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Posts tagged "brook trout"

A Fly

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 22, 2016
A Fly

” A Fly”

One summer I was struggling to figure out what the trout on the local rivers wanted to eat. Adding insult to injury, the deer flies were feeding better than the trout – but on me as I observed the river thinking of the hundreds of possible fly patterns that might work. Then the light bulb flickered and buzzed like an old fluorescent lamp with a bad ballast- “Hey, what if I fished with a fly that looked like a fly?”

I adapted a few terrestrial patterns and came up with the deer fly pattern that I call “A Fly.” The Brook Trout and Brown Trout noticed all the flies on the water, too, and my pattern to them was no different, at least before they decided to eat it.  Other guides and anglers noting our success that summer would often ask what pattern I was using, I simply and honestly replied, “a fly.” I’m not sure they ever caught on.

A Fly Deer Fly Pattern Brown Trout

Brown and Brook Trout like to eat flies

When summer comes along and most of the match-the-hatch problems and puzzles have passed by, have some of these flies in your box. While some bigger fish do take A Fly from time to time, it’s mostly the smaller trout happily feeding in the summer months that this fly is effective with. It’s a great fly to fish on a 3 or 4 weight or to use as an indicator with a Trico attached as a dropper.

Being a smaller, darker fly, it can be tricky to see, so feel free to change the color and size of the “tracker,” but be careful because if it is too large, the fly won’t land right side up.

Headed to Chile this winter? Increase the size to a number 8 and watch what happens as this pattern imitates the local beetles.

Recipe

Hook:                    Gamakatsu S10-2S,  Size 12
Thread:                 Uni-6/0 – Black
Body:                     Foam 2mm – Black
Underbody:          Peacock Herl
Under wing:         Angel Hair – Pear/Gold
Wing:                     CDC Feathers – Natural Gray
Rubber Legs:        Sili Legs – Nymph Size, Olive Barred
Indicator:              2mm Foam, bright color

Tying Instructions:

A Fly - Step 1

Step 1. Wrap a thread base from behind the eye to above the barb then back mid-shank.

A Fly - Step 2
Step 2.
Cut a piece of foam about 3/16″ wide and 2″ long.
Taper one end as shown by trimming with your scissors.

A Fly - Step 3
Step 3.
Tie the end of the tapered foam on top of the hook from mid-shank and loosely
wrap backwards to above the hook barb – this helps prevent the thread from cutting the foam.
Now, wrap forward with tighter wraps to secure the foam.

A Fly - Step 4

Step 4. Take 5-6 strands of peacock herl and tie the tips in mid-shank and wrap
back to above the barb. Wrap/twist the herl around the thread to strengthen the peacock.

A Fly - Step 5

Step 5. Wind the peacock twist forward building a bulbous underbody
ending about 2/3rds up the shank. Tie off excess herl.

A Fly - Step 6

Step 6. Pull the foam up over the peacock underbody and secure with loose wraps all the way to the hook eye.

A Fly - Step 7

Step 7. Tie a sparse amount of Angel Hair as an under-wing so it doesn’t extend beyond
the foam back when it is pushed down. I typically pull just a few strands and
double back them over a number of times until I get the desired amount.

A Fly - Step 8 A Fly - Step 8.5


Step 8.
Tie 4 to 6 CDC feathers so the natural tips are aligned
and extend to the bend of the hook and broadly fan out.

A Fly - Step 9

Step 9. Fold the remaining foam backward forming a bulge of foam up front and tie down so the foam
helps lay the wing down. Trim the foam just enough to maintain the pressure on the wing.

A Fly - Step 10 A Fly - Step 10.5

Step 10.  Tie a rubber leg in on each side of the fly in the tie down region. It is important to note that these legs
are “Nymph” sized and are smaller in diameter providing adequate motion and maintaining a buoyant fly.
Trim the “X” of the legs so the rear legs are just short of the bend of the hook to avoid fouling.
Trim the front legs so they are shorter than the back legs.

A Fly - Step 11

Step 11. Tie in a piece of bright foam – your choice on color – to help you track the fly on the water.
Make this as small as you can but also large enough to help you see it.

A Fly

Step 12. Whip finish and be sure to add two coats of thin
head cement to protect all of the exposed thread wraps.

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brook trout, cdc feather, deer and beetle fly pattern, deer fly pattern, deerfly fly pattern, terrestrial fly pattern

Late July Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City / Northern Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 26, 2016

As July comes to an end, the Trico and Terrestrial fishing for trout is going strong on the Manistee and Boardman rivers. The small Tricos have been keeping the trout active in most mid-mornings as both duns and spinners are on the water’s surface. While most of the fish taking notice are small brookies and browns, some bigger fish have surprised us.  Consider fishing a smaller terrestrial fly pattern as an indicator with some 6x tied to the bend and a small trico pattern on the other end. This is a great time to use that 3 or 4 weight rod sitting in your rod closet.

Terrestrial fishing has been improving with the better fishing on cloudy or overcast days. Twitch, pop and skitter “foam and rubber” patterns to elicit somebody to come up to the surface.  Mix up the pattern, size and color to see if there is a daily preference. This is also a good time of the year to fish small 2-3″ streamers on floating lines.

Bass fishing on lakes and ponds remains good for those who can cast a big popper or slider. The lily pads located near drops offer a great place for your flies as you wait for their ambush. Too often anglers rush the retrieve – try waiting at least 15 seconds after the cast before putting any action in the fly.

