Posts tagged "hex"

Fly Hatches and Trout Fishing Improving

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 23, 2015

A week with little rain fall has left the local rivers in good shape. Clarity is ideal with a little stain, while temps are in the mid-60s and water levels are not too high and not too low. Hatch activity has been varied and inconsistent but has improved since my last report with more fish looking up. Look for Isonychias to be your best bet for the big bugs in the evening and up to dark. You will want some brown drakes and hex patterns also because you never know when the bigger bugs will be out in numbers right at dark. Some sections of most rivers – Au Sable, Manistee, Boardman has had limited hex activity but we are on the early side of things. Other flies you can expect to find on the water include Bat Flies, the last of the Sulphurs, Gray Drakes, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Lt. Cahills and Mahoganies. To read more about hatches preceding the Hex Hatch, click here.

Carp fishing on the bay has been inconsistent as well with all of the weather changes. Like the hex emergence for trout, good carp fishing really relies on a few days of warm sunshine to warm up the water up. The cold water of the bay moving in and out with varying wind directions has made it challenging for those targeting both carp and smallmouth bass. Smaller crayfish patterns are working for both species as are minnow patterns for those specifically fishing for bass.

Fishing on the lakes and ponds for bass remains solid as the fish are in post-spawn mode and have the feed bag on. Streamers fished on intermediate lines have been most productive for the larger bass when the top water and divers aren’t working. It also might find you a pike along the way which tend to bite the fly off but leave you with a good story. Bluegill continue to bend the rod but mostly the smaller ones which still make for a great learning experience for beginners or someone looking to spend a few hours on the water with a fly rod in their hand.

Good luck.

Ted

The Summer Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe

Summer Trout Fishing – Terrestrial and Trico fishing in July and August on the Manistee.
Smallmouth Bass – Streamer fishing on the lower Manistee is a great way to spend a summer day.
Fall Steelhead – Late September through November is the time for sassy steelhead on the Lower Manistee.

ausable, carp, fishing guide, fishing report, hex, hex hatch, isonychia, manistee, river, smallmouth bass, traverse city, trout

Traverse City Fly Fishing Report : Hex to Terrestrials

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 19, 2014

The trout fishing continues to improve on the upper Manistee as it seems more bugs are around than they were when they were supposed to. Or at least there are a few more fish looking up to eat. Water temps are ideal as are the levels and the clarity is maybe a little too good right now making the lower light of morning and evening your best opportunity.

Some Hex bugs are still around in sections but are most likely unpredictable – have some with you if you are fishing into the evening and consider staying past dark. It seems the bugs are showing up just a little before dark rather than the typical after.

Other bugs to have include great Olives, Isonychias, Brown Drakes (yes – still one or two around) Cahills, little yellow sallies and golden stones. If fishing in the morning – tricos have been starting to congregate offering some fun fishing for some of the smaller fish.

Terrestrial fishing (foam and rubber leg) patterns have been starting to get some attention from the fish as summer progresses. Small streamers fished on light sink-tips or floating lines are a good way to tease out some fish this time of year. More on Terrestrial Fishing >>Click Here<<.

A few smallies are still around on the flats but they are hard to find because of the ever changing water temps. The same is kind of true with the carp – they have mostly returned to the deep. It was a decent year for these “golden bones” despite the water changing temps constantly.

Bass and bluegill fishing continues to be good on local lakes. Poppers and sliders are working well on the bass and the small terrestrials with rubber legs are doing a number on the gills/panfish. This is a fun way to spend a summer day – as either an experienced angler tricking bass out of the lily pads or a beginner learning the basics of fly fishing on the bluegill/panfish.

Smallmouth bass in the lower Manistee continues to be an option for the streamer angler or those that just like river smallmouth fishing. This should only improve as the summer continues.

Good luck,

Ted

Terrestrials, Tricos and Trout – July and August fly fishing for trout on the Upper Manistee River
Salmon– Fresh fish can enter rivers as early as mid-August and offer great fishing through September.
Fall Steelhead– From the end of September through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.

bass, bluegill, brown drakes, hex, isonychias, mi, smallmouth bass, terrestrail, travese city, trout, upper-manistee

Bugs, Fish and Sometimes Both

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 11, 2014

Trout fishing continues to keep us busy chasing the unpredictable hex fly on the upper Manistee and other local rivers, but it has been fickle with swings in the air temps and other weather fluctuations. Some nights we find bugs and some of those nights the fish are looking to eat. Even the mosquitoes have been taking some nights off. Fishing remains tougher than it should be – at least in my experience but things are looking like they are improving a bit.

We have been experiencing a few more fish looking up lately and feeding on the minimal bug activity that has been occurring and some of the fish that have been missing from their typical places – it seems – are showing up and playing along. Other bugs to have in your fly box include little yellow sally stones, Isonychias, Summer Olives, Cahills, and some flying ants. Look for the transition from evening fishing to daytime terrestrial and early morning Trico fishing as we progress further into July but be prepared for hatches that shouldn’t happen as things try to catch up from a long winter, short spring and inconsistent conditions the past couple of months.

Fishing on the bay has slowed down as the carp it appears are mostly done with their spawning and have run deep again. With the long winter I expect there to be some opportunity to fish for them if you are looking to cover water. Look for them where the warm water is getting blown into shallow flats. Sun and wind direction are key as the Bay is still so cold and any turnover can shut a good flat down with one day of wind. Smallmouth bass in the bay are like the carp – offering some shots one day, and gone the next. Crayfish are your best bet right now for both species and some minnow patterns like Clousers are ideal for the bass. Darker versions of the Clouser (orange and rootbeer) is a good one for carp.

