Posts tagged "grand traverse bay"

Tough Trout Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 15, 2015

Lots of rain has fallen over the past 10 days and the rivers look like it.

The Upper Manistee river continues to be challenging with high water, sporadic bug emergences and fish that are mostly uncooperative. Finding times when both the bugs and fish are active has been rare with the occasional good day to keep us coming back. Even the streamer fishing – under ideal conditions – has been off. Give the river 4 or 5 days to drop to normal levels and clear up and by then Isonychias should be emerging more steadily – typically in the evening and up to dark if temps stay warm. In the meantime if you are headed there you will want the following flies: mahoganies, sulphurs, little yellow stones, epeorus, brown drakes, isonychias, big golden stones, BWO’s, small black caddis and a lucky rabbit’s foot. I’ve often been accused of telling it like it is.

The Boardman has been tough to fish the past couple of weeks with the higher water, but Brown Drakes and Gray Drakes have been around with a few sulphurs and caddis in the evening. The AuSable, too, hasn’t been fishing up to its reputation with bugs and fish being off. Lots of water in that system also has had its impact on the river as the fish are able to eat well sub-surface with the higher water.

Carp fishing on the bay has improved as fish are starting to show up a little more in the shallow water as they near their spawn cycle. The water in the bay is still pretty cold so wind direction, intensity of sun light and overnight temps have a significant impact on the fishing the shallow flats. A few smallmouth bass have moved into the shallows but look for the smallmouth bass season to be spread-out and focus on cruisers and darker water for your best biting fish.

Bluegill fishing on the lakes has slowed down some for the large gills as they have abandoned their beds and moved back deep. Some lakes and ponds tend to run behind while others spawn over a protracted period and with some searching you should find those fish. By now the fish that spawn tend to really protect themselves in the structure with bigger predatory fish looking to eat them. On the up-side, the largemouth bass fishing has improved with more fish eating sliders/diving frogs and poppers. Same routine – look for fish in and around the lilly pads and drop offs for your best action.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Season – June is the month of the big bug dry fly fishing on the Upper Manistee & AuSable Rivers.
Summer Fishing – Terrestrial and Trico fishing in July and August on the Manistee, Bluegill and Bass on Lakes.
Fall Steelhead – Late September through November is the time for sassy steelhead on the Lower Manistee.

bluegill, brown drakes, carp fly fishing, carp on the fly, grand traverse bay, isonychia, michigan, smallmouth bass fishing, upper manistee river

Tough Trout Fishing in Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 25, 2014

The trout fishing has been tougher than it should be in Traverse City and the surrounding area. Frustrating too. The upper Manistee has been very fickle with bugs – all the emergences that lead up to the hex have been spotty at best and there have been no signs of the highly anticipated hex mayflies. As the lack of heat continues, I don’t expect much to change until the temperatures do. The future looks good when looking at the forecast but until then, we might be in for some “tough sledding”.

The water is in good shape – ideal conditions as far as clarity, level, etc. – it’s just that the fish haven’t been looking up and the streamer fishing has been decent at best. If you head to the river, you could see: golden stones, little yellow sally stones, gray drakes, brown drakes, little mahoganies, and isonychias. Have some bat flies and hex patterns in your box just in case and don’t forget the bug spray as the mosquitoes have been the only consistent bug this year.

The Boardman, too, has been off as far as bugs. It won’t take long before that gets going but I think its that warm air and hot sun that will kick things off.

Regardless of where you are fishing every day is different and you never know when the bugs will be out and the fish active. For what it is worth, the cloudy days have offered some of the better days on the water as far as fish playing.

Fishing on Grand Traverse Bay has improved over the past week. The carp are in the shallows in better numbers as the spawning is beginning. Look for the trailing fish behind the “ball of carp” to be the ones looking to eat – that’s what they often are doing – eating what the chaos kicks up. Still, these fish are picky and a good presentation is required. With Mayflies coming off of East Bay having some hex nymphs and crayfish is a great place to start. The smallmouth bass on the bay, too, have been playing a bit more although they can be there one day, gone the next. Some fish are spawning, others are cruising and some males are protecting nests. Crayfish, goby, and minnow variations/patterns should cover you in fly selection.

