rivers pretty much unfished in the fall.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Finish the season with what started the season – Steelhead! Good dates available in November
2023 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.
Gift Certificates – Quick and easy gifts of a half-day, full-day or casting lesson for friends or family.

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Mid – September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 12, 2022

Nearing the mid-point of September, it feels like the seasons are thinking about transitioning. September can be a continuation of summer or the end of the summer – just depends on the day. With the weather changes comes changes in fishing.

Trout anglers will find that they have the rivers to themselves. Hatches are relatively non-existent but this time of year you should always have a selection of BWOs, flying ant patterns and small Isonychias as they can show up. Like May, this time of year you should hit the water with the ability and willingness to fish both the surface and below.

Larger terrestrial patterns continue to bring some fish to the surface but on days when fish aren’t looking up or there is too much debris (leaves and pine needles) floating on the surface, go subsurface with some smaller streamers. It’s been a long season of the trout being pressured by anglers, but with fewer people on the water lately, they are starting to move out from their bunkers where can present some flies to them once again.

Salmon have moved into the usual rivers in decent numbers but as salmon do, they can be in a funk; weather and conditions can make the difference with bright and sunny – tough, overcast – ideal. With the abundance of baitfish in Lake Michigan, the fish are running a bit larger this year so hold on when you hook up.

The bass and bluegill fishing is winding down as it typically does this time of year. It seems they go fairly deep this time of year proving a little difficult with the fly rod, but somedays they will be along the drop offs and other structure willing to eat on the surface and more so, bellow.

Good luck,

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Finish the season with what started the season – Steelhead! Good dates available in November
2023 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.
Gift Certificates – Quick and easy gifts of a half-day, full-day or casting lesson for friends or family.

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Early April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 2, 2022

April has come but the snow hasn’t gone. The transitional weather usually found in March is continuing as we get into April with a mix of rain, snow, mud, and ice. We did see the sun twice last week which, could be a sign of things to come.

With the rain and snow, water levels on the Manistee and Betsie have come up significantly. There is also a lot of color to the water so larger fly patterns are the go-to approach until things clear up again. Egg patterns and beads in bold colorations have outperformed smaller presentations and the larger nymphs are working better than the smaller ones.

Steelhead are in the rivers and with temps in the upper 30s some fish have begun to spawn while more fish are getting restless in the holes and runs near spawning gravel. The rise in water levels should also recruit more fish to come upstream from the lake which is good because the fish that have been in the river a while are starting to get wise to what we are up to.

The higher water has made fishing smaller rivers more challenging for the wading angler. As a result, it seems the Big Manistee has even more boats on it with people looking to get their spring steelhead fix. The once common friendly acknowledgment between boats for courteous boat handling techniques sadly has become the exception, not the norm. Remember that we are all sharing the resource and a little courtesy can go a long way whether you are in a boat or wading.

New fishing licenses season began April 1 and just a reminder that there are new harvest limits on local rivers to help preserve fish populations and support natural reproduction with fewer hatchery fish in river systems. All guide trips remain catch and release.

Good luck.

Ted

May Days – The month that offers so much variety for a number of species. <<More info>>
Match the Hatch – Late May and June offer dry fly anglers some of the best trout fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain available in October, November and into December.

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Late March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 27, 2022

The higher water from run-off and some rain showers brought in fresh steelhead and invigorated those already in the Manistee and Betsie to move around. With a stain to the water, fish were happy and moving along those soft bubble lines towards the sections of rivers with spawning gravel as they prepare for why they come into the river. It was a good week to be out fishing.

Water temps have been hovering around 40 degrees but the cold weather of the weekend should keep things at that temperature or below, encouraging most fish to sit in holding water until things get a little warmer before the spawning really kicks in.

Egg patterns were favored with bolder colors standing out in the opaque coloration of the water. When the sun did peek out, smaller and more subtle egg patterns and nymphs seemed to work better. On days that are mixed with both clouds and sun, try a large egg and a mid-sized nymph like a hex or larger stonefly to cover both lighting situations.

Just a reminder that new fishing license are required April 1. New regulations on many of the local rivers have a harvest limit of 1 steelhead to help bolster natural reproduction and fish populations. All guide trips continue to be 100% catch and release.

Good luck.

Ted

May Days – The month that offers so much variety for a number of species. <<More info>>
Match the Hatch – Late May and June offer dry fly anglers some of the best trout fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain available in October, November and into December.

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Mid March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 19, 2022

A really warm Thursday with intense sunshine really knocked the snow pack in the woods and valleys down, creating significant run-off into the tributaries and rivers. Local rivers are on the rise and gaining some color which is likely to continue after some rain and more of it in the forecast.

With rains comes fish. There are some fish in the Betise and Manistee rivers and more are migrating upstream, with older fish shuffling around and staging. When the water gets high like this, look for fish to be anywhere including the fresh, migrating steelhead to be in the soft bubble lines traveling upstream.

As the water gets higher and dirtier, increase the size and boldness of your flies. Larger stone flies, green caddis and egg patterns will become prominent in these conditions.

We aren’t quite in Spring yet, but rather what I refer to as “mud season” – both on the banks and in the river.

Good luck.

Ted

May Days – The month that offers so much variety for a number of species. <<More info>>
Match the Hatch – Late May and June offer dry fly anglers some of the best trout fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain available in October, November and into December.

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Posts tagged "betsie river"

Early October Fishing Report

Mid – September Fishing Report

Early April Fishing Report

Late March Fishing Report

Mid March Fishing Report

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