Bluegill fishing has been fishing better than usual for this time of year. Some bigger gills have been playing along with the smaller gills which are perfect for anglers looking to learn how to fish. Sometimes the bass eat the bluegill on your line, too, so hold on to that rod

Smallmouth bass fishing in the lower Manistee River is decent for those looking to cast streamers on both sink-tips and floating lines. Crayfish patterns around rocky edges/drops are always a safe bet as are baitfish patterns. In slack water, try fishing a popper lightly twitched. While not for a beginner, this fishing is a fun way to spend a summer day and work on skills while catching fish.

Good luck,

Ted

July & August Trout – It’s that time of year to start your day on a river fishing wets, dry flies and terrestrials.
Learn to Fly Fish – This is a great time of year to learn how to fly fish. 1/2 day trips for beginners are perfect!
Salmon – Late August and September is when the Salmon start to migrate upstream  – get ’em while you can.
2016 Dates – Now booking through the entire fishing season: trout, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

bass fishing, bluegill, boardman river, brook trout, manistee river, smallmouth bass, terrestrials, traverse city fly fishing, tricos

Late October Trout and Steelhead Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 21, 2015

Even though some white stuff fell from the sky over the weekend, the warm weather trend started right up again, but not without some much needed rain and winds. The salmon fishing on the Manistee peaked last week, however there are some fresh fish still moving in – more should come throughout the month since the run  has been so prolonged. We have kind of been spoiled that last few years with runs of fish being more condensed and “on schedule” with the calendar.

Just as more salmon came in, more steelhead entered the Manistee, however numbers are still lower than what they should be for this time of year. Look for the water to be very clear requiring fluorocarbon leaders and realistic egg patterns when fishing around spawning salmon. The nymph bite has improved the past week with caddis and steelhead buggers working. Fishing should only improve as long as conditions – more precipitation and NNW winds – improve. The “leaf bite” has been relentless as peak colors are taking place in the river corridor right now and making their way to the water.

The trout fishing on the upper Manistee is mixed. There are a number of spawning brown trout doing their all too important duty right now to ensure future fish for that section of water that relies on natural reproduction – please leave them alone rather than target them. Not all browns are spawning – some are still in pre-spawn mode and are eating streamers – brook trout color patterns are working well when fished on either light sink-tips or floating lines.  With the recent warm up, the last of the terrestrials are around the water – its a good time to fish beetles, bees/yellow jackets and other mid-sized rubber legged patterns on top providing there aren’t too many leaves and pine needles on the surface.

Good luck.

Ted

Late Trout –  Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Salmon/Steelhead Combo – Late September & early October offers a mixed bag of both species with fall colors.
Fall Steelhead –  October, November & into December is the time for  steelhead on the Manistee.

brook trout, manistee, salmon, spawning brown trout, steelhead, streamer fishing, trout

October Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 1, 2015

Fishing hasn’t improved a whole lot since the last report. There are salmon around in local rivers, but they are not as numerous as we have come to expect for this time of year – the first of October.

The Betsie has a few fresh fish moving through it but the majority of they are either spawning or getting real close to starting that process. Surely, the numbers of salmon are down in Lake Michigan, but I think we are really experiencing the effects of unprecedented warm weather the past month. Thankfully, after some low nightly temps in the 30’s lately, we are seeing things change as water temps in the Manistee drop (low 60s) and a few days of Northerly winds will help push water and fish near the river mouths. Look for salmon to move through the rivers over the next couple of weeks with some steelhead mixed in.

Trout fishing is about the same, too. With the cool nights, get a mid-day start to let the water warm a bit.  It’s the last of the terrestrial fishing on the surface and some BWOs are showing up and some fish noticing. Brook trout are vibrant right now and the browns are in a pre-spawn behavior – it’s not a bad time to cast a streamer but with the clear water, try doing it with either a small sink-tip or floating line on the smaller sections of river and going big on the larger, deeper sections.

Keep in mind that Trout Season is now closed on a number of rivers and/or sections thereof. Click here for MI-DNR regulations.

Good luck.

Ted

The Fall 2015 Newsletter just went out – Click here to read.

Late Trout –  Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Salmon/Steelhead Combo – Late September & early October offers a mixed bag of both species with fall colors.
Fall Steelhead –  October, November & into December is the time for  steelhead on the Manistee.

betssie, brook trout, bwo, manistee, salmon

Fall Colors, Spawning Salmon, and Super-Charged Steelhead

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 12, 2013

With another week of mild weather its hard to believe that it is mid-October. Since we haven’t had a frost yet in the region the fall colors aren’t as brilliant as usual, but the fishing has been making up for it.

After last week’s rain, river levels came up and have since dropped while leaving the water with a slight stain – which is a good thing with all the bright sunshine we have been experiencing. The spawning salmon continue to populate the gravel sections of local rivers, most notably the Betsie and Manistee.  Below Tippy dam there are countless numbers of salmon on gravel spawning with others right behind them in pocket water and still some fresher staging fish in the bigger, deeper holes waiting for their time to come. Look for steelhead to be in the dark water right behind spawning fish and the egg collecting runs below spawning areas. With water temperatures near 60 degrees the fish tend to jump out of the water a bit and make it hard to bring them to hand. Majority of the steelhead have been coming from egg patterns with smaller, natural color’s being best. Mix it up throughout the day as sunlight and angling pressure changes.

I haven’t been on the trout waters nor have I heard reports of people fishing the Upper-Manistee, but I imagine the terrestrial fishing on the surface is going strong considering the mild temperatures. The brook trout can be amazing this time of year and we are getting closer to when the browns spawn and sometimes – given the right weather conditions, the streamer fishing can be outstanding.

Good luck,

Ted

Steelhead -A few fall steelhead dates remain and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.
Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing once the salmon leave.
2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

betsie river, brook trout, egg patterns, fly fishing, spawning salmon, tippy dam
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Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156

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