Mid-March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 13, 2019

To say it was a long, cold winter would be to misrepresent that past few months and the multiple polar vortexes, hours of shoveling snow and time spent indoors thinking about fishing. With mid-March, thankfully, comes some sunshine, longer days, warmer temperatures, and opportunities to shake cabin fever by fishing for steelhead.

There is still a lot of snow on land, but warmer temps, sunshine and rain will help reduce things, hopefully gradually. As the melt hits the water, look for the water temps to actually remain or even get cooler. Sunshine really helps warm the water up and help to get fish active and feed. If wade fishing, be careful of icy paths and river banks.

We are in pre-spawn mode and anglers will find steelhead in most of the local rivers and throughout the watersheds including the Manistee below Tippy Dam and the Betsie River. There is a mix of winter fish and fresh fish with the hold-over fall (winter) fish mostly sitting in the deeper holes to avoid the stronger currents. Fresh fish encouraged by additional sunlight and an increase in water flow are trickling upstream and can be found in seams as they ascend upstream.

River levels are holding steady and have a slight stain to them – look for more color to the water as more run off occurs and levels rise. Water temps are in the mid-30s and the fish are favoring a drag-free presentation often on the slower side of the current seam.

This time of year larger eggs and beads are preferred over realistic sizes and colors since there are no natural eggs we are trying to imitate. Other flies that are proven winners this time of year include hex nymphs, caddis, black stonefly and alevin.

Good luck.

Ted

Spring Steelhead – Now through April. Start the fishing seasons with some chrome! Some dates still available.
Trout – May and June offers some of the best trout fishing of the year matching the hatch and fishing streamers.
Booking 2019 – Reserve your date(s) and schedule life around fishing rather than trying to fit fishing into life.

alevin, betsie river, black stonefly, caddis, egg patterns, fly fishing guide service, hex nymphs, manistee river, spring steelhead, steelhead fishing, tippy dam, traverse city

Early April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 1, 2017

It’s April and this is the time to think steelhead if you haven’t been thinking about them already. With the mild winter and thaws, the fishing has been mostly good in March with a mix of winter and fresh fish with more to come as the days get longer, more rainfall brings water levels up and temperatures get warmer.

The local rivers all have fish in them including the Boardman, Betsie and Manistee. Fish are just beginning to spawn with more fish holding in pocket water and holes near spawning gravel waiting for optimum conditions. Water temps are bouncing around 40 degrees and clarity is good for this time of year with just a slight stain. While the cloudy days have made for cooler conditions, the fishing is noticeably better than when the sun makes an appearance.

No real game changers on successful fly patterns in the past week or so: Eggs in Chartreuse/Steelhead Orange, Rodeo Clown, Golden Nugget/Burnt Orange. Nymphs: green Caddis, fry, UPSC, small stones. With the water warming up we are starting to see some stones flutter on the surface and that means stonefly nymphs below. Also, as more natural eggs begin to drop, it might be time to start fishing the smaller, natural sized egg patterns especially with the clearer water.

With spring break taking place it’s been good to see some parents getting kids to the river for some fishing including some little guys with some real impressive skills. And they have been nice, happy, polite and friendly kids. Don’t let your kids be the ones that get away – get them outdoors when you can.

Just a reminder – new fishing licenses are required beginning April 1. And sections of certain rivers (Little Manistee and Platte) are now open for steelhead fishing.

The MI-DNR has released their trout “management” plan and are seeking comments – if interested, you can read by clicking here.

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.

April fishing, black stonefly, boardman river, caddis, egg patterns, green caddis, manistee river steelhead. MI-DNR trout, manistee river steelhead. platte river, steelhead, stonefly

End of Winter? Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 11, 2015

Winter has finally loosened its death grip on us as warmer and longer days, sunshine, and daylight savings time all converged having us feeling like Spring isn’t that far away.

Often when the weather gets warm and the snow melts at this time of year, many of us head to the river looking to shake the cabin fever and find some fish. While there are some, there aren’t many steelhead in the Manistee and Betsie rivers right now. The less than average fall run didn’t provide a lot of fish to winter-over and with many of the rivers iced over in the lower sections, the typical trickle of migrating fish throughout winter didn’t happen. So, while you still have a chance to catch fish right now, look for the runs to build as river ice disappears and water temps continue to warm up and pre-spawn fish migrate upstream.

The forecast calls for most nights to be below freezing which will help keep the run-off manageable. Water levels have increased and has a little stain to it which is common for this time of year. Regardless of whether you are wading or in a boat right now, keep an eye out for large chunks of ice drifting downstream. Waiting until the sun is out to warm up the water can make a difference this time of year let alone eliminate the black ice in parking lots and on boat ramps.

Look for fish to be in the slower water/holes and also tail-outs where they sun themselves if fishing pressure isn’t too high. It’s a good time of year to fish attractor egg patterns and larger nymphs like hex patterns. With fall’s salmon’s eggs hatching into fish, alevin and fry patterns should be a given time as we wait for the first black stonefly activity which should begin any day.

Good luck.

Ted

The MI-DNR is conducting an inland trout angler survey. This is a great opportunity to provide some
information that might be considered in development of their management plan. Click here to take the survey.

Spring Steelhead – From mid-March through early May on the Manistee and Betsie. Some dates available.
September Salmon – Dates are limited for fishing the Betsie River in early Sept. and later on the Manistee.
2015 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get your fishing trips planned for the year. Booking all species/seasons.

alevin, betsie river, black stonefly, egg patterns, flly fishing report, fry patterns, guide, guide trips, manistee river, steelhead, steelhead fishing

Posts tagged "black stonefly"

Mid-March Fishing Report

Early April Fishing Report

End of Winter? Fly Fishing Report

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