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

Spring Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 29, 2016

UPDATE – April 1: After significant rains on Thursday river levels have increased significantly and are still on the rise making wading difficult in most places and the water stained. Use caution if heading out. One positive, the warmer rain should bring a nice of fish into the rivers over the next couple off weeks.

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Not a lot has changed since the last fishing report. Steelhead remain the focus of anglers looking to get into the Spring spirit with longer days and warmer(?) temps.

After the warm-up a few weeks ago, the fish that wintered over joined some fresh fish and moved upstream in both the Manistee and Betsie rivers making for some good days of fishing. Since then, the weather has been up and down for us with some cold nights, sunny days, snow, rain, etc. – just like March is supposed to be like – and leaving the water up but not too high. While stained, the water is still more than fishable with temperatures hovering in the low 40s.

While some new fish continue to trickle into the rivers, majority of the fish have a little color to them and are staging and getting ready to spawn. After a warm rain look for things to change. But with the forecast, look for conditions to be similar which looks like it will remain a nice prolonged spring steelhead season.

Look for fish in the pocket water near spawning gravel, secondary bubble lines and deep holes. My preferred set-up has been a decent sized egg (#6 ) in orange variations and clown (heavy chartreuse), with a nymph dropper –steelhead caddis, early stoneflies and fry patterns working best.

Don’t forget new fishing licenses are required beginning Friday April 1, 2016

Good luck!

Ted

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

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.

caddis, fry patterns, manistee and betsie river, manistee river, steelhead, stoneflies

Mid-March Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 17, 2016

Steelhead remain the primary target for anglers hitting the water right now. Really nice weather last week warmed the water temps up just a bit and that along with an increase in water volume moved some fish throughout the river systems. With water temps hovering around 40 degrees, the fall steelhead that wintered over and the fish that moved upstream throughout the winter have repositioned themselves upstream and are starting to stage in some of the deeper water/holes near spawning gravel waiting for ideal conditions to begin that process.

Some fresh steelhead from Lake Michigan have also moved upstream in both the Manistee and Betsie rivers – these fish can be scattered throughout the system as well as the water they are holding in. Look for seams/bubble lines for these migrating fish as well as traditional holding water like holes. With the volume of water, the fish are pulling pretty hard when hooked.

When the sun shines and the water warms up some, the little black stoneflies have become active making it an ideal fly pattern to tie on. Other flies that have been working lately include caddis, bold mixed-colored egg patterns and steely buggers.

Good luck,

Ted

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

Spring Steelhead – Good dates for March Steelhead fishing are still available.
May Fishing – It’s not far away and it’s a great month for streamer and dry fly fishing for Trout.
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

betsie river, black stone fly, caddis, lake michigan, manistee fishing, spawning, steelhead, steely bugger

March Steelhead Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 7, 2016

With the arrival of March, so came the warmer temperatures and sunshine. After months of weekly snow and thaw cycles we are starting the spring steelhead season with a lot less snow on the ground than normal. Water levels are up a bit from where they typically are this time of year and water temps are still in the mid 30s on the Manistee below Tippy Dam and upper 30s on the Betsie river. As the sun comes out, look for the water to warm as the day progresses and the fish to become more active.

The fall steelhead were late making their way upstream, but when they did in late Nov. and into December, they weren’t overly pressured. Look for those fish that wintered over to be hanging out in the deeper holes and just off the bubble lines/seams in the slack water. With longer days and sunlight, more fish should start to congregate at river mouths and with increasing frequency and start their migration. Any warm rain along the way will only intensify the migration. I am guessing that because of the lack of snow pack, the spring steelhead season will be long and drawn out, unless we get substantial rainfall which often creates a burst of fish in the resulting high water.

With the sunshine, keep an eye on any remaining snow along the riverbank for little black stoneflies crawling around. As one of the first aquatic insects to get active, these little stones are important to the steelhead angler. Other key fly patterns this time of year include green caddis, hex nymphs and larger egg patterns. As the water get’s dirtier through the season, increase the size of your pattern.

Good luck!

Ted

Betsie, black stoneflies, caddis, hex nymphs, manistee, march steelhead fishing, tippy dam steelhead

Early November Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 3, 2015

We finally received a decent amount of rain and ideal winds late last week and with it came some much needed color to the water including some chrome. A few new steelhead moved through the system and are scattered throughout the Manistee as well a few in the Betsie River. It had been a while since the weather cooperated so it was good to see things go as planned, albeit late.

The forecast is calling for some odd weather – this week which should make the fishing comfortable which isn’t always the case in November. 70 degrees? It looks like the run will be very prolonged as fall progresses and water temperatures remain higher than normal. As it has been all season, the steelhead have been hard to land with the water temps hovering in the low 50’s so hang on tight.

Successful fly patterns have been varied, always with an egg pattern (orange and chartreuse variations), and sometimes two when fishing near the last of the salmon spawning on gravel. With a nymph bite starting to come on strong – caddis, buggers and big black stones have been fished well in conjunction with an egg pattern, also – especially when fishing the larger runs and deeper holes. With less eggs in the water this year due to low salmon numbers, look for the swing and streamer bite to be a little stronger, earlier this year.

Good luck!

Ted

Late Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Look for the good fishing continuing in Nov. & into December for steelhead on the Manistee.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

Betsie, Betsie river salmon fishing, caddis, egg pattern, fly fishing, fly patterns, manistee, steelhead, traverse city

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Posts tagged "caddis"

Early October Salmon, Steelhead and Trout Fly Fishing Report

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

Spring Steelhead Fishing Report

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

Mid-March Steelhead Fishing Report

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

March Steelhead Fishing

Early November Fly Fishing Report

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