Posts tagged "hendricksons"

Mid-April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 16, 2017

**** UPDATE – 4/18/17 *****

Due to significant rains over the past weekend, local rivers are running high with limited visibility. Use caution when wading or operating boats. You can gather more information on Michigan river flows/levels at the USGS Site.

****************************

With warmer temperatures around, it has felt more like the beginning of May as the grass turns greener, leaves on the tress pop out, turkeys gobble and the steelhead starting to dwindle.

The water temps are around 50 degrees which has pretty much encouraged all the early running fish to get their spawning activities behind them and return to the lake. At least the lucky ones. More fish continue to come into the Betsie and Manistee rivers but it’s like hitting a moving target with their migration as they are not sticking around long.

The Betsie has its fair share of suckers in it which is a sign that the river has seen its peak of steelhead, but there should still be fishable number of steelhead for another week or two – timing as it relates to rainfall is crucial.

The Manistee, too, is starting to see some suckers come into the system and are mixed in with the walleye. Like the Betsie, there should still be fishable numbers of fish coming and going through the river for a few more weeks with timing to rainfall and cloudy days vs. sunny days being the biggest factor leading to success. Water levels are ideal and there is a slight stain to it which has made smaller egg patterns more effective over the large, bold ones. Effective nymphs include fry, caddis, and small stone flies.

One benefit of the warmer water is the trout fishing has started a little sooner than normal. A few Hendricksons and stoneflies have been on the upper Manistee bringing a few fish to the surface. When there isn’t an emergence, cover the water with streamers to take advantage of less pressured fish wanting to eat big after a long winter. Look for the combination of streamer and dry fly fishing to be strong for the next six weeks.

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 steelhead, caddis, egg patterns, fishing report, hendricksons, manistee, May fishing, small stone flies., streamer fishing, tippy dam, trout fishing

Mid-May Fly Fishing Report – Northwest Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 12, 2016

Mid May fishing has anglers headed to their favorite trout stream and river with spring-like weather and good water conditions.

Hendricksons are still around but seem to be winding down; those armed with rusty spinners either late morning or in the evening might find themselves in a fun dry fly situation as the Hendricksons drop to the water to lay their eggs. Other bugs to have with you include: tan caddis, black quills, mahoganies and with the season being off – one never knows when sulphurs might just start coming off so have some of those with you, too. This is an ideal time to have Borchers Drakes or Emergers with you as they imitate a number of different mayflies commonly found on the Manistee, AuSable and Boardman Rivers this time of year.

Without any surface activity, try fishing a streamer on a sink-tip or even a floating line if wade fishing. If fishing from a boat, try some of the larger streamers to get something big to come out and play, otherwise, if wading try some mid-sized streamers like my Brook Trout and Lamprey Leech patterns. There is no shortage of effective and innovative streamer patterns on the market today so be sure to mix them up if you aren’t having success. Don’t discount big wet flies that can be twitched and stripped just because everyone is fishing streamers – sometimes being different is good.

Bluegill/Panfish are just starting to hit the shallow water on some of the warmer lakes and ponds. This can be a lot of fun whether you are experienced or a beginner. It’s always more fun having them come up to the surface, but you might find large nymphs and small streamers fished sub-surface could be the ticket to a slab-sized bluegill and a bent rod.

Good luck!

Ted

May Fishing – It’s a great month for streamer and dry fly fishing for Trout.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and the Hex – got dates?
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

ausable, bluegill, boardman, borchers drakes, hendricksons, manistee, mayflies, streamer

Trout Season Begins Just in Time

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 3, 2016

Trout Season is now open throughout the state and it’s a good thing because the steelhead run is pretty much over. While a few fish remain in local rivers like the Manistee, Betsie and Boardman, quality steelhead fishing just isn’t around due in part to some nice weather, a lack of rain and possibly a reduction in the fish population. I suspect some more fish will enter rivers in the weeks ahead after some rain but with water temps in the 50’s, they won’t be around for long as they are quick to come and go in these conditions.

