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Posts tagged "egg patterns"

Early April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 9, 2025

After a week of high and highly stained water, the river levels have returned to normal flows for this time of year and still have a bit of a stain, which also is normal for this time of year. Water temperatures are in the low 40s thanks to some cold nights and the lack of warm days to keep the run from running it’s course in short order.

The steelhead continue to be mixed – pre-spawn, spawning and post spawn. The males tend be a little older as they dance from gravel bar to gravel bar and have the color to show for it while fresh females are continuing to slip upstream. As with the fall run, the spring run has had more “skippers” (15-22” fish) than the larger adults however it seems lately a few more bigger fish are making a return to the river and bending the rod more. Don’t forget these smaller fish are next year’s bigger fish and the new fishing regulations as of April 1 limits harvest to only 1 steelhead/rainbow trout.

Larger flies have been working in the stained water – leeches, large stones and fry patterns tied below egg patterns and beads which have been bolder and more prominent in the stained water. Egg patterns with chartreuse have been working better than they had been, but that also usually results in an encounter with some walleye on the Manistee below Tippy dam as that’s seems to be a perennial favorite color of theirs. With the lack of rain in the forecast, I suspect smaller and more natural toned patterns will improve in effectiveness as the water continues to clear up.

Good luck.

Ted

 

Fall Steelhead – Spring season is all booked, but a few dates remain available for the Fall Steelhead.
Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best technical dry fly fishing as we chase bugs and browns.
2025 Season – Now booking the entire season for trout, bass, steelhead and salmon – get your dates planned.

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Late March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 29, 2025

UPDATE 3/31/25

The region received far more rainfall than forecast over the weekend leaving the rivers running very high and dirty. If you are headed to your favorite river, you are likely to find it un-wadable and boat handling risky. Use caution until water levels come down.

For more on regional water flows, you can click here.


March comes to an end and the Steelhead fishing continues.

Fishing has been solid in March despite some weather fluctuations between Spring and Winter. The river conditions have been good with water levels a little lower than what we expect for this time of year, but with some cold rain in the forecast, we should see levels come up and a little more stain to the water. And likely more fish as water temps hover around 40 degrees.

The steelhead in the Manistee river are a mix of pre-spawn fish and fish just starting to spawn. Smaller rivers like the Betsie can have water temperatures increase (and decrease) rapidly which can spur more spawning activity but look for more spawning to be the case as water temps increase with more days into “Spring”. Regardless, the pocket water, runs and holes near spawning gravel have been fishing well.

With a slight stain to the water, smaller egg imitations have been outperforming the big, bold ones, but look for that to change if water conditions change. #8 rag eggs and 8mm beads in natural colors/tones have been best and often fished in tandem with a nymph. The best fishing nymphs lately have been green caddis, alevins, and hex. When the sun heats things up, the black stoneflies have been coming off and fluttering on the surface, which is a good indication to fish them under the surface.

Like usual, the popularity of steelhead has been bringing out scores of anglers and the rivers have been crowded. It’s not a bad time to practice the golden rule but then again, that might be expecting too much from some while others try to set an example.

Good luck,

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Spring season is all booked, but a few dates remain available for the Fall Steelhead.
Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best technical dry fly fishing as we chase bugs and browns.
2025 Season – Now booking the entire season for trout, bass, steelhead and salmon – get your dates planned.

betsie river, black stoneflies, caddis, egg patterns, fishing guide, green caddis, hex nymphs for steelhead, manistee river, steelhead

Late October Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 27, 2024

October is winding down and water levels remain low.

The lack of any significant precipitation has kept local rivers low and running clear. Still, some steelhead have moved into rivers and have been hard to hold onto once hooked with the water being warmer than normal.  Larger rivers and their volume of water have been more consistent while the smaller rivers are very dependent on rainfall and timing (and stealthy presentations) are crucial.

The bountiful run of salmon was arguably the strongest experienced in the last decade. While the kings and cohos and are pretty much done, their eggs have done a good job of coaxing steelhead to migrate from the lake. As such, egg patterns and beads have been the top producers, with the nymph bite (steelhead buggers and hex) building especially in runs and holes away from spawning salmon. Look for the swing bite to improve as the egg-drop diminishes.

Most of the leaves on streamside riverbanks have fallen this past week – save for the oaks, changing the landscape and possibly adding a little tannin to the water as they breakdown. With more deer being active this time of year, be careful getting to the river.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Finish the  season with steelhead on the lower Manistee. Good dates in November remain.
2025 Fishing Season – It’s not too early to look ahead to the next year and get your dates planned and secured.
Gift Certificates – Available for Half or Full Day Guide Trips or a Casting Lesson making perfect gifts for anglers.

 

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Mid October Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 13, 2024

It’s starting to feel like fall with lots of color in the trees but also cooler air temperatures.

The salmon fishing is past its peak on local rivers that continue to run low and clear and warmer than it should for mid-October. The rain is falling as I type and hopefully continues all day and we can add some color to the clear conditions, but also encourage the last of the salmon to head up and some more steelhead to realize they can enjoy all the salmon eggs that they can eat upstream. There has been no shortage of salmon this year and they are spawning heavily.

For those targeting the steelhead, it’s been egg patterns and beads with an occasional fish on nymphs like hex and steelhead buggers when fishing runs not directly below spawning salmon. If fishing below salmon, realistic egg patterns and bead colors have been working best. With more leaves likely to be in the river over the next week, look to increase the size of your flies so they stand out a little from everything drifting downstream.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Finish the  season with steelhead on the lower Manistee. Good dates in November remain.
2025 Fishing Season – It’s not too early to look ahead to the next year and get your dates planned and secured.
Gift Certificates – Available for Half or Full Day Guide Trips or a Casting Lesson making perfect gifts for anglers.

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Early April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 1, 2024

Some rain last week gave the rivers a nice little bump in water flow and some additional steelhead moving upstream from lake Michigan.

Clarity is still really good on the Manistee River below Tippy Dam, and is a little more stained on the Betsie River. Water temperatures have pretty much remained in the low 40-degree range as overnight temps and a lack of sunlight have kept things stable. With some significant rain in the forecast this week, water levels and clarity are likely to change.

The steelhead are mixed: from fresh fish moving upstream to spawning fish and drop-backs – all stages are within the river systems and be found in all kinds of water.

Smaller, natural color egg patterns and beads continue to be the first choice in the clear water. Shades and tones of yellow, gold nugget and steelhead orange have been productive. Fry patterns are starting to increase in effectiveness as salmon fry are starting to develop and swim making them prey to the steelhead as are the smaller stoneflies when the sun warms up that water just a bit and induces an emergence.

Good luck,

Ted

— PS: New, 2024 fishing licenses are required April 1 —

Trout Season – Mid-May into July offers some of the best match-the-hatch dry fly fishing of the season.
2024 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.

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