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Posts tagged "carp fishing"

Late June – Hex Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 24, 2016

The Hex bugs have taken the main stage for fly anglers right now as consistent and warm weather has made for good emergences and spinner falls on all the local rivers including the Au Sable, Manistee and Boardman Rivers.  These nocturnal bugs get the attention of fish in that last half-hour of light and into the night, but they also have the attention of a lot of anglers – be prepared for a few more people fishing your favorite section of water.

Other bugs on the water have been sparse except when skies are cloudy or overcast. Have some isonychias, brown drakes, gray drakes, bat flies, little yellow sally stones, medium brown/yellow stones, light cahills, along with your hex fly patterns.  Terrestrial/attractor fishing has been bringing some fish up to the surface while small streamers fished on a floating line working sub-surface for when fishing with a little more sunlight out. Check the batteries in your headlamp, make sure you have some bug spray and take a nap throughout the day – it’s time to fish a second-shift schedule.

Not in to night fishing or looking for something to do in the day? Carp and smallmouth bass fishing on the bay has been good. Some carp are starting to spawn but majority of them are in a pre-spawn mode and tend to eat better. This sight fishing pushes angler’s abilities and mettle but when the line comes tight after a good cast and presentation, it’s worth it. Hex nymphs, crayfish, leeches have been ideal for carp while the same and small baitfish and goby patterns have been working for the smallmouth bass.

Lakes are still fishing well for bluegill and bass. These affable fish are still a great way to spend some time on the water and/or teach and introduce someone to the sport of fly fishing. With more weed growth (think lily pads) target drop offs and other structure/transitions. Bigger bass are eating the bigger flies like divers and swimming frogs. Gills/sunnies/panfish continue to eat the surface flies – predominately smaller terrestrial patterns – they have a weak spot for rubber legs.

Good luck,

Ted

Carp and Bass – Look for these guys on the flats of Grand Traverse Bay through the month of June.
Big Bugs
– The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and  Hex – dates available.
Salmon – Late August and September is when the King Salmon start to migrate upstream  – get ’em while you can.
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

au sable river, bluegill, boardman river, carp fishing, carp on the fly, hex fishing, isonychia, manistee flies only. traverse city fishing report, smallmouth bass fishing, traverse bay carp fishing, traverse city, trout ffly fishing

It’s July but some of June’s Fly Fishing Remains

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 6, 2013

The late start and odd month of bugs and weather of June is spilling over in to July and we are still experiencing some bugs on the water and match-the-hatch dry fly fishing. The Upper Manistee and Boardman both have some Hex bugs coming off on them but the section of river and even bend makes the difference of whether there are bugs or not. Being the holiday weekend the rivers are seeing lots of use by canoes, tubes and kayaks making the morning and evening the best times to fish.

The recent cooler evenings have dropped water temps below the 70 degree mark on the Manistee and the Boardman has been running much cooler this year now that Brown Bridge Pond is gone. Other bugs that can be found on the water include Little Yellow Sally Stones, Isonychias, Brown Drakes, Light Cahills, BWO/Drunellas, Gray Drakes (Boardman). Bead Head nymphs fished in riffles and tail outs can be a good way to cover water when wading this time of year.

Carp and smallmouth bass are still around in the flats of Grand Traverse Bay but the smallmouth bass tend to be smaller this time of year as the big fish have slipped into the deeper water. The carp are still doing their thing but have been hard to find some days – crayfish and hex nymphs are ideal flies to have tied on. Plan to cover a lot of water and look for fish where boat traffic and pressure is low. This time of year the mornings can make for some great carp fishing.

Bass fishing on local lakes is getting better with the warm water and their tendency to hammer sliders and mid-sized poppers. With good weed growth look for the fish in the middle of lilly pads, off of breaks/weed beds and other forms of structure. Bluegill continue to be in both shallows and along the edge of weeds and drop offs.

Good luck,

Ted

The Summer Newsletter just went out – Click here to read and/or sign up for future delivery


Trout Fishing – Evening hatches should transition to morning trico s and terrestrial fishing as July sets in.
Bluegill & Bass – Lake fishing for both species is a great way to spend some time on the water over summer.
Fall Steelhead – Its not too early to start thinking about fall’s best fishing fish. Late Sept. – Nov.

bass fishing, boardman, carp fishing, grey drake., hex fishing, hex hatch manistee

Memorial Day Weekend Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 23, 2013

Up and down weather this week has provided everything from hot and humid to cool and rainy. While the dry, warm days provided good hatches on the Manistee and Boardman Rivers, the other days were ideal for the streamer angler fishing below the surface and covering water looking for trout.

The potpourri of bugs lately have included: Hendricksons, March Browns, Mahoganies, Black Quills, and a few Sulphurs. Inconsistent weather has broken the mold of evening-exclusive spinner falls and they can be found at all times of the day including late mornings – one just never knows so it’s good to be prepared and be flexible. Look for the warmer weather to return this weekend and for the bug emergence to become a little more reliable and stable. If heading out, you will find that the most prolific hatch lately has been the mosquitoes; be sure to take some bug spray – not having any isn’t an option right now. To read more about the various mayflies that emerge over the next month, click here.

Streamer fishing has been decent as the water conditions are ideal with a slight stain, overcast skies and good temps. With chestnut lampreys active right now and the rain washing worms downstream, streamer patterns resembling such are catching some fish. Other successful patterns are those with lots of movement and orange/brown color schemes looking like crayfish and/or juvenile brook trout – at least that seems to have been a recent preference.  As always, mix it up, donate flies to deep structure and keep moving for that rewarding brown or rainbow trout.

The Bluegill/Panfish have moved into shallow water on most of the local lakes and are making for some great fishing. Targeting the “bull-gills” on light rods is a blast. Fish have been taking both dries and nymphs with dries being best when the water is calm. Fish small nymphs by swimming them or try a real small streamer slowly striped.

Some carp have been moving closer inshore from the Grand Traverse bay’s depths but they are far from where they should be in regards to numbers and ideal depths. These weather changes – I think, negatively affect carp more than any other fish we fish for. Smallmouth bass, too, are starting to move towards shallow water to do their spring spawning ritual. The fly fishing in the bays surrounding  Traverse City will only get better over the next month.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day. Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May & June offer some or our best streamer fishing & great hatches!
Bluegill – Experience great fishing on the ponds and lakes in mid-May and June
Father’s Day – Ask for or give a gift certificate to dad this Father’s Day – June 16 2013
Hex Fishing – Some ideal dates are still available for the big bugs and big fish in mid/late June
2013 Fishing Season – Now booking for all 2013 seasons – don’t miss out on this year’s fishing

bluegill fishing, carp fishing, chestnut lamprey, fishing, fly fishing, hendrickson, manistee, report, streamer fishing, sulphurs, traverse city
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Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156

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