The weekend found some decent weather and dry fly fishing for those looking to cast a floating line to feeding trout. Some Hendricksons have been on the surface along with BWOs and caddis on the upper Manistee and Au Sable rivers. Those fishing streamers have had mixed success when covering water and waiting for a hatch. This can be a great time of the year to cover water with streamers with a rigged dry fly rod in the boat for when the fish start rising. Hendricksons emerge from late morning until early evening with cloudy days being best – click here for an emerger pattern. Spinner falls have been light but will build in the weeks ahead with warm evenings offering some good fishing.

Those looking for a chance at Steelhead might find a few hours in the morning on the Manistee a good approach before the sun gets too high and switch to targeting trout after. Streamer and wet-fly fishing has been decent and will only get better in the weeks ahead. It appears that spring is finally here!

Good luck,

Ted

May Fishing – It’s not far away and it’s a great month for streamer and dry fly fishing for Trout.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and the Hex – got dates?
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

hendricksons, steelhead, tippy, upper-manistee

Trout Fishing and Spring Just Starting

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 6, 2015

It’s really feeling like spring around northwest Michigan – warm temps, blue skies and green showing up fast on both the ground and on trees. The transition from steelhead fishing to trout fishing has been kind of stuck with neither fishing extremely well right now but one gets the sense that it’s going to change in the blink of an eye.

With the lack of rain, no fresh steelhead have moved into the river. Anglers fishing the Betsie and Manistee will find a few spawning fish but they are well aware of angler’s intent and disperse with some fishing pressure. The dark water (holes and slots) around the gravel are offering better angling for both steelhead and trout right now and most drop-back fish have done just that – made it back to the lake after spawning. The long-term forecast is calling for rain over the weekend and into next week which should bring up any remaining fish, but expect them to come and go as water temps are warm and is running clear.

The warm rain would be a good thing for the trout rivers as well. Most of the trout water – the Boardman, Upper Manistee, AuSable are also running clear – especially for this time of year. With water temps in the mid to upper 50s look for Hendricksons to be emerging in better numbers rather than the trickle of bugs which has been more common. “Henies” love warm overcast days so if you can pick your day accordingly, do so. A few black stoneflies and even a black caddis or two have been around so have some of those patterns with you as well.

Until the dry fly fishing gets going, cover some water with streamers – this is the ideal time to cover lots of water for that really big brown trout. With what seems like everyone fishing the biggest, double and triple articulated and over-accessorized streamer patterns right now, consider down-sizing things a bit and fish something a little more natural. Like usual, though, mix it up to see what might be working better that day.

The coldwater found in local lakes has kept the bluegill/panfish in the depths but this too should change overnight as fish move into fly-friendly shallow water and provide some great fishing for big gills over the next month.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout Season – Streamer & Dry Fly fishing is ideal throughout May on the Upper Manistee & AuSable Rivers.
September Salmon – Dates are limited for fishing the Betsie River in early Sept. and later on the Manistee.
2015 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get your fishing trips planned for the year. Booking all species/seasons.

ausable, Betsie, black stoneflies, bluegill, boardman, fly fishing, hendricksons, henies, manistee, northwest michigan, steelhead, streamers, upper-manistee

Transition from Steelhead to Trout

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 28, 2015

Trout opener has come and gone and apparently most of the steelhead run has too.

Without any rain the past week or two, the water levels have really come down on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers as the water temps are around 50 degrees and have cleared up – not what you think of when you think Spring Steelhead. I would imagine any significant amount of rain we get over the next week or so would bring in the last of the fish from Lake Michigan, but until then look for fishing to be tough with more stale fish around rather than fresh ones. Green Caddis, Steelhead Buggers and small, natural egg patterns (sockeye, gold nugget, steelhead orange/O.C) have been the more productive patterns lately.

With the nice weather in the forecast the trout waters are warming up and dry fly/emergences are increasing, although they have been pretty light due to temperatures. Black stones and blue wing olives (BWOs) have been the most common flies but if you are headed to rivers like the Boardman, Upper Manistee, or AuSable – be sure to have some Hendricksons in your box as they could begin any day. Streamer fishing has been the go-to method for covering water but with the temps still a bit cool, look for slower retrieves to work better than the fast ones and often the fish are going to be in the bigger, deeper holes. Mix it up and see what works for you that day.

Good luck,

Ted

ausable, betsie river, boardman, caddis, dry fly, hendricksons, manistee, steelhead, steelhead bugger, streamer fishing, trout

1 2 3 4 5