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Posts tagged "dry fly"

Transition from Steelhead to Trout

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 28, 2015

Trout opener has come and gone and apparently most of the steelhead run has too.

Without any rain the past week or two, the water levels have really come down on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers as the water temps are around 50 degrees and have cleared up – not what you think of when you think Spring Steelhead. I would imagine any significant amount of rain we get over the next week or so would bring in the last of the fish from Lake Michigan, but until then look for fishing to be tough with more stale fish around rather than fresh ones. Green Caddis, Steelhead Buggers and small, natural egg patterns (sockeye, gold nugget, steelhead orange/O.C) have been the more productive patterns lately.

With the nice weather in the forecast the trout waters are warming up and dry fly/emergences are increasing, although they have been pretty light due to temperatures. Black stones and blue wing olives (BWOs) have been the most common flies but if you are headed to rivers like the Boardman, Upper Manistee, or AuSable – be sure to have some Hendricksons in your box as they could begin any day. Streamer fishing has been the go-to method for covering water but with the temps still a bit cool, look for slower retrieves to work better than the fast ones and often the fish are going to be in the bigger, deeper holes. Mix it up and see what works for you that day.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout Season – Streamer & Dry Fly fishing is ideal throughout May on the Upper Manistee & AuSable Rivers.
September Salmon – Dates are limited for fishing the Betsie River in early Sept. and later on the Manistee.
2015 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get your fishing trips planned for the year. Booking all species/seasons.

 

ausable, betsie river, boardman, caddis, dry fly, hendricksons, manistee, steelhead, steelhead bugger, streamer fishing, trout

Tilt-Shoot Iso – Isonychia Fly Pattern

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 14, 2013
Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia Fly Pattern

Ted’s Tilt Shoot Iso

While the “hex” mayfly gets the bulk of praise and attention from Michigan anglers, there is another mayfly that gets my praise. The Isonychia emerges over a longer period of time, is easier to cast, and doesn’t wait until dark to show – what’s not to like? Having a number of names Iso, Slate Drake, White Gloved Howdy, Maroon Dun among others, it should be thought of as important and should be found in any Michigan trout angler’s fly box from June through September.

There are two genus of the Isonychia (Salderi and Bicolor) which inhabit many of our local rivers. Each have different characteristics. Rather than give you a taxonomical description or bore you with entomology, let me provide you with the brass tacks:

Tilt-Shoot-Iso-Isonychia-Natural-Iso-Spinner.jpg

Natural Isonychia Spinner

The nymphs love swift water in gravel sections, adults/duns range in size with the most common being 10-14, adults/duns bodies vary in color between the two genus and the particular river (from a light creamy olive, to tan, to a brown-mahogany color), Adults/duns have deep dun colored wings where spinners have dark maroon bodies with clear wings, and both duns and spinner have distinct white front legs making them easy to identify. The largest concentration and emergence is in June extending through mid-September with the first insects large in size and tend to get smaller through that time period.

The duns typically emerge in the evening, but they can be found on the water at almost all times of the day, especially in the later months and when cloud cover is present.  Spinners, too, typically congregate in swarms in the evening before they fall to the water’s edge to drop eggs in riffle sections of rivers. For years it was thought that Iso nymphs only climb onto shore before emerging, but it is now accepted that they emerge in mid-stream as well – trout have known that for years.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia Brown Trout

Brown Trout caught on a Tilt-Shoot Iso

The Tilt-Shoot Iso is a pattern I created and have been using the past 10 years with great success.  While it isn’t the easiest fly to tie for those unfamiliar with hair body patterns, you will find vast improvements after a number of attempts.

This version of a parachute provides a realistic silhouette of the wing while the pattern sits low in the water for fish to easily see — important when fishing broken water. You can change the body color by changing the thread color to tan or olive, and its worth tying some with a more natural gray color wing/post. Tie this pattern in smaller sizes and you will find it will work as an imitation for a number of mayfly spinners.

Ted’s Tilt-Shoot Iso is available from Rainy’s Flies and can be bought in stocking fly shops. Below are tying instructions for you fly tiers.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 0

Tilt-Shoot Iso Recipe

Hook:             TMC 5212 10 – 14
Thread:          Uni-6/0  Wine
Tail:                Moose Body
Body:              Moose Body
Post:               Deer Belly Hair – White
Hackle:           Grizzly Dyed Dun
Thorax:          Fine & Dry Dubbing – Isonychia