The lakes and ponds in the area are offering some really good fishing right now. Panfish/Bluegill continue to please both surface and sub-surface anglers while the largemouth Bass are eating bigger patterns subsurface and from time to time, diving flies. Pond fishing is perfect for those looking to spend an afternoon or evening on the water or if you are introducing a friend to the sport.

As the rivers get crowded with those once-a-year anglers seeking the hex try to be respectful and courteous to one another and remember to practice catch and release. Good luck.

Ted

Terestrials, Tricos and 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.

boardman, brown drakes, carp, goby, grand traverse bay, hatches, hex, hex mayflies, smallmouth bass, upper manistee river

Fly Fishing Traverse City for Trout, Carp, Bass & Bluegill

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 10, 2014

Trout fishing has been improving now that water temps are where they should be for this time of year and the various mayflies, stoneflies and caddis flies seem to be closer to being on schedule after a slow start to the season. The rivers are in good shape – they aren’t too high, or too low. Clarity is beginning to become an issue with the high sun and lots of it.

On the Upper-Manistee a handful of bugs can be found – typically in the last hour or two of light offering some technical but rewarding dry fly fishing: sulphurs, grey drakes, little yellow stones, caddis, great mahoganies, little mahoganies, medium brown stones and a few isonychias. This menagerie of bugs will keep you working through your fly box as each day – and even at times of day – they often have a distinct preference on which one they want to eat. Spinners have been collecting in the evening and falling to the water providing the most consistent flow of bugs – dark brown or rusty spinners in a variety of sizes from 12 – 16 are a must in your box right now and are a good place to start when tying on your first fly.

To learn more on the dry fishing over the next couple of weeks read “Trout Fishing Before the Hex Hatch.”

Pond and lake fishing for bluegill/panfish has been really good now that the fish have moved up into the shallows. Look for water near breaks and cover the structure – that is docks, fallen in trees, weed lines, etc. Some pike and bass will play along too, so either target those bigger fish with larger rods and flies or hold on when they eat the bluegill you are trying to land. Surface flies have been the most fun and productive, but the small streamer and nymph have been most effective on the larger panfish.

Carp and smallmouth bass fishing is still sputtering in Grand Traverse Bay as water temps are much lower than normal for this time of year. One day they are around and eating, the next day not to be found. Weather is crucial as the sun warms the water up and wind direction blows warm or cold water into the shallows – the fish like the warmer water. Some crayfish are moving around and work better on cruising fish as they are easy to see by moving fish, however the smaller: crayfish, swimming hex nymphs, black b.h. buggers do better when the fish are nosing around in the shallows and focused on eating. Smallies are still cruising the flats but have largely remained pretty elusive so far this year for the wading angler.

Good luck,

Ted

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

Hatches and Big Bugs – Few dates remain in June for the big bugs – Isos, Drakes and the Hex.
Terestrials, Tricos and Trout – July and August fly fishing for trout on the Upper Manistee River.
Steelhead and Salmon – While Spring is late getting here, it’s not too early to reserve your Fall Dates.

bluegill, caddisflies, carp, fishing report, fly fishing traverse city, grand traverse bay, isonychias, manistee, rusty spinners, stoneflies, sulphurs, traverse city

June – the Best Month to Fly Fish Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 2, 2014

With another flip of the calendar it ‘s safe to say that we are in Spring with a few days feeling more like summer. June is one of the best months to fly fish Traverse City and the region because of the variety of species we can target. Fom trout to carp, smallies to bluegill, lakes to rivers – June make’s it hard to decide.

Trout fishing has continued to be a little tougher than it should be for this time of year. The Upper Manistee has been running clear and with the sun filled skies, the fish have been hiding until that last hour of light when some bugs appear along with some good oportunties. Hatches have included Sulphurs, Great Mahoganies, Light Hendricksons, March Browns, medium Brown Stones (yellow belly) and a few big stones, too.

A Borcher’s Drake and Emerger do a great job of imitating a lot of these mayflies. The next few weeks should offer some of our best but most technical dry fly fishing of the year. With the smaller mayflies, look for the real calm water to detect fish rising to spinners that only make a slight dimple in low light. It’s time to pack that head lamp and don’t forget your bug spray – the mosquitoes have been ruthless.

