Posts tagged "fishing report"

Early March Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 1, 2018

March is here and so is an early start to the spring steelhead fishing. The winter – at times – has been just that – winter, but there have been plenty of thaws along the way pretty much leaving us without any snow, ice-free rivers and a favorable forecast.

River levels on the Manistee and Betsie are up a bit with some stain but that is pretty much normal for this time of year as some run-off works its way through the river systems kick-starting things. With the rising water levels and increased water temps, combined with a few days of sunshine, the steelhead are a little restless. Fish that have wintered over are moving around throughout river systems and getting closer to gravel sections but are still hanging out in the nearby deeper holes with a little less current moving through them. Fresh fish will trickle through the systems offering a mix bag of fish – from colored up winter fish to bright chromers.

With water temps still in the upper 30s, drag-free/Indicator and bottom-bounce presentations are your best bet. As is normally the case for late winter and spring steelheading, an egg pattern fished with a nymph is a great one-two approach. Egg patterns in orange combinations along with chartreuse combinations are ideal in the stained conditions. For nymphs, look for black stoneflies, caddis and alevin to produce.

Don’t put your snow shovels away just yet, but definitely get your fishing equipment out.

Good luck.

Ted

Spring Steelhead – Now through April, get on the water for Spring’s first opportunity to bend the rod.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity and it’s also a great time for fishing streamers.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betsie river, black stone fly pattern, caddis, fishing report, fry patterns, manistee, march fly fishing, michigan, spring steelhead, steelhead, trout

August Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City Region

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 6, 2017

We are now in August and what is referred to as the dog-days of summer. Although it’s been warm, we have had some cool weather, too leaving the water temperatures ideal. Last week’s rain has left the local rivers (Upper Manistee and Boardman) running a little higher than normal for this time of year and there is definitely a stain which is uncommon in August. Close to 4 inches of rain will do that. Anyways, there is still clarity and in fact it is welcome after some really clear conditions for most of July; now fish aren’t as spooky.

The best trout fishing seems to be mid-morning when the Tricos are on the water and brookies and browns are looking up. While not easy or necessarily the best way to catch the biggest trout, it is a lot of fun for those looking to put that lighter rod to work casting to rising fish. Before and after the hatch, cover some water with bigger terrestrial flies like grasshoppers and attractors like Chernobyls, Fuzzy Wuzzys, Turks and the alike. Smaller streamers fished on a floating line and swung and twitched have been working, too. Other insects on the water include flies, large BWOs (BFOs) and Cahills.

The bass fishing on the local lakes is still active and bluegill remain in shallow, just not the fat-slabs we had access too for 7 weeks this year. This remains a great way to spend some simple time on the water and/or is the perfect and ideal way to get someone into the sport while they develop the skills.

Good luck,

Ted

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

Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – Through August. A half-day trip on the river is a great way to start the day.
Fall Steelhead – From late Sept. through November, these fish will bend your rod like no other – get your dates.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

best trout fishing, boardman river, fishing report, traverse city fly fishing report, upper-manistee

May Days and Trout Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 9, 2017

Trout fishing is the main theme right now as the next two months are some of the best for anglers looking to fish dry flies and streamers for brown and brook trout. All local rivers are pretty much experiencing ideal conditions and with that comes the emergence of various bugs.

On the upper Manistee, AuSable and Boardman rivers, look for the Hendricksons to continue to come off in the afternoons and their spinner falls to drop in the evenings. A few other mayflies including BWOs, Black Quills/Borchers Drake, and even a few Sulphurs/light Hendricksons are around to compliment the caddis that are a little more consistent these days. This is only the beginning of an emergence calendar that keeps us thinking about trout, dry flies and being on the water.

When nothing is happening on the surface, focus on fishing sub-surface with streamers. With the rivers having a slight stain to them right now, it’s a great time to cast a big fly on a sink-tip for those larger fish that haven’t totally gone nocturnal on us right now. After a mild winter, the fish are looking well fed and they don’t seem to be wanting to go on a diet right now.

Good streamers include baitfish patterns – especially in waters are stocked by the DNR. While Fin Clips do a good job of imitating stocked rainbows, there are other patterns that do a good job of imitating trout and other juvenile fish….Cheech Leech, Dirty Hippy, Brook Trout, mini D&Ds, Deceivers and more. And when those don’t work – or you are fishing non-stocked water – try sculpin patterns to imitate a prolific natural food source.

