Posts tagged "hendricksons"

Early May FIy Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 8, 2018

If feels like we skipped spring and went right to summer as temperatures approach 80 degrees. Nature is catching up with the season as the fields on the way to the river have turned from brown to green and foliage is starting to become omnipresent in the woods. So is the fishing.

Trout fishing is starting to shape up although the river levels are a little high and stained – perfect for the Hendrickson mayflies that are sporadically emerging on the upper sections of the Manistee and AuSable Rivers. A few BWOs are around on the cloudy days and it won’t be long before tan caddis should be dancing on the surface. Before the surface and bug activity takes place, now is the time to cast a streamer looking for those larger trout looking to eat big. With the stained water yellow, black, and olive streamer patterns are great first choices. With the water temps still in the mid-50s, slow the streamer presentation down and don’t hesitate to fish the inside bends.

Steelhead fishing is pretty much done. A few fresh fish moved in over the past week but they are getting in and getting out quick with the water temps being so warm. While a bit cold, overall it was an exceptional spring steelhead run as it was spread out with a good number of fish throughout without any surge of fish. And the fish for the most part were a little bigger this year making for some really nice fish photos. Already looking forward to the fall run of steelhead that begins in October.

As water temps continue to climb look for the shallow, dark bottom lakes to see a little bluegill/panfish action to start any day now – this is a great way to get tuned up with your casting while having access to some really nice gills that usually too deep. Pike anglers should find similar lakes providing an opportunity to fish shallows for post-spawn fish.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity. It’s also a great time to fish streamers for bigger trout.
Big Bugs – The big Bugs of June will be here before you know it…. Isos, Drakes and Hex – limited dates available.
Fall Steelhead – Spring Steelhead is just finishing up but it’s time to get your Fall Dates reserved – Oct. thru Dec.

bluegill fishing, drakes, fall steelhead, hendrickson au sable, hendricksons, mayflies, pike, steelhead, streamer, tippy dam, trout fishing

Late April Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 23, 2018

Boy what a difference a week makes. While last week had us thinking we were stuck in winter, the past few days have us thinking spring. Sunny skies and warmer temperatures has the water warming up just a bit after all that run-off from the snow increased water levels but kept the temp near 40 degrees on the Manistee below Tippy Dam with smaller rivers like the Betsie warming up into the mid-40s.

Water levels are ideal and have a nice stain to them making black flies stick out a little bit in the conditions. With stoneflies flying around it’s a good time to pull those out of the fly box again and tie them on. Caddis and fry patterns have taken some fish also. Egg patterns that have been working include smaller clown patterns and natural looking patterns like nuke eggs.

With the warmer water on the smaller rivers increasing so did a nice number of fish. The Manistee didn’t get as many fresh fish but there are still pre-spawn, spawning and post spawn fish around to play the game. Focus on migratory slots and the pocket water near spawning gravel for your best fishing.

This Saturday is the official start of Trout season throughout the state – for those headed out for “Opener” to keep with traditions, good luck and think streamers more than dry flies until the water warms up a bit more. With the warmer weather some of the smaller rivers could reach the critical low 50’s in time to trigger some Hendricksons but I would guess we are a good 10 days behind.

Good luck!

Ted

Steelhead & Trout Combo – The first two weeks in May can offer steelhead in the morning and trout after noon.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity. It’s also a great time to fish streamers for bigger trout.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betsie river, caddis, fly fishing steelhead michigan, fry patterns, hendricksons, manistee, steelhead fishing, stoneflies, streamers, tippy dam steelhead fishing, trout season

Late May Fly Fishing Report Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 28, 2017

Trout fishing has been good for those looking to test their skills with matching the hatch and presenting dry flies and emergers to selective fish. Lots of bugs right now on the Manistee, Boardman and AuSable Rivers and this time of year it’s a pretty good idea to have them all in your box because there is no telling what the fish will want from one day to the next.

Sulphurs, March Browns, Blue Winged Olives, Mahoganies, Light Hendricksons, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium brown stones and caddis are the usual suspects and having some brown drakes with you might not be a bad idea either – just in case. To learn more on the hatches this time of year, click here.

