Without recent significant rains, the local rivers have dropped to what I refer to as full – not high, not low. Water temps currently in the low 60s are likely to climb this week with some hot days in the forecast. Bug/hatches should intensify with that heat, but I no longer predict hatches – picking winning lottery numbers might be easier and if I was any good at that, well, I would no longer be typing fishing reports.

If headed to the river, there are a bunch of bugs you are likely to encounter: March Browns, Mahoganies, Little Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Isonychias, Grey Drakes and Sulphurs. Mosquitoes and Black Flies, too. More on the the bugs and hatches over the next couple of weeks can be read here.

Covering the water with smaller streamers and lighter sink-tips is a good way to cover some water when waiting for surface activity to begin and is a softer approach as the fish become more oriented to a diet on the surface rather than chasing the triple articulated, swimming rubber-legged adorned pattern the size of a 1980’s tube sock.

Bass and bluegill fishing has been really good on the local lakes and with the full-moon, there should be some bigger gills up shallow having another go at spawning.

Good luck/stay safe.

Ted

Trout – The big bugs of June are beginning for an evening of match-the-hatch 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 November remain available for these fall favorites.