Early November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 31, 2018

As we flip the calendar to November it is full-on steelhead season. Almost all of the salmon are gone in rivers like the Manistee, Betsie and Platte but there are a few remaining chinook and coho salmon around providing an egg drop to help keep the steelhead focused on eggs. Northwest Michigan hasn’t received significant rainfall in weeks leaving the rivers with fewer fish than we are used to for this time of year and the water low and extremely clear. Thankfully the sun hasn’t been out much giving us a chance at these hot fish.

With the clear water, water temps in the upper 40’s and well-informed anglers, the fish have scattered throughout the systems and where they are holding. Runs and holes directly below any last spawning salmon are a great places to focus on, but when those don’t produce, it might be time to look for fish hunkered in structure but still in position to collect the drifting eggs. Bottom bouncing rigs, fishing indicators and fishing flies on the swing are all ideal right now. Natural sized eggs and beads continue to take their fair share of fish but a nymph bite is starting to build. The leaves are at a minimum, the days are getting shorter, the sun is at a lower angle – it’s all about the deep-bodied steelhead of 2018.

Trout fishing on the upper Manistee is pretty much a streamer game as the brown trout are mostly in a post spawn pattern. As the salmon continue to drop off below Tippy Dam, look for the trout to not only look for eggs, but start to chase streamers as they have an appetite after gorging on a steady diet of eggs the past 5 weeks.

Good luck

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Fall colors include chrome Steelhead until Winter gets here.
Fall Trout Combo – Target both steelhead and trout (streamers) on the lower Manistee
2019 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get next year’s fishing dates secured – booking through October

Betsie, egg patterns, eggs, fall steelhead, manistee river, Platte River, salmon, steelhead, streamer, tippy dam

Late September Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 25, 2018

As we approach the end of September the weather is transitioning to what we should have had the past few weeks – cooler nights, some precipitation and some color in the trees to let us know that fall is here. More fish, too.

The extension of summer has kept a trickle of chinook/king salmon moving upstream on the Betsie and Manistee rivers but not to the level we expect for this time of year. The lack of consistent winds on Lake Michigan has the fish scattered off shore which is in part why only a trickle of fish are ascending the rivers. If the forecast proves accurate, fall fishing should kick-in fully very soon.

Fish are starting to post up near gravel sections and a few fish have even started to spawn. As eggs drift downstream look for more fish to follow upstream including the first wave of steelhead and more coho salmon.

The upper Manistee is clear, cool and beautiful with a number of trees already showing their fall color. Some brook trout are spawning and others are still coming to the surface for terrestrials thanks to the warm weather. Small streamers fished on floating lines are taking some brown trout as are short sink-tip lines. The river is pretty vacant of anglers and will remain that way for the rest of the fall – its a great alternative to the rivers that experience migratory fish.

Please keep in mind that fishing on a number of trout rivers and streams come to a close on October 1 as trout season closes.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Fall colors include chrome Steelhead from Early October into December
Fall Trout – Fish the upper Manistee or combine steelhead and trout on the lower Manistee
2019 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get next year’s fishing dates secured – booking through September

betsie river, brook trout, chinook salmon, fall steelhead, king salmon, manistee river, steelhead, terrestrial fishing, trout fishing, upper manistee river

Early May FIy Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 8, 2018

If feels like we skipped spring and went right to summer as temperatures approach 80 degrees. Nature is catching up with the season as the fields on the way to the river have turned from brown to green and foliage is starting to become omnipresent in the woods. So is the fishing.

Trout fishing is starting to shape up although the river levels are a little high and stained – perfect for the Hendrickson mayflies that are sporadically emerging on the upper sections of the Manistee and AuSable Rivers. A few BWOs are around on the cloudy days and it won’t be long before tan caddis should be dancing on the surface. Before the surface and bug activity takes place, now is the time to cast a streamer looking for those larger trout looking to eat big. With the stained water yellow, black, and olive streamer patterns are great first choices. With the water temps still in the mid-50s, slow the streamer presentation down and don’t hesitate to fish the inside bends.

