Posts tagged "carp fishing"

Early July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 2, 2018

The current heat wave leaves no doubt that July is here and limits our fishing opportunities. As water temperatures increase the trout become vulnerable to the stress of fishing and therefore we are limiting our fishing to the early and late hours of the day for their sake and ours.

The nocturnal hex hatch is still going on but has become spotty as we have already had close two weeks of bugs on the local rivers like the Manistee and Boardman. Spinner falls occur at dusk and the duns emerge throughout most nights. In all its been a good hex hatch however the fish have been a little more elusive and selective than normal.

Other bugs you can expect to find on the water this time of year include Isonychias, Light Cahills, Bat Flies and BWOs. A Hex emerger fished around the mud and muck might move some fish, otherwise it’s time to start using the foam and rubber attractor/terrestrial patterns that imitate little but suggest a lot. Twitching flies on the surface and below it might just get fish to play as they recover from eating too many big bugs the night before. To read more about fishing on the other side of the Hex Hatch – click here the read Fly Fishing for Trout After the Hex Hatch.

Carp are still around in the bay and can be found shallow spawning as well as post spawn and cruising. With the hex emergence taking place on the bays, having some weighted hex nymphs is a good choice. After last week’s full moon, tan/brown crayfish are a good bet, too. Some smallmouth bass are cruising the shallows, but the warmth of the water is keeping most of the smallmouth deeper than most flies can effectively be fished.

Lake fishing for bluegill and largemouth bass is fishing well. The gills are still in shallow after a second spawn and bass are lurking around weeds and drop offs. Most fish are coming to the surface for floating bugs but the bigger bass are coming on sub-surface patterns and divers. Fishing lakes either in the morning or evening keeps fishing light, simple and fun.

Good luck!

Ted

Trout – Terrestrials and Tricos are right around the corner – it’s the perfect way to start the day on the river.
Stillwater- Bluegill, Bass and Carp. With the best trout fishing in the evening, try fishing lakes during the day.
Fall Steelhead – With Summer just arriving, it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates – Oct. thru Dec.

Late June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 23, 2018

With summer Solstice occurring this past week it’s the time of year trout anglers stay out late and well after the sun goes down. The nocturnal Hex Hatch is off to a start on just about all local rivers in Northwest Michigan: The Au Sable, Boardman, Manistee, Pine, Platte, PM – it’s that time of year. As the “once a year angler” heads to the river, ardent anglers find there are more anglers to share the water with. And sharing is a good approach as is practicing the golden rule along with the golden rule of fly fishing – catch and release.

Before the big bugs come out you should find a smattering of other bugs on the water including Isonychias, little Yellow Sallies, BWOs, Golden Stones, Light Cahills, Bat Flies and maybe more. Hatches have been hard to predict this year and they have been almost as fickle as the fish that eat them but when the stars line up, it provides some pretty good fishing.

The fishing on the bay has been spotty – the carp are acting like carp making an appearance one day, gone the next. Water temps are ideal but the wrong winds can change that for a day or two factoring where to fish. Covering water is the best approach and hope for some sunlight to make seeing them easier. Bass continue to slip in and out of the shallows with some in post spawn and a prediction of a second round of spawning to occur shortly.

Lake fishing is good for those looking for bluegill and bass. Largemouth are mostly done protecting their beds and making up for some lost meals. The bigger gills seem to be around the drop offs and close to structure where dries work but a swum nymph can work better. Look for the lake fishing to remain good as more weed growth develops as summer proceeds. The smaller gills continue to be the ideal species for those who want to learn how to fish.

Good luck.

Ted

bass on the fly, bluegill fly fishing, carp fishing, fishing, fly fishing traverse city, fly fishing trips, hex hatch, isonychias, tricos

Mid June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 15, 2018

As we hit the mid-point of June it’s time to hit the trout rivers with a head-lamp for those late evening emergences and spinner falls. With the hot weather/temperatures forecast the big hex bugs should get going pretty soon. Until then, be armed with Isonychias, Brown Drakes, Stones – medium brown, golden and little yellow sally, Light Cahills, and the very last of the sulphurs. Consistent hatches have been hard to find this year but when we find them it offers up some good fishing with fish looking up. You can learn more about the other hatches that precede the Hex Hatch here.

With air temps rising, so do water temps – please play the fish fast and release them quickly for their survival. Remember, the MI-DNR doesn’t stock a majority of our rivers so do your part to help the fishery.

The bay fishing is hit or miss when it comes to the carp. Some days we find them and they are happy, other days we find them, and they aren’t happy. Then there are the days we don’t find them. Smallmouth bass have mostly come in to do their spawning, but some still can be found cruising the shallows. It’s best to hit the big water with an open mind – that is take whichever species presents itself. Carp are mostly in a pre-spawn mode unless you can find warm water that has remained warm for a few days – then they are in spawning mode.

