Too Much Rain

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 5, 2014

As salmon anglers we always hope for good rains to encourage the fish to move upstream but it appears too many of us were hoping at the same time and we received way too much rain over a short period of time.

Northwest Michigan Rivers are dealing with high water and some flash flooding, Depending on the exact location it appears that between 3 and 6.5 inches fell. The Betsie River alone came up 22 inches in less than a day. While that will bring migratory salmon upstream, it also brought a lot of silt and stain to the water making it real difficult for the fish to see your flies. Wading is also difficult especially if you are unfamiliar with the water. With no rain in the forecast, things should improve after a number days but look for the water to remain high and fishing tough until it clears up.

Fishing had been o.k. with lots of fish moving upstream but not sitting still or resting in holding water making them moving targets and frankly difficult to feed. When you did hook up the ride was short and not so sweet as they are fresh and strong. They don’t seem to be as large as last year, but they are still nice fish averaging in the mid-teens. Look for other rivers that usually start later to get a sizable run of fish in them now – especially after this rain.

To check on your favorite river – visit the USGS website for water flows.

The trout fishing on the Upper Manistee had been off a little after big rains earlier in the week and after receiving over 3 inches in the past 24 hours I imagine the fish will be focused on eating whatever is being washed downstream by this high water. It would be a good time to cast some large streamers and fish the runs and tail-outs for those larger fish looking to eat big. The water is up and stained which is far from typical this time of year.

Good luck and safe wading/boating.

Ted

The Fall 2014 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

Trout – With Labor Day behind us, have the Upper Manistee River and its trout all to yourself.
Salmon– A few great dates remain in mid-September for salmon fishing on the Bestsie River.
Fall Steelhead– From the end of September through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.

betsie river, fishing, flooding, manistee, rain fall, salmon, steelhead, trout, upper-manistee

Cool-Down and Warm-Up Coming

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 14, 2014

A bit of a cold front came through the region slowing the fishing a bit, but providing continued cool water temps and a bit of rain that the rivers and fish both liked. You will still find the rivers in good shape and fishable including the Manistee and Boardman.

Hatches have been pretty much limited to Tricos in mid-morning – with late morning being the case after a cold night. Attractor patterns and terrestrials (hoppers, Foam and Rubber) are bringing some fish up to the surface and more often than not they are looking for that bug to be chugging, twitching and skittering rather than dead-drifted. Below the surface, look for medium sized streamers fished on either floating lines or small sink-tip lines to tease some fish into playing our game.

Bass and bluegill fishing on the lakes is still a good bet with water temperatures staying cool. Some days are better than others and I suspect the forecast over the next 10 days will provide some stable and warm conditions ideal for getting these fish back on the feed. Surface and subsurface flies are working – it’s just a matter of which or what they want any particular day.

With the recent rains, cool down and northerly winds, a few salmon have staged at the river mouths and even a few have slipped into the local rivers. The warmer weather in store should put a hold on the migration until later but there is no doubt fall is right around the corner – what happened to summer?

Good luck,

Ted

Tricos and Terrestrials for Trout – July and August fly fishing for trout on the Upper Manistee River
Salmon– Fresh fish can enter rivers as early as mid-August and offer great fishing through September.
Fall Steelhead– From the end of September through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.

attractors, boardman river, fishing, fly-fishing guide, manistee, salmon, steelhead, traverse city, trout

Rain, Steelhead and Fall

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 7, 2013

The past week has been a wet one in the northwestern part of Michigan with significant rainfalls shuffling fish around and bringing in new ones. Water levels were coming down nicely before we received another batch of rain raising the levels and adding some stain to rivers but also bringing in some new fish as well.

As water temps continue to drop into the mid-40’s on the Manistee the fish have become a little more lethargic when hooked and the fish are starting to transition into some deeper and slower runs. But don’t overlook the water that has been fishing well the past month as the steelhead can be anywhere. While majority of the fish have been eating egg patterns – often big, bright ones in the dirty water, the nymphs and streamers have been working on fish, too. As the water gets cooler look for alternative presentations to add to your approach – indicators, swung flies and picking small buckets apart for a fish here, and a fish there.

Good luck,

Ted

Steelhead -Fall fishing continues through winter and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.
Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing once the salmon leave.
2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

fishing, fishing report, fly fishing, manistee, rain, steelhead

Salmon Continue to Migrate

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 17, 2013

It’s really starting to feel like September with cool weather in the a.m. and warm weather in the afternoon – lots of clothing layers are being shed throughout the day.

