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Posts tagged "guide trip"

Mid July Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 13, 2024

Trout fishing on the local rivers continues but with a more casual approach as we aren’t matching hatches in low light to finicky fish. Instead head to the river with a mix of general dry flies that imitate mayflies since they have been eating them regularly for the past 10 weeks. Beyond fishing those natural dry flies, tie on attractors and some terrestrials.

Larger flying ants have been more noticeable lately than any other, but the deer fly and beetle imitations have been fooling fish reliably. Look for Tricos to start emerging and falling in the mid-mornings any day now. It’s also a great time to fish a swung wet fly as is a “micro streamer” – those subsurface flies that look more like a nymph, but fished with twitches and strips.

The smallmouth bass fishing on the lower Manistee has been varied – some days they play our game, other days it seems like they take their ball and go home. The softer streamer approach is the most productive most days fished on clear sink-tip lines. The popper and dry fly fishing hasn’t been as productive but I suspect with the dog-days of summer coming, that should change as it usually does this time of year.

Bass and bluegill fishing on the local lakes continues to be our favorite venue for those trying / learning to fly fish with all their eagerness to come to the fly and provide action as the skills are developing. Those more experienced can fish a streamer or diving bug near the weed beds and drop offs for those bigger largemouth bass.

Good luck!

Ted

Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – July & August offer fun dry fly fishing on the upper Manistee river.
Smallmouth Bass – Fish the lower Manistee with streamers & poppers this summer for fish that can pull.
Learn To Fly Fish – 1/2 Day trips are perfect for beginners! Learn how to cast before hitting the water to fish.

bass and bluegill fishing, fly fishing guide, fly fishing traverse city, guide trip, manistee river, manistee river guide, smallmouth bass fly fishing, streamer fishing, terrestrial fishing, upper manistee fly fishing

Late October Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 22, 2023

As October winds down, so has the salmon fishing. There seemed to be more salmon this year in the Manistee and Betsie rivers than in recent years as their population builds back up thanks to an increasing baitfish population in the lake.

With so many salmon laying eggs in the river, it makes for a great “protein drip” for the steelhead to feed on. So far this Fall, the steelhead numbers have been quite low for adult fish, but with a great number of skippers (15-22” steelhead). Time will tell if the low return  is a matter of low water that most rivers on the west side of the State are dealing with, warmer water temps, or a lack of fish population, but it sure feels great when that adult jumps on and reminds us of what a great sport fish they are. It’s also a reminder not to take them for granted and that catch and release is crucial for the future of our fisheries.

Some fresh coho have been around, too, which are always a fun bycatch.

Most of the fish are being caught on eggs and beads with so many eggs in the water. Natural looking colors and sizes are still the first choice but on days when the leaf drop is heavy, sometimes fishing an egg pattern that’s a little larger and/or bolder can help bring some attention to it. You can read more on fishing egg patterns here.

As a seasoned veteran guide now retired recently shared with me – “Keep the faith, they have a way of just showing up”. We look forward to that.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Just a few dates in November remain available – finish the fishing season strong.
Spring Steelhead – Most of the season is booked – get your dates for March and April while you can.
2024 Fishing –
Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.

betsie river, egg patterns, fishing steelhead, guide, guide trip, manistee river, salmon fishing, steelhead

Smallmouth Bass

Posted by Jeanne Kraimer - January 11, 2023

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass May through August

Smallmouth Bass offer some of the best fishing when things get warm from mid-June through August.  Whether you are an angler looking to improve your skills, or you’re an advanced fly fisherman looking for a fun day on the water, spending a half or full-day river on the Manistee River is for you.

Smallies are not only eager to please, but it’s mostly a visual presentation and grab, and they can really put a bend in the rod making them a great alternative to trout. And we fish for them in daylight without the use of headlamps. What’s not to like?

Smallmouth Bass Love CrayfishMethod

Fishing slow sinking-tip fly lines and a baitfish streamer or crayfish is usually the most effective technique, but there are days when they prefer it on top. Face it — fishing on the surface is a favorite for just about anyone who fly fishes. Sometimes they sip grasshopper/terrestrial patterns other times they explode on poppers — it’s always fun when they eat.

The Smallies’ wavering ways of choosing what and what not to eat is part of the fun as anglers work to solve the puzzle but its easier to do than with trout. And when it comes together the only one not smiling is the fish.

Smallmouth Bass Fishing - Grand Traverse BayBass on the Flats

Those anglers looking for smallmouth on a flats setting should consider carp fishing in the Grand Traverse Bays as the two species share a lot of the same water. While stalking the “Golden Bones” of the bay, the smallmouth often provide opportunities some bass anglers never get. When conditions are right (late May and in June), the larger smallmouth bass come in shallow making them the primary target and focus of anglers with a fly rod.

Each year bass fishing TV programs and their hosts either discover or reveal what they have known for a while — that the fishing on Grand Traverse Bays for smallies is among the 10 best in the world.

Related Articles

  • More about the Manistee River »
  • More on Carp fishing »
Smallmouth Bass and Carp Fly Fishing - Grand Traverse Bay
Smallmouth on the Bay
Smallmouth Bass Streamer Fishing
River Smallmouth Fishing
Smallmouth Bass on Lakes
Smallmouth on Lakes

carp, current works, fly-fishing for smallmouth bass, grand traverse bay, guide trip, guided trips, manistee river fly-fishing, michigan, small mouth bass guide, smallies, streamer fishing, ted kraimer, traverse city
About Ted Kraimer Fishing Guide

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

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