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Posts tagged "guided fly fishing manistee river"

Mid March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 13, 2024

Significant rains after the last fishing report brought the Manistee and Betsie River levels up quite a bit and added some color which encouraged steelhead to migrate upstream. Since then, the water levels have fallen pretty much back to normal levels for this time of year. Clarity has improved, too, offering a little color and stain which is the opposite of what we were dealing with all winter.

With the water temperatures in the low 40s, some spawning activity has taken place. Look for fish in the pocket water and holes near spawning gravel and in the soft-seamed runs where fish moving upstream prefer to swim/migrate.

The bright, sunny days made fishing a little difficult so look for shaded runs when out in those conditions in the future.

The effective fly patterns have been varied – steelhead buggers are the leading nymph with stoneflies a second. Smaller eggs (#8 rags/nukes and 8 mm beads) in natural tones/colorations have been the best producers. This time of year we always run at least one egg pattern, if not two.

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, fishing report, guided fly fishing manistee river, manistee river steelhead, spring steelhead, steelhead, steelhead flies, stoneflies, tippy dam fishing

Late April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 21, 2021

It seems that this year’s April showers were replaced by April flowers as vegetation and gardens are 3 weeks ahead. We still haven’t had any significant rains and the rivers look like it – low and clear.

The steelhead have thinned out without many fresh fish showing up. Those that do seem to hit the gravel, spawn and leave, quickly. Still, enough time put into fishing runs and the dark water near spawning gravel will find you fish. It just hasn’t been the season we usually experience but it’s been stable, just fewer banner days than what usually comes with a season. I suspect fish will continue to trickle in over the next couple of weeks on the Manistee, but the majority of the spring fish have come and are already gone.

Trout opener is this weekend and it appears that the cold weather my be behind us by then and warmer days ahead might produce ideal conditions for some hatches and surface activity. Hendricksons, BWOs and black caddis should be in your box. When there aren’t any bugs around, go sub-surface with some streamers. The water is still cool (low 50s) so a little slower retrieve might be more suitable than the hard, quick rip and strip. As always, mix it up to see what they are in the mood for that particular day.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –
perfect for beginners or those looking to dial in a new technique.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December

bwos michigan, guided fly fishing manistee river, hatches, hendricksons, steelhead fishing, upper manistee
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Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156

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