Posts tagged "guided fly fishing"

Mid-May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 19, 2024

At the mid-point of May it sure feels like we are at the end of May based on the weather and fishing conditions.

The hatches are progressing with the sulphurs winding down on the trout rivers. It seems the great mahoganies are increasing in density each year and this year is no different. There are some of the smaller mahoganies (paraleps.) intermixed and around, too. Caddis continue to flutter on the surface with some fish noticing, but the real star of the surface fluttering is a smaller than normal (#12) medium brown/yellow stonefly. I suspect more bugs will be a part of the conversation over the next couple of weeks as this keeps the gear bag filled with fly boxes to match-the-potpourri-hatch situation that comes with this time of year.

Streamer fishing has been almost a bust in the low, clear water. If you are fishing subsurface, choose and use your smaller patterns wisely (less than three inches (and closer to two)). Fishing a weighted streamer on a floating line isn’t a bad approach in these conditions as it’s stealthy and allows you to easily switch to fishing dries when the emergence/spinner fall takes place.

Lake fishing for bass and bluegill is in full swing. This is the best time of year for the big bluegill as they move shallow enough and become accessible for the fly angler. Largemouth are keeping it interesting, too, as they are both in pre-spawn and post spawn depending on the lake you are fishing. It seems, for me at least, the occasional pike encounter hasn’t been there this year.

Smallmouth bass fishing in the lakes, is happening, too. Typically liking deeper water much of the year, you can find the hard pulling smallies in shallow water or on the edges/drops eager to eat a slow dropping baitfish streamer pattern or even a popper.

Good luck.

Ted

Early March Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 4, 2024

The mild winter continues with some back-and-forth weather, but we are experiencing more warmer days than cold ones especially for the beginning of March. The snow we received this winter slowly melted into the ground replenishing the water table rather than creating a high-water situation to prematurely kick the run off. Without a snowpack the steelhead run will be dependent on rainfall (or, more snow and its ensuing melt – keep your shovels on the porch as winter isn’t over).

The Manistee and Betsie are approaching 40 degrees which seems to be the threshold to spur activity. There are fish in both systems and they seem to be spread throughout. Some spawning by fall fish that wintered over and were pressured for months has already taken place; with the light run of fall fish there should be plenty of fresh fish to come up. The pre-spawn fish that have trickled upstream this winter are staged near gravel sections waiting for conditions to be just right.

The little black stoneflies have been out most days when the sun warms things up and with the clear water, the fish are noticing the smaller nymph patterns. Other nymphs to try are caddis and hex nymphs. Egg and bead rigs work too with smaller, more natural looking patterns working better than the big, bold varieties which usually work better in low light and low visibility conditions.

Good luck.

Ted

Spring Steelhead – A few dates remain available in March and April if you want to get out.
Trout Season – Mid-May into July offers some of the best match-the-hatch dry fly fishing of the year.
2024 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.

betsie river, egg patterns, guided fly fishing, hex nymphs, manistee river, steelhead fishing, steelhead fly fishing, trout fishing

Mid-May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 17, 2023

Mid-May finds us headed to different waters in pursuit of different fish as this time of year offers choices to anglers.

May often means Mayflies but the cold nights have had an effect on the hatches. Once stable weather comes back, anglers can look for a mix of bugs on the upper Manistee and Au Sable rivers. March Browns, Mahoganies, Sulphurs, caddis, and the last of the Hendricksons should be in your fly box if headed out. For the next 6 weeks, a Borcher’s Drake should be with you as it’s just a great all-around imitator of so many bugs found in our rivers. Just as temps fluctuate, so do the times in which bugs can come off or fall as spinners. Water levels are low and running clear for this time of year so longer leaders and stealthy presentation helps with hooking up.

If streamer fishing between hatches, try smaller streamers with the lower water. Cover the water, work the wood and mix up the natural patterns to represent the baitfish and sculpins. If that doesn’t work, try some “twitch flies” that might just get the attention of the trout.

It appears that the Didymo/Rocksnot bloom that alarmingly was widespread on the upper Manistee in 2022 has pretty much disappeared. While that bodes well for fishing and the future of the river, it doesn’t mean anglers shouldn’t stop taking measures to prevent spreading the latent spores to other waters. If you have felt sole wading boots, now you have justification for buying a new pair of rubber soled boots as the felt harbors invasive species leading to transmission to other rivers.

