Posts tagged "hex"

Late May Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 25, 2018

This weather has us thinking its more like late June than May with the warm temperatures. Water levels on local rivers are ideal – perhaps a little low – with little recent rain. Water temps are in the low 60’s and the bright days have been making the trout fishing a little tougher than we want for this time of year making the mornings and evenings the ideal time to be on the water.

If you are headed to your favorite trout river you will want an assortment of flies to imitate what you are likely to come across: sulphurs, Hendricksons, mahoganies, black caddis, little yellow sally stones, black quills, medium brown stones, march browns and just in case, some brown drakes. This time of the year can offer the most technical dry fly fishing. Spinner falls at dusk will have you squinting for sippers and you will want your headlamp with you as it often occurs just before darkness. Bring some bug spray too as the mosquitoes are just starting to show up. To learn more about the bugs/hatches you are likely to come across this time of year, click here to read, Trout Fishing Before the Hex Hatch.

Bluegill have moved into the shallows on most of the smaller lakes and are offering some good fishing. The same with largemouth bass – look for both species to be near structure and often close to a deep water break/drop off. It’s a lot of fun catching big gills on the fly rod – especially on the surface – but some days they require that you fish them sub surface with swimming nymphs and tiny streamers.

With the recent lack of rain please be extra careful with camp and bonfires this weekend.

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.

borcher's drake, brown drake, brown stones, carp fishing grand traverse bay, fishing traverse city, fly fishing trout, hex, mayflies, steelhead, sulphurs, trout, trout fishing

May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 1, 2018

May is here and so is some weather to make up for such a cold April. Opening day of trout season took place over the weekend and greeted anglers with slightly high river levels and water temps lower than normal. It appears a few warm days are making a difference to get the mercury to rise when taking the water temp which is needed to bring on reliable hatches of Hendricksons and active trout. Unfortunately, there is rain in the forecast and while we need it, the rivers don’t need much of it as the upper Manistee, Boardman and Au Sable rivers are all running a bit high. The next month is the perfect time to fish streamers for big browns in the higher water but have a dry fly rod rigged for when some surface activity might present itself.

As the water continues to warm, the last of the steelhead have migrated into river systems and we are well beyond peak season. That big push of fish we were hoping for never came in but rather we experienced a good flow of fish throughout March and April. Remaining fish in the rivers are actively spawning and quickly getting it done before returning to the lake. Despite the cold April, it was a really good spring for steelhead numbers in the Manistee and Betsie rivers.

If you are still fishing steelhead rivers where they have recently stocked fish, please handle the young fish carefully as these are the big silver steelhead of the future.

More than trout season has opened up – local lakes are now ice-free and ice-out is a great time for those looking to target pike and musky in those dark, silty bays of lakes as they warm themselves up and put their post-spawn feedbag on.

Good luck.

Ted

betsie river steelhead, fishing, hendrickson, hex, manistee, opening day trout, steelhead, steelhead season, streamer fishing, trout, upper manistee trout fishing

Mid June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 19, 2017

As we get deeper into June the trout fishing remains solid, especially for those looking for match-the-hatch opportunities. The Manistee, Boardman and Au Sable all have been getting decent emergences most nights, but as bugs sometimes go, some nights there are very few bugs.

Look for the last of the Sulphurs, at twilight along with Isonychias, Gray Drakes, Brown Drakes, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown Stones, Golden Stones, Bat Flies, and Mahoganies to be mixed in with some caddis. Just a few reports of the Hex have been around in the lower sections of rivers where the big bugs typically begin early in the season, not on the upper sections where the water is cooler. With the cool down in weather I suspect things will need to warm up again for the emergence to get on schedule again.

After quite a few rains the past week, look for the river to be higher than normal and with a little bit of a stain to them but still very fishable.

The local lake fishing continues to offer some really good bass and bluegill fishing. Some big gills are still in shallow water on the smaller lakes as are some largemouth bass looking to eat the smaller bluegill on the end of your line. A rare pike is making an appearance, but those are mostly hiding out in the weeds in a little deeper water. The lake fishing remains a great learning experience for those new to the sport while fun for those with experience.

Carp fishing has been a struggle this year with the cooler water in the bays. Some days we find them, most days we can’t. We are still in pre-spawn mode but with the higher water in the bays, the fish aren’t as predictable as they have been in the past. The smallmouth bass however have been cooperating a little better as the cooler water has prolonged their season and keeping the fish in shallow enough water that we can get a fly to them. Crayfish and minnow patterns have been working well.

Good luck.

Ted

Lost and Found: I found a fly rod and reel at 4 Mile Bend Access on the Upper Manistee June 9th. If you are the owner, contact me to identify the make and model and I will see to it that it gets returned.

Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – Through July and August. A half-day trip on the river is a great way to start the day.
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.