Bluegill are just starting to work their way up into the shallows of certain lakes and ponds. This week’s warmer weather should push them up from the depths and into water that is more conducive to fly anglers. This is a blast when you: need to fish closer to home, are introducing someone to the sport, or are simply looking for not overly technical fishing opportunities. Largemouth bass, too, are starting to get active where we can present small streamers on floating lines to them. But look out for aggressive pike that want to take your fly and keep it, too.

Good luck,

Ted

May Fishing – Trout, late steelhead, hatches, streamer fishing, bluegill on lakes – don’t overlook fishing in May.
Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

ausable river, baitfish patterns, bluegill fishing, boardman river, borcher's drake, brook trout, fin clip fly pattern, fishing report, streamer fish, traverse city fly fishing report, trout fishing, upper manistee trout fishing

Mid-April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 16, 2017

**** UPDATE – 4/18/17 *****

Due to significant rains over the past weekend, local rivers are running high with limited visibility. Use caution when wading or operating boats. You can gather more information on Michigan river flows/levels at the USGS Site.

****************************

With warmer temperatures around, it has felt more like the beginning of May as the grass turns greener, leaves on the tress pop out, turkeys gobble and the steelhead starting to dwindle.

The water temps are around 50 degrees which has pretty much encouraged all the early running fish to get their spawning activities behind them and return to the lake. At least the lucky ones. More fish continue to come into the Betsie and Manistee rivers but it’s like hitting a moving target with their migration as they are not sticking around long.

The Betsie has its fair share of suckers in it which is a sign that the river has seen its peak of steelhead, but there should still be fishable number of steelhead for another week or two – timing as it relates to rainfall is crucial.

The Manistee, too, is starting to see some suckers come into the system and are mixed in with the walleye. Like the Betsie, there should still be fishable numbers of fish coming and going through the river for a few more weeks with timing to rainfall and cloudy days vs. sunny days being the biggest factor leading to success. Water levels are ideal and there is a slight stain to it which has made smaller egg patterns more effective over the large, bold ones. Effective nymphs include fry, caddis, and small stone flies.

One benefit of the warmer water is the trout fishing has started a little sooner than normal. A few Hendricksons and stoneflies have been on the upper Manistee bringing a few fish to the surface. When there isn’t an emergence, cover the water with streamers to take advantage of less pressured fish wanting to eat big after a long winter. Look for the combination of streamer and dry fly fishing to be strong for the next six weeks.

Good luck.

Ted

May Fishing – Trout, late steelhead, hatches, streamer fishing, bluegill on lakes – don’t overlook fishing in May.
Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

betsie river steelhead, caddis, egg patterns, fishing report, hendricksons, manistee, May fishing, small stone flies., streamer fishing, tippy dam, trout fishing

Late August Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 24, 2016

Trout fishing on the Manistee and Boardman Rivers remains a good place to spend the first part of the day. The Trico hatch is over, but the brookies and smaller brown trout are still looking up and taking dries as well as small streamers (1.5 – 2″ in length). With the warm summer the terrestrial/”foam and rubber” fishing has been a little better than normal especially on overcast or cloudy days.

The region finally received some much needed rain and water levels came up a little but have returned to pretty much normal levels since the ground was so dry. Large BWO and some #14 tan caddis are around but more in the evenings than mornings as well as some Light Cahills. Cooler evenings are ensuring ideal water temps as we approach September.

Bass fishing on lakes has slowed a bit with the fish moving deeper until evening when they are out on the prowl and working break lines and lily pads. Bluegill – like the largemouth bass – have also gone a little deep when the sun gets high making earlier and later in the day the ideal time to be out there. Beginners are still finding learning on bluegill/panfish are a blast and way to make the introduction to the sport fun and positive.

Smallmouth fishing on the lower Manistee has remained a little tougher than we have come to expect but they are still around and eating mid-sized streamers. Just a few big silver things are swimming around too, but more will come with time and ideal conditions.

In addition to the cool nights we have started to receive some winds from the North and Northwest which will help move some water and salmon closer to shore and river mouths. While a few fish have trickled into some Lake Michigan tributaries, we are still in need of cool weather/winds and some rain to build those numbers up. So far the reports for the Lake Michigan boats have been encouraging with much better fish numbers than the previous two years.

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

Late Summer Trout – Have the river to yourself fishing wets, dries, terrestrials and streamers.
Salmon – A few dates remain for Salmon fishing on the Betsie River throughout September.
Fall Steelhead – Starting in October, extending into December. Fall Color Tour includes Chrome!

bass, Betsie, boardman, fishing report, lower manistee, salmon, upper-manistee

1 2 3 4 5