Evenings have been best for emergences and spinner falls but with cloudy conditions and cooling temps, things can happen earlier rather than later. Surface activity with bugs can be isolated from one bend to the next so move if you aren’t seeing much happening. Until bug activity occurs, cast a streamer – especially after the rain that we received today. Brown and copper or Olive and copper seem to have been working well, but each day is different so mix it up until you find their daily preference.

Bluegill and bass fishing on local lakes/ponds continues to offer some great fishing as the fish have moved into the shallows. While spiders, beetles and small poppers have been working on top, slowly swimming damsel nymphs and small leeches tend to catch some bigger, more selective fish.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
Fall Steelhead – From late Sept. through November, these fish will bend your rod like no other – get your dates.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

bass fishing, bluegill, brown drakes, fly-fishing guide traverse city, hatches, hendricksons, manistee river, traverse city fly fishing

Early May Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 4, 2017

++ Sorry about the delay as the website host was having technical issues. The site should be fully up and running as before within a week. ++

As May comes around it is time to think about trout!

It appears that the steelhead run has pretty much come to an end after a good spring run. Some days were better than others but overall the 2017 spring steelhead numbers were real good and better than the previous two years. A few fish will continue to trickle in and out of the rivers but for the most part with water temps in the mid-50s, it’s pretty much over as they come in and go quickly.

The warmer days of April got the trout fishing going a little sooner with sporadic emergences of Hendricksons on the favorite rivers like the upper Manistee and AuSable. These bugs should continue to emerge with good spinner falls late in the afternoon and evenings as they begin to overlap with the other mayflies that start to emerge this time of year. Caddis, too, are showing up and as waters warm up even more, fish are chasing skittering imitations on the surface. But before and after any surface activity, anglers are best suited casting sink-tips and streamers for a chance at some really nice fish.

With Trout Opener taking place this past weekend, more rivers are open including parts of the Boardman and Platte so get out and get after those unpressured fish. As always, we strongly encourage catch and release since the DNR doesn’t do enough to manage our fisheries to their potential.

Good luck,

Ted

May Fishing – Trout, late steelhead, hatches, streamer fishing, bluegill on lakes – don’t overlook fishing in May.
Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

ausable, bluegill, borcher's drake, caddis, fly fishing, guided fly fishing, hendricksons, steelhead, trout

Late April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 22, 2017

With Spring-like weather, I’m thinking Spring is here to stay. It certainly seems like we are a few weeks ahead as I look at stream-side flora, however it appears the fish seasons are mostly in check with steelhead starting to wind down and trout beginning to get active.

Steelhead fishing is on the other side of peak. The recent rains have left local rivers high and stained and in some cases downright dirty. The Betsie is starting to clear up, but it offers limited visibility. The steelhead have been winding down on the Betsie, but fish continue to move into the system after the rains. The Big Manistee below Tippy Dam also has steelhead in it – a mix of fresh fish, spawning fish and drop-backs. The clarity had cleared up after last weekend’s rain, however the rain fall Thursday will dirty it up again by this weekend as the water in the pond changes over. With both rivers, the fresh fish are entering and leaving quickly with water temps in the low 50s.

Effective flies in the dirty water have included large bold egg patterns like Clowns, 4 Shades of Orange and John 3:16, with smaller natural egg patterns being ideal when the water is a bit clearer. Fry patterns, caddis and black stones all have all been solid choices in nymph patterns. Sunny days continue to be the curse of good fishing with overcast days offering better odds.

The trout fishing is getting going as some the first of the dry flies like Hendricksons have been hatching and at times, bringing fish to the surface. Before and after hatches, cover the water with a streamer for what is considered one of the best times to find a really nice brown trout.

Good luck.

Ted

May Fishing – Trout, late steelhead, hatches, streamer fishing, bluegill on lakes – don’t overlook fishing in May.
Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

betsie river, dry flies, egg patterns, hatches, hendricksons, steelhead, steelhead fishing, tippy dam, traverse city fly fishing, trout fishing

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