Posts tagged "fishing guide"

Late October Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 23, 2020

As October winds down, the river levels are on the way up. Recent rains have been significant and anglers will find the rivers like the Betsie and Manistee high and rising. Unlike Spring when high water events last a while, the rivers should drain out by later next week, providing we don’t experience additional showers.

Salmon are pretty much done, although there are some rough looking ones either doing the last of their spawning or waiting to become biomass. With all their eggs in the river combined with the high water, a natural chum line moving downstream should encourage more steelhead to enter the river system.

When water is high like this, look for those bubble lines and seams and fish the softer side as the current isn’t as strong and the fish like to move up in the slower moving water. Water temps are in the high 40’s so the fish are still eager to eat and eager to get away once hooked.

Egg patterns and beads are the leading choice right now with natural colors and sizes being recent producers but with the high water and excess leaf drop, look for bigger and bolder patterns to paly a role in your decision.

Please release all steelhead – today’s 5-pound fish becomes next year’s 8 to 10-pound fish, etc. They don’t taste very good and your manliness isn’t validated by the number of fish you parade around the parking lot or place in the smoker.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout/Steelhead Combo – Late fall can offer a combined chance at both species on the lower Manistee.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates are available in November – a great way to finish the fishing season.

betsie river, egg patterns, fishing guide, manistee river, michigan fly fishing, salmon fishing, steelhead, steelhead bead

Hex Season

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 27, 2020

It’s that time of year where darkness brings out the big bugs, big fish and big crowds.

The rivers are in good shape with a little more water in them than normal (2 inches?) and a slight stain compared to the typical clear, low water found this time of year. Most of the local rivers in the region are experiencing hex bugs at night – both spinner falls and hatches. But in keeping in-step with the rest of our hatches this spring, they have been as fickle as the fish – sometimes being there, other times not. Having some stable weather in the forecast should help make more reliable hatches/spinner falls, but as I wrote a few weeks ago regarding bugs, I no longer predict hatches.

There haven’t been too many other bugs on the water but to be prepared, you will want some Isonychias, Brown Drakes, Bat Flies, Sulphurs and Med Brown Stoneflies in your box as these have been around, just not in heavy numbers.

There seems to be even more folks on the water than normal for this time of year. After the three months we have all gone through it’s seems the water is the place where people can get out and maybe forget about those past three months – can’t blame them for that. Most have a smile on their face, are pleasant with a nod and smile, and even some friendly words rather than the territorial grunt of a hunter-gatherer typically experienced this time of year. Let’s keep that attitude going forward to help make it a nice experience for everyone out there.

Lastly, water temps are increasing so when you hook into that fish, take advantage of that 6 wt rod and 1x tippet and get them in quick and back in the water. Sadly, most of the local trout rivers are not stocked by the DNR and these adult fish are responsible for future generations through natural reproduction and that can’t happen if the fish dies after a 20 second photo session.

Good luck.

Ted

New to the Sport? Bass and Bluegill fishing is the perfect way to learn to fish after a quick casting lesson.
Tricos & Terrestrials – A great way to start a summer day. Float and Trout fish the Manistee in July and August.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates are available in November – a great way to finish a fishing season.

ausable river, crowded fishing, drakes, fishing guide, fly fishing report traverse city, hex emergence, hex fishing, Hex Season, isonychias, manistee

September Salmon and Trout Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 9, 2019

With September well underway, anglers are finding salmon in a number of the local rivers. These fish are migratory and with the inconsistent weather (think shifting winds) the run has been truncated and some days are better than others as these fish work their way upstream.

The Betsie has been really busy as this natural reproducing fishery gets started before most others – thankfully a recent increase in DNR patrolling is just starting to have its effect and keeping some “anglers” away. Or maybe fishing in the dark hours. They are fish, not status symbols, folks, and yes they are big, but respect the resource and try to show a hint of sportsmanship including courtesy when on the water. And pick up your trash.

With salmon drawing a lot of attention, the trout rivers have pretty much been abandoned. September is a nice time to be on the water as summer and terrestrial fishing winds down. Brook trout are starting to show the most vibrant colors as they approach spawning. Fishing wets and small streamers for the bigger brown trout are regaining their effectiveness as the fishing pressure has been light for a few weeks. Always have some small brown flying ants this time of year as when they show up on the water, fish go nuts for them. Also have some BWO’s as you never know when you might have some match the hatch fishing.

