Fall Steelhead

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 4, 2019

November greeted us with full-on fall weather – a mix of snow and rain and some wind making for classic fall steelhead weather.

Water temps have settled into the lower to mid 40’s on the lower Manistee below Tippy Dam and Betsie Rivers which are running higher than normal for this time of year, but they aren’t considered high. Clarity is mostly ideal except for the lower ends of rivers which collect run off and tributaries which affects visibility. There are good numbers of steelhead in the river however they are spread out throughout the systems – you have fresh fish moving up stream, others that have taken position behind the last of the spawning salmon and those that have been in the system a while and after being caught have become weary and are sitting in the wood/structure.

Egg patterns remain the most effective flies right now along with some beads in natural and yellowish colors. No two days have been the same so mix up size and color to find what they are looking for each day. The nymph bite is starting to pick up with caddis and steelhead buggers continuing to prove effective. The swing bite is also ideal right now for those capable of working a two-handed rod and presenting big streamers with lots of flash on sink-tip lines.

The forecast weather should help stabilize the fishing as the past week was inconsistent with the abrupt changes in weather. Going forward, it appears to be more of the same so dress accordingly, think fondly about seeing the sun shine all summer, and keep your flies where the fish should be.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Good November and December dates remain open for these prized sport-fish.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through October of 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.
Gift Certificates – As we approach the holiday season, consider asking or giving the gift of time on the water.

Early November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 4, 2016

With November now here, we are still experiencing early October-like weather with warmer temperatures and some really hot fish.

Steelhead fishing on the Manistee has been decent with some nice steelhead playing along. But they often aren’t playing nice – that is, once hooked, they are really testing our skills with their ability to put space between you and them. The fish are scattered throughout the river system – in holes, tail-outs, seams and on the rare sunny day – in woody structure.

Majority of the fish are eating egg patterns with no one pattern, size or color outperforming another – mix it up. If fishing near the dam, go small as the fish are really keying in on eating the natural eggs left by the salmon. Just a few chinook and coho salmon remain directly below Tippy, spawning in the upper mile of water. Fishing nymphs in the past ten days is proving effective with smaller nymphs used near the dam and larger patterns like ice/steelhead buggers, hex nymphs and caddis working in the lower sections. This is the time to use that two-handed rod with streamers swung on a sink-tip.

Water temps are hovering around 50 degrees which is adding to the fish’s feistiness. Water clarity is a little too good, nudging us to use lighter lines which makes landing the fish more difficult. It appears that about half of the fish in the river had been eating really well out in the lake and they have some shoulders and girth to prove it.

The trout are continuing to appease their appetite after a heavy egg diet and are chasing a streamer when not scavenging on any remaining salmon eggs. On rivers like the Upper Manistee and Au Sable system, the streamer fishing has been decent for those looking to feed a post-spawn brown trout. Mid-sized streamers like the Autumn Offender and Ted’s Brook Trout fished on sink-tips is your best approach.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout – Target post-spawn browns with streamers on the upper Manistee or Below Tippy Dam.
Fall Steelhead – Warm weather is making for comfortable steelhead fishing. Oxymoron, isn’t it?
Late Fall Trout – After gorging on salmon eggs, streamer fishing below Tippy Dam can be outstanding.

Au Sable system, brown trout, caddis, fall steelhead, fall steelhead fishing, manistee, post-spawn streamer fishing, salmon, streamer fishing, tippy dam, upper-manistee

Late October Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 23, 2016

As we get deeper into October we are finding that the salmon are mostly done on the local rivers. A few fresh fish slip in but for the most part the salmon are dark, beat up and trying to get through their spawning ritual. In review, this year’s run of salmon was far better than the previous two years which was welcomed. It’s hoped that with natural reproduction, a limited number of stocked King/Chinook salmon, and a slight recovery in alewife/baitfish populations – Lake Michigan and its tributaries will return to a healthy, sustainable fishery going forward.

With all of the salmon in the river spawning, their eggs help convince fall steelhead to swim upstream, proving opportunity at what some consider the best freshwater species we get to pursue. The water temperatures are warmer than normal for this time of year so fish numbers are a little behind but there is typically no mistaking when a steelhead is on – most of the hooked steelhead have been rambunctious this fall making them hard to land. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

With fall steelhead fishing, key in on gravel beds with salmon still spawning and fish tandem egg patterns behind them in the darker holes and runs for fish eating their eggs. With all of the leaves in the water (the leaf drop, too, is behind this year) I prefer to fish a large egg pattern with a very realistic size and color egg below it. Water clarity on both the Betsie and Big Manistee below Tippy Dam is running clear so fluorocarbon is recommended. Although we have received some periodic rains, we could use some more of them to keep pushes of fish moving upstream – with the weather this fall, look for an extended fall run of fish

On water still open to trout fishing, anglers are finding most of the brown trout done spawning and in a post-spawn mode. If you come across beds of spawning fish, please leave them alone as most of the rivers rely solely on natural reproduction. This is the time of year to put the dry fly rods away and cover some water with sink-tips and streamers. As salmon numbers decline below Tippy Dam, so do salmon anglers, making it a good place to target trout that become aggressive after a month of a steady salmon egg diet.

Good luck.

Ted

betsie river, egg patterns, fall steelhead fishing, fall steelhead with egg flies, post-spawn trout fishing with streamers, spawning salmon, Streamer fishing for trout, tippy dam steelhead fishing

It’s November – Fall Steelhead Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 1, 2013

The fall steelhead fishing on the Manistee has been inconsistent lately – doing well for a few days in a row and then experiencing a slow one. When its on, its on! Lots of weather systems have been through northern Michigan over the past week and even some snow fell between the rain showers which may have had something to do with the fish’s attitude. The recent rains brought the water up and should continue to bring fresh fish from the lake – there are fish from the dam to the lake. The report on the Betsie River is that there are some steelhead scattered throughout the river and a few scraggly salmon on gravel making the dark water behind them a great place to start fishing for the chrome ones. After the significant rainfall at the end of last week, most of the Betsie is running dark – be careful wading.

When fishing below Tippy dam, natural eggs and small, natural nymphs like pheasant tails and baetis are working on the pressured steelhead and brown trout. In the lower sections bigger, brighter egg patterns fished in tandem with larger nymphs and small streamers have been the ticket lately – it seems that the “bugger bite” has improved significantly since the last report. Each day is different and this is only a reference as to what has been working for us. To read the Top Five Steelhead Flies article, click here.

With the water temps hovering around 50 degrees and fresh fish around, this is a great time to swing a big fly for steelhead. Olives and tan/brown patterns with lots of gold and copper flash would be a great place to start and always have a black pattern on deck and ready to go.

Good luck,

Ted

Steelhead -A few fall steelhead dates remain and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.
Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing once the salmon leave.
2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

Betsie, fall steelhead fishing, guide, manistee steelhead fishing, Northern Michigan, steelhead flies, tippy dam

Posts tagged "fall steelhead fishing"

Fall Steelhead

Early November Fishing Report

Late October Steelhead Fishing Report

It’s November – Fall Steelhead Fishing

Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156