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Posts tagged "fall steelhead"

Mid November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 11, 2024

The unseasonably mild fall weather continues to make for comfortable fishing.

While we have had some rain in the past, the river levels have only experienced moderate increases in levels before dropping back to the low-levels we have had for months. Still, the steelhead have been showing up as they move upstream from the Lake Michigan.

Smaller rivers like the Betsie got a nice push of fish with last week’s rain, while the Manistee has maintained a respectable number of fish all fall. Water temps remain a bit warmer than normal for this time of year and the fish continue to be a little more spirited once hooked. With the clear water, we have been using lighter line to fool fish.

Egg patterns are still the first choice of anglers and fish, with nymph patterns building in effectiveness as the natural salmon eggs in the river diminish a bit. Shades of yellow and pale orange rag eggs and beads have been working in smaller sizes (#8 and 8mm). Steelhead buggers, Hex, and mid-sized stoneflies are fooling fish, too.

With the warmer water, the steelhead are more apt to eat a swung fly fished on sink-tips, typically with a spey rod on the larger rivers. Leeches and baitfish patterns in black, olive or tan – all with copper flash – have been working. If you’ve had an interest in trying this method, conditions have made this an ideal year to learn.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Take advantage of the mild fall and warm water! Good dates in November remain.
2025 Fishing Season – It’s not too early to look ahead to 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.

baitfish patterns, Betsie, casting lessons, fall steelhead, fly fishing, manistee river, spey rods, steelhead, steelhead fishing, traverse city fly fishing

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.

 

bead fishing, egg patterns, fall steelhead, fishing guide, salon, steelhead

Early October Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 7, 2023

Summer-like weather has come to an end after a few extra weeks of it which continued well into October.

The local rivers have been really low from a lack of rain, however today’s rain along with the rain in the forecast should really help get the local rivers into shape and get the fish moving. I am not sure I have ever seen the rivers this low at this time of year. Water temperatures, also, should get into seasonal form and drop into the 50s.

Salmon are all over the place in the local rivers (Manistee, Betsie, Platte). Because of the date/time of year and the warm water, the fish are pretty dark and busy doing their spawning ritual. It seems that there are a few more salmon around this year than in recent years which is a good thing. The more salmon in Lake Michigan usually means less pressure on the steelhead from the lake anglers which helps to bolster steelhead population. And more salmon in the river means more scent and eggs to coax steelhead upstream. A few steelhead have been moving up the river but mostly the juvenile skippers on their first return up the river.

Trout fishing was extended for those looking to fish some terrestrials thanks to the warm weather but now it’s time to pull out that 6 or 7 wt rod, sink tip lines and box full of streamers. It’s pre-spawn for the brown trout on most rivers and the fish can have an attitude and chase down a fly. Because our trout population is meager and mostly dependent on natural reproduction, please leave any visible spawning brown trout alone to help ensure a future fishery. Some rivers closed on October 1 so make sure your favorite section of water is still open before fishing it.

Regardless of where you are fishing or for what, you’ll find the trees well decorated in fall colors making for a great backdrop as you fish and wind down the season.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Just a few dates in November remain available – finish the fishing season strong.
Spring Steelhead – Most of the season is booked – get your dates for March and April while you can.
2024 Fishing –  
Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru August.

Betsie river fly fishing, caddis, egg patterns, fall steelhead, fly fishing guide, lake michigan, manistee river, Platte River, salmon fishing, salmon fly patterns, steelhead, tippy dam, traverse city, trout fishing, trout fishing with streamers

Late May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 30, 2023

As May comes to an end, it sure seems like we are in middle of summer with these hot days.
It’s been a while since we have had any significant rain leaving the trout rivers running low and clear. Thankfully evening temps have been cool which has kept the water temps in check, but they are creeping into the mid-60s on the Manistee, Au Sable and Boardman Rivers.

The bug hatches have been decent with sulphurs, mahoganies and caddis being the usual suspects. Clouds of spinners are forming in the evening but with rapidly falling temps as dusk settles in, they go off to the trees only to fall another day. Brown Drakes and Isonychias should be in your box as they can start showing up if they haven’t already on your favorite section of water.

Streamer fishing has been off with the lower, clear water so smaller streamers fished on lighter sink-tips or even floating lines have been fooling some fish. A lot of suckers are spawning in rivers so don’t hesitate fishing behind them for trout eating their eggs.

The lake fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass has been really good. Surface activity with poppers has been working as the fish have moved in shallow. The bluegill fishing has been good too, just depends on which lake you are fishing. Sometimes smaller streamers for the bass are required on the bright days when the fish don’t want to look up and are fished with either intermediate tip and floating lines.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – It’s Match-the-Hatch time on the trout rivers through June. Just a few dates to choose from.
Smallmouth Bass– Spend a half or full-day on the lower Manistee fishing smallies – June through Late August.
Fall Steelhead – November still has some dates available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.

bass fishing, bluegill fishing on the fly, fall steelhead, hatches, mahaganies, manistee river fly fishing, manistee river hatches, smallmouth, smallmouth bass fly fishing, sulphurs

March Thaw Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 8, 2022

Warm weather over the weekend along with a heavy rain really knocked down what snow was around and increased flows on the Manistee and Betsie rivers. Monday found us with another 4 to 6 inches of fresh snow which kind of makes this a typical March. And further confirmation that we are in that transitional season between late Winter and Spring is the first robin sighting outside my window this morning sitting on a bush because there was too much snow on the ground to look for worms in the frozen ground.

With the water being high, and snowmelt dropping the water temperature, look for the steelhead in the river to shuffle around and stage near gravel. And the surge of high water (it’s already dropping again) should have triggered some fresh fish to start heading upstream.

Accompanying the increased water level is some color; consider running a larger fly than you would in the clear conditions of winter. Egg patterns are still tied on every rig this time of year with a nymph below it. Steelhead buggers, big green caddis (#6 and 8) and a hex nymph with some sparkle are good bets and if there is decent visibility to the water definitely try a fry pattern.

And be careful walking on compacted refrozen snow along riverbanks and on trails – it can be rod and bone-breaking icy.

Good luck.

Ted

May Days – The month that offers so much variety for a number of species. <<More info>>
Match the Hatch  – Late May and June offer dry fly anglers some of the best trout fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain available in October, November and into December.

betsie river fishing report, caddis pattern for steelhead, fall steelhead, fishing guide, fly fishing for spring steelhead michigan, manistee river, spring steelhead, traverse city fishing guide
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