AuSable fly fishing, bat flies, bluegill fly fishing, boardman river, brown drakes, carp fishing grand traverse bay, hex, manistee river fishing report, report, stone flies, streamer fishing, terrestrial flies

July 1 Report – Fly Fishing Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 1, 2016

With July upon us we are catching our breath from catching fish, lots of late nights and looking forward to what’s ahead.

On the Trout Rivers and streams, the Hex hatch has been one of the better ones of recent years due to a long period of stable weather that concentrated the hatch. On the Manistee we are on the other side of the peak with more bugs to emerge and spin, however they will be thinner in density due to cooler nights and simply because we have already had two-weeks of good emergence.

Other bugs on the water include Isonychias, Light Cahills, Bat Flies, Big Stones, Gray Drakes, Little Yellow Sally Stones and Olives. Evenings and mornings are the better times to be on the water with the water being low and clear. If its a cloudy day it should be even better. As we approach the other side of the Hex – the crescendo of mayfly fishing -there are other bugs and approaches to consider when hitting the water. Click here to read “Fishing after the Hex Hatch“.

The smallmouth bass and carp fishing on the bay are winding down. While there are still fish around, the bass are finishing up and moving deep again while the Carp are becoming even more unpredictable as we near the end of their typical migration to shallow water to feed and spawn. Consider traveling outside of the bay to find fish moving into shallow water. Don’t give up yet, but alter expectations a little.

The lake fishing for largemouth bass and bluegill on inland lakes is still good. With the weed growth bass are more predictable to target with top water flies and divers. While the big bluegill are pretty much in deep water now, the smaller gills continue to play along with the dry flies and provide a great way to introduce and teach someone to fly fish.

The smallmouth bass in the lower Manistee is getting better as the water is warming up. While these fish aren’t as large as those found in Grand Traverse Bay, they offer anglers the chance to cast streamers on sink-tips and diving flies on floating lines. Not ideal for beginners, but for those looking to improve their skills and catch some fish along the way.

Good luck,

Ted

July & August Trout – It’s that time of year to start your day on a river fishing wets, dry flies and terrestrials.
Learn to Fly Fish – This is a great time of year to learn how to fly fish. 1/2 day trips for beginners are perfect!
Salmon – Late August and September is when the Salmon start to migrate upstream – get ’em while you can.
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

bass, bluegill, carp, grand traverse bay, hex, learn to fly fish, traverse city fly fishing, trout

Mid-June Fly Fishing Report Northern Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 17, 2016

It’s mid-June – rods are rigged, anticipation brewing and bugs are popping. As we enter the “holy days” of trout dry fly fishing with big bugs make sure your box is full of a number of patterns if headed to the Manistee, AuSable or Boardman rivers. Grey Drakes, Brown Drakes, Mahoganies, Bat Flies, pseudocloeon (big BWOs), Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium brown/yellow Stones (“mattress thrashers”), Isonychias and maybe more make up a well-stocked fly box for this time of year. Having a few hex in your box wouldn’t be a bad idea as the forecast weather and heat should get those nocturnal bugs to pop on a river near you. Sections of the Au Sable already have seen some hex bugs.

Water levels are still low and clear so stealth and good first presentations are necessary to get those fish – even in low light. If it’s been a while since you fished – for some this is the only time of the year you get out on the water – consider practicing a little before heading out – it will pay off.

It’s time for some insect repellent, fresh batteries in your head lamp, perhaps a cigar and some patience – it is that time of year. And be sure to check for ticks when you get home; there is a noticeable increase in these little guys hiding in the vegetation on the bank as you wait for a hatch.

Carp fishing on the Grand Traverse Bay is going pretty good. Fish have entered the flats/shallow water, but as carp are – sometimes they are simply moving and not feeding. Cover water, cast to all fish within a reasonable distance and have fun. Wind direction and overnight temperatures are important to consider when looking for ideal water for these peculiar fish. Swimming Hex, Crayfish and simple bead headed black wooly buggers (leeches) are always a good bet this time of year. Keep your eyes out for smallmouth – both cruisers and spawning fish – Minnow and Goby imitations are hated by Smallies, so they eat them.

Lakes are still fishing good for the bluegill and bass. As the gills go into a second spawn on some lakes the shallow water is still the place to be. The bigger fish not spawning are moving into the shallows in the low light hours and around vegetation offering both surface and sub-surface action.

Good luck,

Ted

Carp and Bass – Look for these guys on the flats of Grand Traverse Bay through the month of June.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and Hex – dates available.
Salmon – Late August and September is when the King Salmon start to migrate upstream – get ’em while you can.
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

au sable, boardman, brown drakes, carp, crayfish, hex, isonychias, manistee, smallmouth grand traverse bay, trout

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