Lake fishing is heating up but still can be a little moody with water temps fluctuating. Smallmouth bass are still in pre-spawn mode and are sitting in deeper water while a few Largemouth bass have gone shallow in lakes with dark bottoms and protected bays that help stabilize water temps. Regardless of where you are fishing, baitfish patterns tied in various densities/sink rates have been working. It’s also time to grab your favorite bluegill flies. When these fish come into the shallows, they are just a ton of fun on the fly rod – both on the surface and just below.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – May’s streamer & dry fly fishing turns to the big bugs of June. Good dates to choose from.
Smallmouth Bass– Spend a half or full-day on the lower Manistee fishing smallies – June through Late August.
Fall Steelhead – Just a few prime steelhead dates remain available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.

baitfish patterns, bluegill fishing, borchers drakes, dry flies, guided fly fishing, hatches, manistee river hatches, march browns, sculpin, smallmouth bass fishing, streamer fishing, sulphurs, traverse city fishing, trout fishing

Mid-October Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 16, 2019

Mid-October finds the weather and fisheries in-line with the calendar.

The river banks are popping with color as the leaves and salmon change color while some chrome steelhead show up. The salmon run is past the peak however a fresh one shows up occasionally. With the erratic weather patterns since late August, I wouldn’t be surprised if a few fresh fish trickle in for the next month on the Betsie and Manistee Rivers.

The steelhead – like the salmon – are running larger this year. Combine their size with warmer than normal water temperatures (upper 50’s) and folks have found them to be more than a handful when hooked; I have never witnessed steelhead behavior like this before. With the recent and forecast cooler overnights, the water temps are dropping, and this should help “tame” the fish a little.

As the salmon continue to spawn in the river, the steelhead are on a heavy diet of salmon eggs. The runs below spawning salmon have the steelhead below them taking full advantage of the protein drip. As such, egg patterns and beads have been the go-to, however some green caddis and steelhead buggers are an honorable mention and worth having in your box.

<<More info on fishing egg patterns can be found here>>

The ardent steelhead angler will still find the salmon angler and the accompanying trash on the river bank so be prepared to share the water for a few more weeks. Beer cans are lighter when empty but sadly they still don’t make it back to the parking lot once consumed – let their behavior of littering and questionable angling techniques inspire you to be a sportsman rather than assimilate and be a slob.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Good November and December dates remain open for these prized sport-fish.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through October of 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

beads, egg patterns, fishing egg patterns, guided fly fishing, manistee fishing, michigan steelhead, salmon eggs, salmon fishing, steelhead, tippy dam

Early June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 5, 2018

Fishing the Traverse City region in early June offers plenty of choices. Most fly fishers are going after trout since this time of year offers some technical dry fly fishing. Rivers like the Manistee, Boardman and Au Sable continue to produce a smorgasbord of flies on the water including: Gray Drakes, Great and Little Mahoganies, Sulphurs, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown Stones, Brown Drakes, Isonychias and Caddis. Any given day you can see a few different kinds of bugs, other days only one type but you should head out to the water with a loaded fly box and a headlamp with fresh batteries because a lot of times the spinner fall is taking place at dusk. Bring some bug spray, too.

Streamers and twitch flies on smaller sink tips have been working during the day to bring a fish out of the wood and onto the hook. This time of year, lightening up your streamer approach can be a good thing as the fish like a different presentation after six weeks of heavy streamer pressure.

The current cold-front has brought the water temperatures down in the river which is good – last week’s heat warmed them up a little too much, too quick. Levels and clarity are about perfect if there is such a thing. As always, handle the trout quickly and get them back in – most of these rivers rely on natural reproduction so even the small ones are important to tomorrow’s quality of fishing.

The inland lakes continue to produce good bluegill fishing as well as large and smallmouth bass fishing. The smallmouth are typically deeper and weighted flies and/or clear sink-tip lines will help you get to fish near those slight drop-offs. The largemouth and bluegill are in the shallow water and are mostly done spawning but are in a post-spawn mood.

With all the wind and cool temps, the fishing on the bay is still in its infancy for the carp and smallmouth but there are still some opportunities for those willing to put in the time and cover some water. Sustained weather (and warmth) will help make for some better fishing that is sure to come as June progresses.

If you are into the warm-water fishing, this weekend The Northern Angler is hosting there 2^nd Annual Cheese Cup Warm-water fishing tournament. This is a fun, fundraising event for the Third Level Crisis Center in honor of Alex “Cheese” Hawke who lost his battle with depression. The format is easy going and focuses on the warm-water species including bass, carp, pike, and bluegill. The after party is one you won’t want to miss. More detail’s here.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – The big Bugs of June will be here before you know it…. Isos, Drakes and Hex – limited dates available.
Stillwater- Bluegill, Bass and Carp. With the best trout fishing in the evening, try fishing lakes during the day.
Fall Steelhead – With Summer just arriving, it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates – Oct. thru Dec.

Baordman river, bluegill fishing, brown drakes, carp fishing, cheese cup fly fishing tournament, guided fly fishing, isonychias, manistee river, smallmouth bass fishing, traverse city fly fishing, trout fishing, twitch flies

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