Tying Instructions

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 1
Step 1.
Place hook (size 10) in vise and wrap a thread base from behind the eye to above the barb.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 2
Step 2. Cut 6 – 8 moose body hairs, clean and stack/even them and tie in on top of the hook about
one hook gape’s distance behind the eye.  Tie down along the shank to above the hook barb and back again.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 3
Step 3. Cut a large clump of moose body hair (approx. the thickness of two wooden match sticks), clean and stack/even. Measure the hair by laying the clump along the hook where the tips extend just beyond the hook shank. Trim the butt ends so the body will extend from the where we tied the tail in to just beyond the shank.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 4
Step 4. Lay the clump of moose along the hook making sure it completely surrounds the hook
shank for complete coverage. After a few wraps to secure it in place, hold the moose taught with your
left hand as you wrap the thread towards the hook bend with the bobbin in your right hand.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 5
Step 5.
Take the thread wraps to above the barb and make two tight wraps to secure
and then wrap the thread back toward the hook eye crisscrossing the thread
wraps making an X pattern. Once secured, trim off any excess butt material.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 6.5Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 6

Step 6. Select a clump of deer belly hair for the post/wing (approximately the thickness of three match sticks). Clean and stack/even it.  Lay the hair on top of the hook so the natural points extend to the end of the body.
Tie in the post/wing where the moose body ends and do not trim the butt ends of the hair.
Because the hair is hollow it can easily be cut by too much thread pressure.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 7
Step 7. Pull both the tips and the butts up and wrap along the shank to encourage the hair to move upward. Tie in a hackle feather at the base of the post/wing with the dull side of the feather facing you. The feather, after being wrapped, should extend to the end of the X-wraps on the body.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 8
Step 8. Dub a tight thorax on both sides of the post/wing that is slightly
thicker than the body/abdomen also encouraging the post/wing upward.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 9Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 9.5

Step 9.
Wrap the hackle parachute style under both the tips and butts of the post/wing.
Wrap the hackle firmly and it will compress and seat nicely against the post
creating a durable hackling. Tie off between the hook eye and dubbing.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 10Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 10.5

Step 10.
Pull the butt ends of the wing/post forward and trim only the
butts close to the base, just above the hackle.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 11Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia - Step 11.5

Step 11. Apply a drop of thin head cement at the base of the post and the thread head.

Tilt Shoot Iso Isonychia Fly Pattern

Finished Tilt-Shoot Iso Isonychia fly pattern

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May Trout Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 3, 2012

Trout opener has come and gone and so have the anglers. While opener weekend had mixed results thanks to cold weather, the annual traditions of groups, families and friends seemed to be alive and well.

Stable and warmer temps this week has improved hatches and dry fly fishing – they should continue get even better with warmer weather. If fishing the upper Manistee look for Hendricksons – both light and dark, March Browns, Mahoganies, Black Quills, bigger stones (#10), BWOs, and lots of small caddis and some #14 tan caddis. The month of May offers some great dry fly fishing but be prepared for selective feeding – pay real close attention to what they are eating and what stage; emerger patterns are proving themselves as real fish catchers as more people are fishing them.

Conditions on both the Manistee and Boardman had been really clear with temperatures in the mid-50’s until we just received some much needed rain –  just too much of it at once. River levels have come up significantly after a couple inches of rain. Streamer fishing will be most effective in the high water. Look for fish on the inside of bends eating all of the food washing downstream.  The chestnut lamprey numbers are building so fishing streamer patterns that imitate them is a good place to start as are long, worm like patterns like mohair leeches and rabbit strip leeches. Other successful streamer patterns include zuddlers,  protected witness, baitfish/deceivers and sasquatches.

On the lower Manistee below tippy, look for water levels to increase and create some good feeding as food is dislodged in the flush of water. Fishing nymphs under an indicator can be real effective when not fishing streamer patterns on sink-tips looking for the big and more aggressive fish. Fry patterns fished on floating lines is still effective as we are taking advantage of last fall’s prolific salmon reproduction. Some caddis, bwo and midge activity is taking place on the surface throughout the day for those who like it on top.

Good luck!

Ted

The Spring Newsletter just went out – click here to read.

– Book a Trip for the Upcoming Fishing Seasons –

April: Steelhead and Trout fishing on the Manistee River
April-May: Trout – Streamers & Dry Flies. Hendricksons & Early Bug Hatches on the Upper Manistee
June: Trout -Big Dry Flies – Drakes, Isonychias and The Hex.
Booking for all 2012 Seasons – Some Fall Dates Remain Open

 

boardman, caddis, dry fly, fly fishing, fry pattern, lamprey, march brown, streamer, upper-manistee

Upper Manistee River (above Tippy Dam)

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 15, 2012
Upper Manistee River - CCC Bridge

Upper Manistee River – Scenic Spring Creek

The upper Manistee River is where we do the majority of our trout fishing. Like a big spring creek, the waters of the “Mana” tend to run clear due to the sandy soil around it. With sections of gravel and riffles, sand bottoms and some silt beds the Hex nymphs call home; there are simply lots of different bugs that hatch on this river.

