3rd Week of June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 20, 2021

As June continues, so do the fluctuations in weather. Thankfully the water temps have remained “safe” for trout fishing on the upper Manistee staying below 70 degrees for over a week now.

Hex flies have begun on parts of the river as have the Isonychias and, some Brown Drakes are still around typically at dusk. Other flies on and above the water include medium brown stones, bat flies, the last of the Sulphurs and even a great mahogany or two.

The weather forecast is calling for a significant cold front which should interrupt the cycle of emergences for a bit until normal temps come back again later in the week. Fishing will be challenging for most as you can’t hide in the cover of darkness when fishing in daytime when bugs are likely to be on the water. As it has been the case all season, really good presentations are required to fool these wise, educated and pressured fish.

Bass and bluegill fishing remains good on the smaller lakes. The bass are in a post spawn mood and hanging in the structure looking to eat, while the bluegill have gone shallow again. Weed growth is where it should be for this time of year giving you a great place to target both your dries/poppers and slider/divers.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – July and August is Terrestrial and Trico time! Start the day off casting to brook and brown trout
and get back to the family for lunch time – it’s a great way to start the day when in Northwest Michigan.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –perfect for beginners.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December.

Late November Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 22, 2020

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

Late March Report – Guide Trips Suspended

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 24, 2020

In compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order, guide trips have been suspended until April 13th, 2020. As interpreted, outdoor activities are still permissible, however maintaining the 6 foot distance between others is not feasible during guide trips which led to this decision.

It’s not easy to walk away from three weeks of income, nor is it easy for customers to abandon their long-ago made plans, but it’s the right thing to do in an effort to not overburden our unprepared public health response through further transmission of this sneaky virus. And face it, most of us don’t want to get sick ourselves while unknowingly passing it along to others in the household.

While I am not an attorney, it appears that individual anglers can still head to the river on their own to fish as an outdoor activity. Those intrepid anglers will find the rivers in great shape as more steelhead move upstream and begin their spawning ritual – temps around 40 degrees, flows/height’s ideal and with a slight stain to the water.

If you are interested in a guide trip this spring after April 13, feel free to contact me about any further openings – plans are changing, and some dates are likely to become available.

Stay healthy and safe, and together, hopefully, we can get on the other side of this pandemic and get back to laughing together on the water while fishing.

Ted

Trout – May and June aren’t far away and offer ideal conditions for both streamer and dry fly fishing.
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 in Oct. and Nov. remain available but they are starting to become limited.

fishing, michigan fly flishing, no fishing during governors order, steelhead

Late November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 21, 2019

The mild fall came to an abrupt stop last week with a cold front and significant snowfall dropping the water temperatures in the local rivers. Temps on the Manistee and Betsie are in the upper 30s after dropping about 8 degrees in 10 days. Now as it rains, the snow is sure to melt but add some cool water to the river, keeping the temps in the river pretty much the same, but still cooler than we steelhead anglers want or expect for this time of year.

With the increase in water, look for the fish in the river systems to kind of shuffle around a bit as things had gotten a little stale the past two weeks. The egg bite is starting to give way to some nymphs and even a swung pattern. The bump in water flow can help dislodge both old, pale eggs and nymphs from gravel sections inducing a natural chum line. There is no front runner as far as color, size or pattern – the same as it has oddly been all fall.

Steelhead can be just about anywhere in the river systems and the type of water they hold in as they start to transition into late fall/early winter patterns; deep holes, tail outs, slow moving runs and structure are all places to target whether you are drift fishing, fishing floats/indicators or wielding the two-hander.

Firearms deer season continues through November – a little blaze orange to your ensemble might protect you from an adrenaline fueled rifle shot while on the water.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Good November and December dates remain open for these prized sport-fish.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through October of 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.
Gift Certificates – As we approach the holiday season, consider asking or giving the gift of time on the water.

betsie river steelhead, fishing, swung fly

Late June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 23, 2018

With summer Solstice occurring this past week it’s the time of year trout anglers stay out late and well after the sun goes down. The nocturnal Hex Hatch is off to a start on just about all local rivers in Northwest Michigan: The Au Sable, Boardman, Manistee, Pine, Platte, PM – it’s that time of year. As the “once a year angler” heads to the river, ardent anglers find there are more anglers to share the water with. And sharing is a good approach as is practicing the golden rule along with the golden rule of fly fishing – catch and release.

Before the big bugs come out you should find a smattering of other bugs on the water including Isonychias, little Yellow Sallies, BWOs, Golden Stones, Light Cahills, Bat Flies and maybe more. Hatches have been hard to predict this year and they have been almost as fickle as the fish that eat them but when the stars line up, it provides some pretty good fishing.

The fishing on the bay has been spotty – the carp are acting like carp making an appearance one day, gone the next. Water temps are ideal but the wrong winds can change that for a day or two factoring where to fish. Covering water is the best approach and hope for some sunlight to make seeing them easier. Bass continue to slip in and out of the shallows with some in post spawn and a prediction of a second round of spawning to occur shortly.

Lake fishing is good for those looking for bluegill and bass. Largemouth are mostly done protecting their beds and making up for some lost meals. The bigger gills seem to be around the drop offs and close to structure where dries work but a swum nymph can work better. Look for the lake fishing to remain good as more weed growth develops as summer proceeds. The smaller gills continue to be the ideal species for those who want to learn how to fish.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – Terrestrials and Tricos are right around the corner – it’s the perfect way to start the day on the river.
Stillwater- Bluegill, Bass and Carp. With the best trout fishing in the evening, try fishing lakes during the day.
Fall Steelhead – With Summer just arriving, it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates – Oct. thru Dec.

bass on the fly, bluegill fly fishing, carp fishing, fishing, fly fishing traverse city, fly fishing trips, hex hatch, isonychias, tricos

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Posts tagged "fishing"

3rd Week of June Fly Fishing Report

Late November Steelhead Fishing Report

Late March Report – Guide Trips Suspended

Late November Fishing Report

Late June Fly Fishing Report

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