Tricos and Terrestrials for Trout

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 30, 2014

Our cooler summer is keeping water temperatures nice and cool and the fish sassy. Ranging from the upper 50s to low 60s and with a good flow, the upper Manistee and Boardman look a little different for this time of year.

Mid-morning hatches of Tricos have been taking place but vary a little based on how long it takes for the air to warm up; some mornings it takes a little longer for those small bugs to hit the water and the fish to look up. There aren’t many other bugs on the water right now except for a light hodge-podge of mayflies – including Cahills, BWOs and Isonychias. More on <<Fishing After the Hex Hatch>>

With fewer bugs on the water and hatch to match, now is a good time to transition into the terrestrial fishing – that is hoppers, ants, beetles, cicadas and most patterns tied with foam and rubber legs. As the summer extends these land-loving bugs find themselves on the water and vulnerable to trout. Fish them dead-drift with the occasional twitch and if that doesn’t work, put a lot of twitch and motion in them (not necessarily drag) for some reaction. More on <<Terrestrial Fishing>>

Small streamers, too, are working when the surface activity isn’t taking place. Work the structure with weighted patterns on a floating line and see if you can’t tease some fish out of their bunkers.

The lake fishing remains good for largemouth bass and bluegill fishing. The bigger poppers and sliders have been fooling the larger bass where the small spiders, swimming nymphs and streamers are working for the bluegill/panfish. Weed growth and lily pads have been a great place to start as is structure near breaks in water depth. More on <<Largemouth Bass Fishing>>

Smallmouth fishing in the lower Manistee remains an option for those looking to fish streamers for these fun fish. While they aren’t as big as the fish in the Bay, these bass keep it visual and are often eager to please. This is not the ideal species for the beginner but for the angler who has the basic skills and looking for a fun way to further develop your skills.

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.

bass fishing, boardman, fly fishing, fly-fishing guide, lakes, manistee, panfish, rivers, smallmouth, terrestrials, traverse city, tricos, 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

Fall Colors, Spawning Salmon, and Super-Charged Steelhead

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 12, 2013

With another week of mild weather its hard to believe that it is mid-October. Since we haven’t had a frost yet in the region the fall colors aren’t as brilliant as usual, but the fishing has been making up for it.

After last week’s rain, river levels came up and have since dropped while leaving the water with a slight stain – which is a good thing with all the bright sunshine we have been experiencing. The spawning salmon continue to populate the gravel sections of local rivers, most notably the Betsie and Manistee. Below Tippy dam there are countless numbers of salmon on gravel spawning with others right behind them in pocket water and still some fresher staging fish in the bigger, deeper holes waiting for their time to come. Look for steelhead to be in the dark water right behind spawning fish and the egg collecting runs below spawning areas. With water temperatures near 60 degrees the fish tend to jump out of the water a bit and make it hard to bring them to hand. Majority of the steelhead have been coming from egg patterns with smaller, natural color’s being best. Mix it up throughout the day as sunlight and angling pressure changes.

I haven’t been on the trout waters nor have I heard reports of people fishing the Upper-Manistee, but I imagine the terrestrial fishing on the surface is going strong considering the mild temperatures. The brook trout can be amazing this time of year and we are getting closer to when the browns spawn and sometimes – given the right weather conditions, the streamer fishing can be outstanding.

Good luck,

Ted

Steelhead -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 river, brook trout, egg patterns, fly fishing, spawning salmon, tippy dam

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

September Salmon Fly Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 9, 2013

It still feels like summer with the warm weather but temps more fall-like are forecast for later in the week.

Salmon fly fishing has taken most of the notice of anglers lately as the runs in the Betsie and Manistee Rivers have been good this year. Those of you that have been out know that the fish are running a few pounds bigger on average and have been tough to land. Being salmon, some days they respond to flies well, other days not so. Mix up your patterns, your presentation and even a slight angle change to the run/hole which can make the difference.

There hasn’t been a predominate or favorite fly pattern lately, just the usual nymph patterns like caddis, stones, hex fished in tandem with an egg pattern. Floating lines with indicators have been coming in handy when fishing the insides of runs where staging salmon often sit, but most of the time clients have been using the duck and chuck method with success. (Read more about rigging for salmon here.)

The trout fishing remains decent for those fishing terrestrials and small streamer patterns on rivers like the upper Manistee and Boardman rivers. Water levels are decent for this time of year and clarity is a little too good after a long season, but have the river to yourself while you catch brown and brook trout.

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, boardman, fishing terrestrials, fly fishing, guide. client, manistee, salmon, trout fishing

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Posts tagged "fly fishing"

Tricos and Terrestrials for Trout

Rain, Steelhead and Fall

Fall Colors, Spawning Salmon, and Super-Charged Steelhead

Salmon Continue to Migrate

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

September Salmon Fly Fishing

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

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