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Posts tagged "hex nymphs"

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-November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 10, 2020

The steelhead fishing remains off with what seems like fewer fish around than we are used to this time of year. Some days we find them, other days we struggle. While the weather has been comfortable (in the 60’s!?!) it has left rivers like the Big Manistee and Betsie running clear and low.  One advantage of the nice weather is the water temps have increased a little (mid to upper 40s) which is closer to the lake Michigan temps which will help inspire more fish to move up the river. At least we are hoping that’s the case.

Fish have moved throughout the river systems and it’s thought that some have dropped back downstream and started to settle into holding water which includes in and around structure. It’s a good time to swing some flies over the structure on the two-hander, while drifting flies in the proven runs, holes, and buckets always provides you with a great chance at connecting with a nice fall steelhead.  Eggs in pale and yellow (think Oregon Cheese hues) continue to be the primary interest of fish, but caddis pupa and hex nymphs are starting to interest the fish again. Swung flies in Olive/Copper and Tan/Copper have had some success.

Just a reminder that firearm deer season begins Nov. 15 and continues through Nov. 30; it might be a wise idea to wear some hunter’s orange while on the bank or in the boat.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout/Steelhead Combo – Late fall can offer a combined chance at both species on the lower Manistee.
Fall Steelhead –  Some good dates are available in November – a great way to finish the fishing season.

betsie river, big manistee river, caddis, hex nymphs, swining flies, tippy dam

Spring / Mid-March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 21, 2019

With the first day of Spring, we are reminded that it’s a transition into the new season, not the flip of a switch. Since last week’s report a lot of snow has melted which brought the river levels up and added some color to it. The water temps are still in the low to mid 30’s and with the amount of snow still around in places I don’t see temperatures getting too high, too soon and that’s a good thins as it will make for a nice prolonged run of spring steelhead.

The fish are mixed with fresh ones moving upstream as well as older fish sitting in the deeper water and waiting for the water to warm up so they can get one with spawning activities. Cover the water and structure – with the increase in flow, daylight and fish, comes the increase in the number of anglers which all have the tendency to push fish into secondary water/holding spots.

Not much new on which fly patterns to tie on – big and bold egg patterns, green caddis, stoneflies, hex nymphs and alevins are perennial favorites.

Good luck.

Ted

The Spring 2019 Newsletter just went out – click here to read or subscribe.

Spring Steelhead – Now through April. Start the fishing seasons with some chrome! Some dates still available.
Trout – May and June offers some of the best trout fishing of the year matching the hatch and fishing streamers.
Booking 2019 – Reserve your date(s) and schedule life around fishing rather than trying to fit fishing into life.

betsie river steelhead fishing, caddis patterns, fishing report, fly fishing steelhead michigan, hex nymphs, manistee river, michigan steelhead fishing., newsletter, steelhead fishing, tippy dam steelhead fishing, traverse city steelhead fishing

Mid-March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 13, 2019

To say it was a long, cold winter would be to misrepresent that past few months and the multiple polar vortexes, hours of shoveling snow and time spent indoors thinking about fishing. With mid-March, thankfully, comes some sunshine, longer days, warmer temperatures, and opportunities to shake cabin fever by fishing for steelhead.

There is still a lot of snow on land, but warmer temps, sunshine and rain will help reduce things, hopefully gradually. As the melt hits the water, look for the water temps to actually remain or even get cooler. Sunshine really helps warm the water up and help to get fish active and feed. If wade fishing, be careful of icy paths and river banks.

We are in pre-spawn mode and anglers will find steelhead in most of the local rivers and throughout the watersheds including the Manistee below Tippy Dam and the Betsie River.  There is a mix of winter fish and fresh fish with the hold-over fall (winter) fish mostly sitting in the deeper holes to avoid the stronger currents. Fresh fish encouraged by additional sunlight and an increase in water flow are trickling upstream and can be found in seams as they ascend upstream.

River levels are holding steady and have a slight stain to them – look for more color to the water as more run off occurs and levels rise. Water temps are in the mid-30s and the fish are favoring a drag-free presentation often on the slower side of the current seam.

This time of year larger eggs and beads are preferred over realistic sizes and colors since there are no natural eggs we are trying to imitate. Other flies that are proven winners this time of year include hex nymphs, caddis, black stonefly and alevin.

Good luck.

Ted

Spring Steelhead – Now through April. Start the fishing seasons with some chrome! Some dates still available.
Trout – May and June offers some of the best trout fishing of the year matching the hatch and fishing streamers.
Booking 2019 – Reserve your date(s) and schedule life around fishing rather than trying to fit fishing into life.

alevin, betsie river, black stonefly, caddis, egg patterns, fly fishing guide service, hex nymphs, manistee river, spring steelhead, steelhead fishing, tippy dam, traverse city

Early April Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 8, 2018

Since the last report we have had some cold weather – especially low overnight temps – keeping the water temperature right around 40 degrees. While some snow fell, most of it is still on the ground so the water/river levels have not increased leaving us with unusually clear water conditions on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers. Without a surge of warm water to pull a bunch of fresh fish from Lake Michigan we are still working over a mixed bag of steelhead – some winter hold-overs and others that have trickled through the river system the past weeks.

Some fish are spawning but with the low and clear water you are likely to find those and pre-spawn fish in the pocket water near gravel sections. We are getting drop-back steelhead in the runs as they put on the feed bag before returning to the big water.

Effective flies have been mixed….. eggs patterns in Clown, orange and John 3:16 colors combinations. Nymphs too have been varied: green caddis, ice buggers and Hex Nymphs seemed to have worked best in the past week. With the clear water, you might have to drop tippet/leader size but know that the fish have been uncharacteristically feisty and strong-fighting with water temperatures as low as they are so drop down only when you need to.

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 and it’s also a great time for fishing streamers.
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 steelhead fishing, egg patterns, flies, hex nymphs, manistee river fishing report, steelhead, steelhead nymphs, tippy dam
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