The lake fishing for bluegills and bass remains strong. A lot of the bigger bluegills have left the shallows, but not all of them. With the moon cycle, they should be in again for a second round. Look for shallow water near drop offs for your best fishing. The bass fishing has been fun with smaller poppers and small streamers fished on floating lines.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – The big Bugs of June will be here before you know it…. Isos, Drakes and Hex – limited dates available.
Stillwater- Bluegill, Bass and Carp. With the best trout fishing in the evening, try fishing lakes during the day.
Fall Steelhead – With Summer just arriving, it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates – Oct. thru Dec.

ausable river, bluegill, boardman, carp fishing, fly fishing traverse city, hex hatch, isonychias

Early June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 5, 2018

Fishing the Traverse City region in early June offers plenty of choices. Most fly fishers are going after trout since this time of year offers some technical dry fly fishing. Rivers like the Manistee, Boardman and Au Sable continue to produce a smorgasbord of flies on the water including: Gray Drakes, Great and Little Mahoganies, Sulphurs, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown Stones, Brown Drakes, Isonychias and Caddis. Any given day you can see a few different kinds of bugs, other days only one type but you should head out to the water with a loaded fly box and a headlamp with fresh batteries because a lot of times the spinner fall is taking place at dusk. Bring some bug spray, too.

Streamers and twitch flies on smaller sink tips have been working during the day to bring a fish out of the wood and onto the hook. This time of year, lightening up your streamer approach can be a good thing as the fish like a different presentation after six weeks of heavy streamer pressure.

The current cold-front has brought the water temperatures down in the river which is good – last week’s heat warmed them up a little too much, too quick. Levels and clarity are about perfect if there is such a thing. As always, handle the trout quickly and get them back in – most of these rivers rely on natural reproduction so even the small ones are important to tomorrow’s quality of fishing.

The inland lakes continue to produce good bluegill fishing as well as large and smallmouth bass fishing. The smallmouth are typically deeper and weighted flies and/or clear sink-tip lines will help you get to fish near those slight drop-offs. The largemouth and bluegill are in the shallow water and are mostly done spawning but are in a post-spawn mood.

With all the wind and cool temps, the fishing on the bay is still in its infancy for the carp and smallmouth but there are still some opportunities for those willing to put in the time and cover some water. Sustained weather (and warmth) will help make for some better fishing that is sure to come as June progresses.

If you are into the warm-water fishing, this weekend The Northern Angler is hosting there 2^nd Annual Cheese Cup Warm-water fishing tournament. This is a fun, fundraising event for the Third Level Crisis Center in honor of Alex “Cheese” Hawke who lost his battle with depression. The format is easy going and focuses on the warm-water species including bass, carp, pike, and bluegill. The after party is one you won’t want to miss. More detail’s here.

Good luck.

Ted

Baordman river, bluegill fishing, brown drakes, carp fishing, cheese cup fly fishing tournament, guided fly fishing, isonychias, manistee river, smallmouth bass fishing, traverse city fly fishing, trout fishing, twitch flies

Late June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 27, 2017

The recent cool-down and rains have had an effect on all of our fishing – some of it for the better, some not.

While this time of year is considered the “High-Holy Days” of trout fishing with the Hex emergence, the bugs have been fickle. Once they started to get going, the moderate weather turned them off again. Look for bugs to come off and spinners to fall sporadically but better when the sun is out warming up their muck banks and evening temps don’t drop too fast. Last year’s 12 days of solid, warm weather and ensuing consistent hatch spoiled us.

The upside to the higher and cooler water (upper 50’s) is that daytime fishing has been better than usual for this time of year. Dries (Isos, BWO, Bat Flies, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Golden Stones), attractors and twitch flies all have been working as have hex emergers fished along hex beds for fish looking for the mayfly that resembles a floating porterhouse. Mid-sized streamers fished on floating lines and short sink-tips too have had an impact when covering the water waiting for an emergence. It can be a busy time of year on the water as the once a year angler makes his way to the river so give others some space and share the water to help make it fun for everyone.

The lake fishing continues to provide a lot of good surface action on some nice bluegill as they enter a second spawning period in the shallows. The bass, too, are lurking around and are getting aggressive with some larger flies but also the bluegill that you are trying to bring in. Weed growth is a little behind this year so targeting fish has been easier as there are less weeds for them to hide in.

Carp fishing continues, not so much catching. With all the changes in weather – cool nights, winds, etc., the carp have been more elusive than we would prefer. The smallmouth bass however are still cruising some of the flats that have the cooler water offering some action as we look for he carp. It’s a good time to have a fly tied on that both species like for when either species presents themselves: crayfish and swimming hex are good bets as the hex are starting to emerge on East Bay.

Good luck,

Ted

Lost and Found: I found a fly rod and reel at 4 Mile Bend Access on the Upper Manistee June 9th. If you are the owner, contact me to identify the make and model and I will see to it that it gets returned.

Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – Through July and August. A half-day trip on the river is a great way to start the day.
Fall Steelhead – From late Sept. through November, these fish will bend your rod like no other – get your dates.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

bass fishing, carp fishing, crayfish, fly fishing traverse city, golden stones, hex hatch, isos, smallmouth bass, streamers

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