Majority of the fish in this section of water are Brown Trout and Brook Trout with the occasional Rainbow Trout. Ever seen a Tiger Trout? This is a natural occurring hybrid of a brook trout and brown as both spawn in the fall. These fish are rare but they do exist in the Upper-Manistee.

The flows of the Upper Manistee river are moderate and depth changes – common sense will tell you what side of the river to be on, possible places to cross and also what side will most likely to hold the fish.

Structure includes submerged logs, overhanging trees, deeper holes and combinations of them all. Just when you think there aren’t any fish in the river, you will either move a significant fish out of a holding lie or witness a hatch that suddenly turns the river into a jacuzzi with rising fish. Don’t ever give up, just try something different.

Where

Upper Manistee River Dry Fly FishingThe CCC bridge and the CCC Bridge campground are focal points of the fly fisherman who fishes the Manistee. The bridge is the lower boundary of the “Flies-Only” section of water with M-72 being the upper boundary. This water is open year round and has special regulations.

Much of my guiding and fishing takes place from M-72 downstream to the Rainbow Jim’s  and I have been known to fish other sections when conditions are right.

Come float sections of water on the upper Manistee and experience the fishing the water around Yellow Trees, the Miracle-Mile, The Settlement, King Trout Ranch, Burnt Cabin (BKZ), CCC Bridge, Dutch John, and Smithville. The Upper Manistee offers anglers a variety of water and fishing conditions for all experience levels.

Upper Manistee River Brook Trout

Brook Trout

Experience not only great fishing, but a river that is not over-developed or over-used. Because of it’s remoteness, canoe and kayak traffic is not a problem on these sections of river like they are on other areas or rivers in the region.

Located about 40 miles east of Traverse City and 25 west from Grayling.

See the map at the bottom of this page for directions.

Manistee River Hatches

Upper Manistee River Hex Hatch

The Hex

The best hatches on the river and the ones to fish are many. Starting in April, the early black stones get going, and beyond that it only gets better. From the end of April through mid-May Hendricksons are the first prolific mayflies to emerge and often are mixed in with Black Caddis (Mothers day Caddis). Next come the Sulphurs, Tan Caddis, March Browns, Black Quills / Borchers Drakes, Little Yellow Sallies, and Mahogany Duns – all in the month of May and into June.

Read about some of the great insects that hatch prior to the Hex Hatch »

The big bugs of June are what dry fishermen get excited Upper Manistee River -Flies Only Sectionabout: Brown Drakes, Isonycias, and The Hex. Into July and August the Manistee experiences Tricos, Olive Caddis, Light Cahills, and more Isonycias.

Beyond these emerging aquatic insects anglers will want to pay close attention to the terrestrials: ants, flying ants, grasshoppers, beetles and more. Size does matter on these bugs – try to match what you see on the streamside vegetation or on the water and try larger and smaller if you aren’t having success. Throughout the year anglers can expect to see lots of Blue Winged Olives (BWOs) in sizes ranging from 16 to 22; these are a staple for just about Upper Manistee River Fly Fishing Guide Tripsany trout fisherman — and trout!

Obviously there are more types of bugs that come off on this river, but the above mentioned are the ones any fly angler and fly tier should be most concerned with.

For more information regarding our hatches, check out the Hatch Chart.

Streamer Fishing on the Manistee

Upper Manistee River Fly Fishing Guide TripModern day streamer fishing for trophy sized trout was developed on this river by its pioneer Kelly Galloup, former owner and guide of the Troutsman fly shop once located in Traverse City. As a way to catch big fish on those bright days without a hatch or when trying to target big brown trout, streamer fishing gives anglers a great technique which has become not only popular here on the Manistee and other local rivers, but has caught on in popularity throughout the other regions of the country and trout rivers.

Beyond effective, this method also is exciting to watch a fish over twenty inches pounce on the fly before your eyes. Not to give the illusion that catching a fish is easy using streamer techniques, but any angler fishing this river will want to be prepared to cast some big flies (up to six inches long) to pull that lazy fish out of his lair when surface activity is null. Try fly patterns that imitate: sculpins, chestnut lampreys, smaller trout, chubs, and of course that generic fly that not only will move some water, but simply looks too good not to eat. Look to streamer fish all-year with the best times being April-June and September-November.

To learn more about streamer fishing, read Tips For Better Streamer Fishing »

Directions and Map

The CCC Bridge is located about 40 miles East of Traverse City, 20 miles South East of Kalkaska and 25 miles West of  Grayling, Michigan. Anglers fishing the Au Sable River in Grayling often spend time also fishing the Manistee.

Map of the Upper Manistee River (above Tippy Dam)

Map of the Upper Manistee River (above 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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