Early November Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 10, 2023

The leaves are gone, temps are dropping and it’s the time for the serious steelhead angler to go looking to hunt fish, not deer.

As is typical for this time of year, the river is running clear as it’s been a while since we have had a push of water from any significant rain. When we have had an increase in water, a small wave of steelhead ran up the Manistee and Betsie rivers, but fish numbers remain uncharacteristically below normal as they have been all fall.

Water temperatures remain in the mid-40s which is more than ideal for more fish to migrate up and as we have found out, they are active once hooked.

It’s been a while since the healthy run of king salmon naturally chummed the water with eggs from their annual spawning cycle, and as such we are starting to fish more nymphs in tandem with our egg patterns for the steelhead. It’s also a great time of the year to swing a big fly on a two-handed rod as it covers a larger portion of water and the flash of the patterns tends to get their attention.

With firearm deer season beginning on November 15 consider wearing hunter’s orange for safety – hunters, deer, firearms and adrenaline are an unpredictable mix.

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 September.

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Late July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 21, 2023

As July starts to wind down, fly anglers find themselves in the middle of summer and summer fishing conditions.

The Upper Manistee is running low and clear – which isn’t unusual for this time of year. The lack of rain has been offset by the cooler evening temps to keep the water temps in the mid-60s and safe for the trout. Most of the hatches are done with the exception of the Tricos. Theses little flies make dry fly fishing fun as the brookies and browns provide rising targets. Every once in a while we are surprised by a bigger fish that eats the little fly and test’s the strength of the 6x tippet. Mostly, it’s simply a fun time to use that lighter dry fly rod.

Without hatches or latter in the day, we find ourselves fishing terrestrials and attractors or what I refer to as the “foam and rubber hatch”. Foam bodied flies with rubber legs – drifting, skittering or twitched on the surface makes it fun. It’s not overly technical fishing, just fun covering some water and fooling some fish.

The smallmouth on the lower Manistee River has mostly been good. Once in a while we find the fish are in a mood where they just kind of look but aren’t eating. Classic “window shopping” behavior. Don’t give up, a slight change in the weather can get them eating your ever-changing streamer pattern again. The popper bite is just starting so make sure you have your favorite popper/big foam and rubber legged patterns on a floating line next to your clear sink-tip rod.

Bass and Bluegill remain our favorite target for beginners learning fly fishing. These fish keep it fun and action packed. Some bigger bluegill are in the shallows early in the day or on those rare cloudy days. The largemouth are loving small streamers fished near lily pads and drop offs. Or my personal favorite – diving frog patterns.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – July and August is time for Ticos and Terrestrials on the Upper Manistee – an ideal half-day on the river.
Smallmouth Bass– Spend a half or full-day on the lower Manistee fishing smallies – through Late August.
Fall Steelhead – November still has some dates available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.

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Early May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 6, 2022

It feels like May. And Spring. Finally.

Its time to transition from steelhead to trout and take advantage of the streamer fishing and hatches of Mayflies on the local rivers like the upper Manistee, Au Sable and Boardman. The rivers are running full but are clear with temps mostly in the mid to upper 50s and the forecast weather should steady the temps some providing we don’t have those cold overnights.

Look for small Stoneflies, Hendricksons, and caddis on the surface and always have some Blue Winged Olives in your box. Bright days help with warming the water temps which will ultimately help the fishing on the days that are overcast.

This is a great time of the year to have a rod rigged with a sink-tip and streamer and another with a dry fly when some surface action begins. Late afternoons and early evenings get cool this time of year and the promise of spinner falls typically is just that – so be on the water at the warmer times of the day for both hatches and spinner falls. With the clear water, smaller streamers are a better choice than the triple articulated and highly accessorized patterns the length of a tube sock.

The late arrival of spring has prolonged the steelhead run in most rivers with a few fish around for those that just didn’t get enough this year. It was a solid run of fish this year and already I am looking forward to the fall run.

Good luck.

Ted

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April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 9, 2022

The local rivers are all running high with recent rains. The good news is we have a few days without any rain (or snow) in the forecast.

Higher water has meant dirty water. A flood gate was lifted on Tippy Dam yesterday which always frees up mud and algae while increasing the flow. The ice on the pond has melted so we should see the water temps break the 40-degree mark soon, especially with a forecast of air temps in the 50s. The Betsie almost always has a stain to it which only increases as the flow also increases.

Some steelhead have begun their spawning while others are headed up to do it. Look for fish to be just about anywhere in the river – softer seams for migrating fish, deeper holes and pocket water near spawning gravel for those waiting to get on it.

Proven flies have mostly been larger rag eggs and bead rigs in brighter colors including clown, pink, combos with cerise, and chartreuse.

Crowded conditions continue to be norm which isn’t anything new when it comes to Steelhead fishing in April. Smile and recognize that the next angler is only trying to do what you are.

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.

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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

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Posts tagged "fishing guide"

Early November Steelhead Fishing Report

Late July Fly Fishing Report

Early May Fishing Report

April Fishing Report

March Thaw Fishing Report

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