Salmon continue to be the primary target of anglers fishing in the region. Most area rivers like the Betsie and Manistee have decent numbers of fish in them. Remember, these fish are migratory and they can be in a particular section one day and have moved on the next. It has been a long season already and it should be interesting to see how long fish continue to move from Lake Michigan upstream.

The king/chinook salmon continue to sit in holes staging for their spawning ritual that has actually begun for some; a few fish have hit the gravel and started mating. Effective flies have been the usual suspects – various nymphs like hex, caddis, pheasant tails, stones and even some smaller leeches. Egg patterns, too, have taken fish recently but no real favorite color has out-performed – as always with salmon, mix up the colors and patterns until you find one that works.

Trout fishing is decent – some dry fly fishing has brought some fish to the surface as the warmer daytime temps increase the water just a bit. Terrestrials and terrestrial patterns have been working but so have some generic attractors and even the classic Adams. If heading out, be sure to have some BWOs as this time of year can offer some good match-the-hatch opportunities. Streamer fishing is starting to get better but it’s the smaller patterns fished on a small sink-tip that seem to be moving the most fish. The water on the Upper Manistee is extremely clear so wade carefully and cast a ways away – the fish are weary after a long summer.

Good luck,

Ted

– Sorry, at this time all salmon dates are booked. Be sure to act early next year to reserve your dates –

The Fall 2013 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe

Steelhead -Just a few fall steelhead dates remain and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.

Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing once the salmon leave.

2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

Betsie, fishing, fly fishing, manistee, salmon, steelhead

Memorial Day Weekend Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 23, 2013

Up and down weather this week has provided everything from hot and humid to cool and rainy. While the dry, warm days provided good hatches on the Manistee and Boardman Rivers, the other days were ideal for the streamer angler fishing below the surface and covering water looking for trout.

The potpourri of bugs lately have included: Hendricksons, March Browns, Mahoganies, Black Quills, and a few Sulphurs. Inconsistent weather has broken the mold of evening-exclusive spinner falls and they can be found at all times of the day including late mornings – one just never knows so it’s good to be prepared and be flexible. Look for the warmer weather to return this weekend and for the bug emergence to become a little more reliable and stable. If heading out, you will find that the most prolific hatch lately has been the mosquitoes; be sure to take some bug spray – not having any isn’t an option right now. To read more about the various mayflies that emerge over the next month, click here.

Streamer fishing has been decent as the water conditions are ideal with a slight stain, overcast skies and good temps. With chestnut lampreys active right now and the rain washing worms downstream, streamer patterns resembling such are catching some fish. Other successful patterns are those with lots of movement and orange/brown color schemes looking like crayfish and/or juvenile brook trout – at least that seems to have been a recent preference. As always, mix it up, donate flies to deep structure and keep moving for that rewarding brown or rainbow trout.

The Bluegill/Panfish have moved into shallow water on most of the local lakes and are making for some great fishing. Targeting the “bull-gills” on light rods is a blast. Fish have been taking both dries and nymphs with dries being best when the water is calm. Fish small nymphs by swimming them or try a real small streamer slowly striped.

Some carp have been moving closer inshore from the Grand Traverse bay’s depths but they are far from where they should be in regards to numbers and ideal depths. These weather changes – I think, negatively affect carp more than any other fish we fish for. Smallmouth bass, too, are starting to move towards shallow water to do their spring spawning ritual. The fly fishing in the bays surrounding Traverse City will only get better over the next month.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day. Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May & June offer some or our best streamer fishing & great hatches!
Bluegill – Experience great fishing on the ponds and lakes in mid-May and June
Father’s Day – Ask for or give a gift certificate to dad this Father’s Day – June 16 2013
Hex Fishing – Some ideal dates are still available for the big bugs and big fish in mid/late June
2013 Fishing Season – Now booking for all 2013 seasons – don’t miss out on this year’s fishing

bluegill fishing, carp fishing, chestnut lamprey, fishing, fly fishing, hendrickson, manistee, report, streamer fishing, sulphurs, traverse city

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Posts tagged "fishing"

Too Much Rain

The Fall 2014 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

Cool-Down and Warm-Up Coming

Rain, Steelhead and Fall

Salmon Continue to Migrate

The Fall 2013 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe

Memorial Day Weekend Report

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