fishing guide manistee river Archives - Current Works Guide Service

Steelhead fishing has been mixed. The last week of October left us with low and clear water and with all the salmon gone, the steelhead weren’t as easy to find. Over the weekend significant rains brought up the local rivers and have them running higher and with some color to them. This push of water moved some fish around through rivers and even sent some fresh fish from the lake into the rivers systems like the Manistee and Betsie.

Water temperatures are almost unprecedented for this time of year and are maintaining upper 40s and close to 50. With nice weather in the forecast that should remain for a few days but the “S” word that gets spoken a little more often this time of year is in the long term forecast so look for the water and air temps to begin to fall where they should be for mid-November.

With those water temps being up, the fish are still scattered, mostly happy and eager to eat a well presented fly. Once hooked, they are continuing to test our abilities to get them close to the net but getting beat up has never been so fun. Egg patterns in bold, pale or mixed colors have been the primary producers with nymphs like hex, buggers and caddis starting to get tied in tandem with an egg or bead. Those willing to fish a swung fly are getting a deeper bend in the two-handed rod with the larger size of fish this fall; streamers with copper flash and either tan/ginger or olive bodies have been the first fly tied on the line.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Finish the season with what started the season – Steelhead! A few dates in late Nov. are open.
2023 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.
Gift Certificates – Quick and easy gifts of a half-day, full-day or casting lesson for friends or family.

Steelhead fishing continues as the water temps remain in the mid to lower 40s on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers. Usually by now they are cooler, so the milder temps of Nov. has been welcomed. Fish continue to be fickle, spread-out, and doing a pretty good job of making us work for them each day. But not working hard in snow has made the challenge a fair and reasonable trade-off.

Fish are starting to like something more than just eggs with some nymphs starting to take their share of fish. Hex nymphs, caddis and steelhead buggers lead the category with beads and eggs in various colors working when tied above the nymph. In clear water, the muted and smaller sizes are ideal with bigger, bolder colors in the stained water combined with overcast skies. If that doesn’t work, do the opposite – it’s how 2020 has played out so consider this as a possible plan-B.

The trout fishing below Tippy Dam has been more of a struggle this year than anyone expected. Not sure if the hot summer wreaked havoc on the population or all the hunter-gather types harvested them all, but they have been elusive.

It’s still deer season so some hunter’s orange might be a good call if headed to the water.

Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Take advantage of the mild late Fall weather – it’s a great way to finish the fishing season.
Gift Certificates – Give the gift of a Fishing Trip or Lesson – Half of Full Days available – they’re easy and fast.

caddis, fishing, fishing guide manistee river, manistee steelhead, tippy day steelhead fishing

Posts tagged "fishing guide manistee river"

Early November Fishing Report

Late November Steelhead Fishing Report

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