Posts tagged "brook trout"

Early September Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 5, 2023

With September here and the weather forecast to turn to seasonal weather this week, it might be time to give a nod to the long summer season and everything the fish provided. And since most fisheries were getting tired, the change in weather and angling pressure should help to improve fishing.

The clear water of the local trout streams has been challenging the last few weeks. Thankfully the water levels stayed fine, and temps stayed nice and cool, but the fish seemed to get weary – especially without any bugs on the surface drawing them out from their cover.

Terrestrial fishing has been spotty on the upper Manistee river – some nice brown trout have come to our foam and rubber flies, but the next day you might think there isn’t a fish in the river. Twitch flies lost some of their effectiveness, too, but with the coming cooler nights, shorter days and fewer people on the water trends should reverse. The brook trout’s colors are getting vibrant as they start to think about spawning which typically takes place later this month. It’s a pretty nice time of year to be on the trout waters.

Salmon have entered most of the rivers in the region but the recent near record setting heat has put a pause on a fresh run of fish and the fish already in the systems have gotten a little stale. The salmon fishing, too, will improve with the change in weather, especially some favorable winds on the lake and some precipitation.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – November still has some dates available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.
2024 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru August.
Gift Certificates – Quick and easy gifts of a half or full-day guide trip or casting lesson for friends or family.

Late September Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 25, 2018

As we approach the end of September the weather is transitioning to what we should have had the past few weeks – cooler nights, some precipitation and some color in the trees to let us know that fall is here. More fish, too.

The extension of summer has kept a trickle of chinook/king salmon moving upstream on the Betsie and Manistee rivers but not to the level we expect for this time of year. The lack of consistent winds on Lake Michigan has the fish scattered off shore which is in part why only a trickle of fish are ascending the rivers. If the forecast proves accurate, fall fishing should kick-in fully very soon.

Fish are starting to post up near gravel sections and a few fish have even started to spawn. As eggs drift downstream look for more fish to follow upstream including the first wave of steelhead and more coho salmon.

The upper Manistee is clear, cool and beautiful with a number of trees already showing their fall color. Some brook trout are spawning and others are still coming to the surface for terrestrials thanks to the warm weather. Small streamers fished on floating lines are taking some brown trout as are short sink-tip lines. The river is pretty vacant of anglers and will remain that way for the rest of the fall – its a great alternative to the rivers that experience migratory fish.

Please keep in mind that fishing on a number of trout rivers and streams come to a close on October 1 as trout season closes.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Fall colors include chrome Steelhead from Early October into December
Fall Trout – Fish the upper Manistee or combine steelhead and trout on the lower Manistee
2019 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get next year’s fishing dates secured – booking through September

betsie river, brook trout, chinook salmon, fall steelhead, king salmon, manistee river, steelhead, terrestrial fishing, trout fishing, upper manistee river

Late September Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 20, 2017

While it’s late September it feels like the dog days of summer. The cool weather we had for a while earlier this month had us thinking that it was going to be an early fall with all the fish that showed up in local rivers. But the past 10 days of bright sun, no rain the unseasonable temps have us reaching for more sun block than we do the landing net.

Salmon fishing has been tougher than it was earlier in the run. Most of the fish that were in the Betsie have progressed further upstream and have hit the gravel to do their spawning ritual. A few fresh fish are still trickling throughout but are not holding so much in the holes as their biological clock is ticking. The Platte River is still getting a near record return of Coho salmon and the anglers have taken note. The Big Manistee has salmon spread throughout it with what seems like more Coho than Chinook salmon. The water is clear and running warm but it doesn’t have as much weed /vegetation growth offering a few more runs and holes to fish this time of year. Streamer fishing for the Cohos can be a blast – they like to eat both a swung and/or stripped fly.

The trout fishing continues to be decent for those looking for solitude on the upper Manistee. The water is running clear but with the sun set a little lower in the sky and a lack of pressure, there are some fish still coming out in the sunlight to eat both dries and smaller streamers. The brook trout are spectacular as the leaves on the bank side trees start to turn. The Boardman too has offered some decent fishing for those presenting terrestrials. Just a reminder – many trout rivers close on Sept. 30 so get your time in on them before we give them a rest. (Note: Most of the Upper Manistee remains open all year.)

Good luck

Ted

Salmon/Steelhead Combo – Early October offers a chance at both species on the Manistee.
Fall Steelhead – October, November and into December, these fish will bend your rod like no other – experience it.
Trout/Steelhead – The lower Manistee offers some great streamer fishing for trout in late Fall as another option.

Betsie, betsie river, brook trout, coho, flies, platte river coho, salmon, steelhead, streamer, terrestrial fishing, tippy dam, upper manistee trout fishing

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.

ausable river, baitfish patterns, bluegill fishing, boardman river, borcher's drake, brook trout, fin clip fly pattern, fishing report, streamer fish, traverse city fly fishing report, trout fishing, upper manistee trout fishing

Early September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 7, 2016

With Labor Day behind us, it still feels like summer with the warm temperatures. While the days are shorter, trout fishing on the upper Manistee and Boardman during the lower light hours of the day seem to be best and when it is overcast -fishing is pretty consistent throughout the day.

The terrestrial bite has been decent all year and it remains that way. Flying ants have been around recently and since they are like crack cocaine to trout – have some in your fly box. Be sure to have some grasshoppers and general terrestrial attractors like Chernobyl Ants, Tar Babies, Fuzzy Wuzzys and Neversinks – the “foam and rubber” season remains. Have some smaller streamers to fish on floating lines for some subsurface action and once things start to noticeably cool down, have the streamer rod ready. The brook trout are getting brilliant with color as they are in their pre-spawn stage and a little feisty. Browns will get that way later in September as they prepare to spawn in October.

Salmon have entered local rivers with promising numbers of fish considering conditions haven’t been ideal the past three weeks. The Betsie has some fish in it as does the lower Manistee below Tippy Dam but we are still in summer like conditions and the number of fish around reflects that. The treatment of the Manistee last week with lampricide has seemed to work its way through the system and the fish bite has returned after a few days of being in a stupor. With more rain in the forecast and cooler weather ahead, look for conditions and fish numbers to increase steadily along the northwest coast and tributaries.

Bass and bluegill fishing remains pretty good on local lakes and ponds with the water temperatures dropping a little. Bigger fish are moving back in to the shallows and are eating the fly pretty good. Interested in learning how to fly fish? This is still a great way to learn the fundamentals and bend the rod.

Good luck,

Ted

The latest Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

Late Summer Trout – Have the river to yourself fishing wets, dries, terrestrials and streamers.
Salmon – A few dates remain for Salmon fishing on the Betsie River throughout September.
Fall Steelhead – Starting in October, extending into December. Fall Color Tour includes Chrome!

Betsie, boardman, brook trout, fishing, manistee, salmon, salmon fishing tippy dam, steelhead, streamer fishing, terrestrial fishing

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