To learn more on the dry fishing over the next couple of weeks read “Trout Fishing Before the Hex Hatch.”

Bass and Bluegill are finally active in the shallows on the local lakes and ponds. Dry fly fishing for the bigger gills is typically best in the evening as the water lays flat and calm. Try a dry and a small nymph on a dropper for a deadly approach when they aren’t looking up. Small streamers up to 2 inches long also can get those big gills to play when fished on a floating line. Make sure you have your hemostats as the panfish can inhale the fly pretty deep.

The Carp and Smallmouth bass fishing is just starting to get going in Grand Traverse Bay thanks to a hot week with lots of sun, good overnight temps and little wind. That weather pattern it appears is changing. These fish can be fickle – here one day (or even part of a day) and gone the next. Look for the warmer water in the lakes and bays to be your best bet and make sure you are casting is good – they are only getting smarter because of the increased pressure over the years. Good flies include swimming hex nymphs, bead head black wooly buggers, bay toads and soon, crayfish will be around – you might try real small patterns when the fish are nose down and mudding. Smallies are still in their nomad state and will be cruising the flats looking for food prior to moving in to spawn – baitfish patterns like Clouser Minnows are basic but yet, effective.

Good luck deciding what to fish for.

Ted

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

bass, bluegill, borcher's drake, carp, clouse minnows, fly fish traverse city, grand traverse bay, panfish, upper-manistee

As Summer Starts, Fishing Remains the Same

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 20, 2013

Not a whole lot has changed with regards to fly fishing the Traverse City region over the past week. Trout, Carp, Bass and Bluegill are some of the choices anglers have in respect to what to fish for and what body of water – it’s nice to have options.

Trout fishing hasn’t been as good as it usually is for this time of year on the Manistee. Typically there are great evening hatches and eager to please trout but I think (and admittedly I’m no entomologist) the cool evenings and often breezy conditions are keeping bugs from emerging and the spinners from falling that last hour of day light. With the bright, cloudless skies the fishing has been tougher than normal for both the dry fly and streamer angler, but with a warmer forecast, the bugs should get back on schedule and on the water’s surface in better numbers. Bugs that have been witnessed lately includes: sulphurs, Light Cahills, March Browns, Mahoganies, Isonychias, little yellow sally stones, and a few brown drakes. The same is true on the Boardman with a few Gray Drakes spinners collecting in the evenings; the river is running cooler with the removal of Brown Bridge Dam . If you see a warm, cloudy day – get to the nearest river with your rod in hand.

After being spoiled the last few years with early hatches, it seems that the bug cycles are a little more in line of “the old days”. On the Manistee, it wasn’t uncommon to celebrate the 4th of July on the river with Hex bugs – it looks like the Hex will start much later this year than the previous years. I never thought I would say this, but bring on the heat – it appears that with summer starting Friday, we will start to get some summer temperatures and in time – the big bugs.

Carp fishing has improved this past week with more fish in the shallow flats on both East and West Grand Traverse Bay. Crayfish and hex patterns have been the most reliable for the ‘golden bone’ angler but other days they require a lot of fly changes. Spawning has kicked in pretty good in some of the flats as the fish congregate in large “balls” and come in pretty shallow making them great targets for the wading angler. Smallmouth bass are still around and playing along nicely – baitfish patterns have been working well.

Bluegill continue to be a lot of fun on the local lakes. Some big fish are still in shallow eating everything from dries and micro poppers to small nymphs and streamers. Flat, calm water is the best for fishing on top as it’s tough to beat watching a big “bull-gill” porpoise on a fly. The bass fishing remains active in lakes – mostly for largemouth, and will only get better as July and August get here offering great top-water fishing.

Good luck,

Ted

Open June dates: 30th

The Summer Newsletter just went out – Click here to read and/or sign up for future delivery

Trout Fishing – Evening hatches should transition to morning trico s and terrestrial fishing as July sets in.
Bluegill & Bass – Lake fishing for both species is a great way to spend some time on the water over summer.
Fall Steelhead – Its not too early to start thinking about fall’s best fishing fish. Late Sept. – Nov.

bluegill, boardman, carp, fly fishing, grand traverse bay, grand traverse bay carp fishing, hatches, hex bugs, isonychia, manistee, smallmouth bass, traverse city

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