Good luck.

Ted

Salmon/September – No salmon or trout dates are available this September, sorry.
Fall Steelhead – Good November and December dates remain open for these prized sport-fish.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through September of 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

Betsie, fishing guide, manistee river fishing, salmon, streamer fishing trout, trout fishing traverse city

Early March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 1, 2017

It seems that since the last report we have experienced winter, spring, winter, spring and winter again – which looks like it will be here for a few days.

Last weekend’s snow has come and gone as well as a gentle but consistent 30-hour rain earlier this week leaving water levels high and stained and likely to only get higher and dirtier in the days ahead on local rivers including the Manistee and Betsie Rivers. Here is a link to the USGS Michigan Stream Flow site for update river flow information.

With the increase of water also comes an advance of some fresh steelhead. Since water temps are still in the upper 30’s you can expect a mixed bag of winter and any fresh fish to co-mingle for a while before the steady pushes of fish come later in the month.

Because of the higher, dirty water, it’s time to increase your fly size to patterns more associated with the first of April rather than early March. Bigger Leeches / Buggers, large green caddis, sparkle stones, bold egg patterns in Clown, Dark Roe/Cerise, Chartreuse/Flame, and Better Than Spawn( B.T.S) fry would be good choices in conditions like this. Remember the classics from yesteryear like Springs Wiggler and Dr. Toms? Having some of these tied up in bright and/or sparkle colors can go a long ways in the spring.

Ideal presentations include nymphing under floats in moderate bubble lines as fish move out of the fast water and into secondary seams as well as the big, deep holes where drift/duck and chuck methods are ideal. It’s still early in the season but we should experience some better than usual fishing in March due to the thaws and rains. Looking outside the window as the snow piles up, it tells me it’s an ideal time to finish up tying this spring’s steelhead patterns until “spring” returns again next week.

Good luck.

Ted

Spring Steelhead – A mild winter should offer good fishing, early. A few dates remain in late March and April.
May Fishing – Trout, late steelhead, hatches, streamer fishing, bluegill on lakes – don’t overlook fishing in May.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

Betsie, buggers, egg patterns, fishing guide, fly fishing manistee, ice bugger, Manistee below Tippy Dam, michigan river flow, springs wiggler, steelhead fishing, stelhead, ted kraimer

Fly Hatches and Trout Fishing Improving

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 23, 2015

A week with little rain fall has left the local rivers in good shape. Clarity is ideal with a little stain, while temps are in the mid-60s and water levels are not too high and not too low. Hatch activity has been varied and inconsistent but has improved since my last report with more fish looking up. Look for Isonychias to be your best bet for the big bugs in the evening and up to dark. You will want some brown drakes and hex patterns also because you never know when the bigger bugs will be out in numbers right at dark. Some sections of most rivers – Au Sable, Manistee, Boardman has had limited hex activity but we are on the early side of things. Other flies you can expect to find on the water include Bat Flies, the last of the Sulphurs, Gray Drakes, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Lt. Cahills and Mahoganies. To read more about hatches preceding the Hex Hatch, click here.

Carp fishing on the bay has been inconsistent as well with all of the weather changes. Like the hex emergence for trout, good carp fishing really relies on a few days of warm sunshine to warm up the water up. The cold water of the bay moving in and out with varying wind directions has made it challenging for those targeting both carp and smallmouth bass. Smaller crayfish patterns are working for both species as are minnow patterns for those specifically fishing for bass.

Fishing on the lakes and ponds for bass remains solid as the fish are in post-spawn mode and have the feed bag on. Streamers fished on intermediate lines have been most productive for the larger bass when the top water and divers aren’t working. It also might find you a pike along the way which tend to bite the fly off but leave you with a good story. Bluegill continue to bend the rod but mostly the smaller ones which still make for a great learning experience for beginners or someone looking to spend a few hours on the water with a fly rod in their hand.

Good luck.

Ted

The Summer Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe

Summer Trout Fishing – Terrestrial and Trico fishing in July and August on the Manistee.
Smallmouth Bass – Streamer fishing on the lower Manistee is a great way to spend a summer day.
Fall Steelhead – Late September through November is the time for sassy steelhead on the Lower Manistee.

ausable, carp, fishing guide, fishing report, hex, hex hatch, isonychia, manistee, river, smallmouth bass, traverse city, trout

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