Steelhead fishing is pretty much done. A few fresh fish moved in over the past week but they are getting in and getting out quick with the water temps being so warm. While a bit cold, overall it was an exceptional spring steelhead run as it was spread out with a good number of fish throughout without any surge of fish. And the fish for the most part were a little bigger this year making for some really nice fish photos. Already looking forward to the fall run of steelhead that begins in October.

As water temps continue to climb look for the shallow, dark bottom lakes to see a little bluegill/panfish action to start any day now – this is a great way to get tuned up with your casting while having access to some really nice gills that usually too deep. Pike anglers should find similar lakes providing an opportunity to fish shallows for post-spawn fish.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity. It’s also a great time to fish streamers for bigger trout.
Big Bugs – The big Bugs of June will be here before you know it…. Isos, Drakes and Hex – limited dates available.
Fall Steelhead – Spring Steelhead is just finishing up but it’s time to get your Fall Dates reserved – Oct. thru Dec.

bluegill fishing, drakes, fall steelhead, hendrickson au sable, hendricksons, mayflies, pike, steelhead, streamer, tippy dam, trout fishing

Early December Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 6, 2017

While fall was pretty mild with some cold days mixed in, it looks like those days are gone as winter has shown itself. With the white stuff falling outside the window and the long term forecast not calling for temps to be above freezing, anglers will have to look for their windows of opportunity to fish comfortably.

Steelhead fishing has remained mixed – doing good one day, not so good the next which seemed to be the theme for the fall run. There are a good number of fish in the system and they are scattered throughout river systems. As water temps drop into the upper 30s, the fish are mostly taking up residence in the slower water to the side of the bubble line. Swung flies in and around structure have been working as are flies presented on float and indicator rigs. Bottom bouncing/duck and chuck will work too, but the fish are starting to get lethargic and picky. Small, natural egg patterns on the smaller waters like the Betsie have been working where some larger eggs in bolder color patterns have been the theme on larger river systems like the Manistee.

Trout fishing this fall wasn’t what it normally is for the time of year but the streamer angler casting mid-sized streamers on presenting them a little slower in the cold water can get some good fish to eat. Yellow streamers, natural sculpin and baitfish patterns are great themes to start with but as always mix up the pattern and presentation.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – As fall continues, so does our Steelhead season, into December or until the weather says no more.
Trout/Steelhead – The lower Manistee offers good streamer fishing for trout in late Fall for a combo of species.
Gift Certificates – With the Holiday Season near, give or ask for the gift of time on the water or a lesson.

Betsie, egg pattersn, fall steelhead, fly fishing steelhead, indicators, manistee, sculpin streamers, steelhead, swung fly

Late November Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 21, 2017

Its late fall fishing around here with mixed weather ranging from snow, to rain to even a little sun (we sure haven’t seen much of that for a while).

Steelhead remain the primary target for most anglers with the fish transitioning into hold-over water. Look for fish to be in holes and the slower tail-outs as the water temps continue to drop. Last week’s rain gave the levels a little bump but they are still in good shape as the water remains a little stained too on the Manistee and Betsie. Egg patterns and a nymph is a great one-two approach when drifting or fishing under an indicator. As temps hover around 40 our window for a good swing bite is starting to narrow.

Trout fishing below Tippy dam has been decent but with the stained water it’s hard to work the streamer efficiently around all the wood without donating a couple of flies. Baitfish and sculpin patterns have been best but like always, mix it up and fish it slower than you would in the spring as water temps are cooler.

With firearm deer season ending Nov. 30, consider wearing some orange while fishing for safety.

Good luck and have a nice Thanksgiving.

Ted

betsie river, fall steelhead, manistee river steelhead fishing, sculpin patterns, streamer fishing, tippy dam

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Posts tagged "fall steelhead"

Early November Fishing Report

Late September Fly Fishing Report

Early May FIy Fishing Report

Early December Fishing Report

Late November Fly Fishing Report

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