Lake fishing for bluegill and bass continues to be good and a lot of fun. With more lily pads around the bigger bass are taking up residence nearby and eating your bigger patters or the bluegill that is on the end of your line. Frogs and poppers have been working well on the bass with smaller terrestrial patterns working on the bluegill. Flies like the Turks Tarantula have been catching some larger gills when stripped under the water and fished like a slider.

Smallmouth bass fishing in the lower Manistee river is just starting as water temps warm up and more fish migrate and populate the river from the lower sections. Streamer fishing baitfish patterns and fishing crayfish on floating lines are a great way to cover water with the crayfish fishing being best near rocks. Some popper and slider action has been working on the surface but I suspect that will only improve as summer continues.

Good luck,

Ted

bass, bluegill, hex, isonychia, lakes, smallmouth bass, steelhead, terrestrials, traverse fly fishing report, upper manistee river

Tough Trout Fishing in Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 25, 2014

The trout fishing has been tougher than it should be in Traverse City and the surrounding area. Frustrating too. The upper Manistee has been very fickle with bugs – all the emergences that lead up to the hex have been spotty at best and there have been no signs of the highly anticipated hex mayflies. As the lack of heat continues, I don’t expect much to change until the temperatures do. The future looks good when looking at the forecast but until then, we might be in for some “tough sledding”.

The water is in good shape – ideal conditions as far as clarity, level, etc. – it’s just that the fish haven’t been looking up and the streamer fishing has been decent at best. If you head to the river, you could see: golden stones, little yellow sally stones, gray drakes, brown drakes, little mahoganies, and isonychias. Have some bat flies and hex patterns in your box just in case and don’t forget the bug spray as the mosquitoes have been the only consistent bug this year.

The Boardman, too, has been off as far as bugs. It won’t take long before that gets going but I think its that warm air and hot sun that will kick things off.

Regardless of where you are fishing every day is different and you never know when the bugs will be out and the fish active. For what it is worth, the cloudy days have offered some of the better days on the water as far as fish playing.

Fishing on Grand Traverse Bay has improved over the past week. The carp are in the shallows in better numbers as the spawning is beginning. Look for the trailing fish behind the “ball of carp” to be the ones looking to eat – that’s what they often are doing – eating what the chaos kicks up. Still, these fish are picky and a good presentation is required. With Mayflies coming off of East Bay having some hex nymphs and crayfish is a great place to start. The smallmouth bass on the bay, too, have been playing a bit more although they can be there one day, gone the next. Some fish are spawning, others are cruising and some males are protecting nests. Crayfish, goby, and minnow variations/patterns should cover you in fly selection.

The lakes and ponds in the area are offering some really good fishing right now. Panfish/Bluegill continue to please both surface and sub-surface anglers while the largemouth Bass are eating bigger patterns subsurface and from time to time, diving flies. Pond fishing is perfect for those looking to spend an afternoon or evening on the water or if you are introducing a friend to the sport.

As the rivers get crowded with those once-a-year anglers seeking the hex try to be respectful and courteous to one another and remember to practice catch and release. Good luck.

Ted

Terestrials, Tricos and Trout – July and August fly fishing for trout on the Upper Manistee River
Salmon– Fresh fish can enter rivers as early as mid-August and offer great fishing through September.
Fall Steelhead– From the end of September through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.

boardman, brown drakes, carp, goby, grand traverse bay, hatches, hex, hex mayflies, smallmouth bass, upper manistee river

Summer is Here and so are the Hex

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 27, 2013

It took a while but some big hex flies can be found on local rivers. The hatches have been sporadic and very isolated – each bend in the river is different so if you don’t have success in one place, go around the next bend and see if there are bugs and fish. Then again, it is the time of the year where the “Annual Angler” makes his pilgrimage to the river so you might not have the ability to cover water. Duns and Spinners have been the mix and most nights the duration – at least on the Manistee, has been relatively short. Fish fast.

While waiting for the hex bugs, the Isonychia fishing has been pretty solid sometimes providing the best shot at fish as there is still some light out and good fish eating them. Fishing a hex emerger is a good way to spend an afternoon as is swinging an oversized hex nymph near the muddy banks to kill some time before the hatch. In addition to hex and Isos, have some Brown Drakes, Little Yellow Sallies, Sulphurs and Bat Fly patterns in your fly box.

Please practice catch and release and with the water being so warm (70 degrees) – get the fish to net quickly and revive them a long time before letting go. The Upper Manistee, Boardman and parts of the AuSable are not stocked with trout so the fish’s survival is paramount to future fishing.

Carp fishing on Grand Traverse Bay continues with a lot of fish in post-spawn mode and in shallow eating the hex and drakes in the silt beds. Spawning fish are still around, but each day is different which makes this fishing so fascination and frustrating at the same time. The heat and sunshine of the week has really warmed things up and is pushing this season closer to the end. The smallmouth bass can be found from time to time in the shallows but they have mostly moved out into deeper water. Fish that are still around have gotten pretty wise to the fly angler but a well presented fly (crayfish and hex) for cruising fish and around rocks should find you a fish or two.

The lakes are still fishing good for bluegill and largemouth bass are becoming more active especially on sliders and poppers – a fun way to spend some time on the water. Work the lilly pads, weed beds and drop offs for your best chances.

Good luck,

Ted

The Summer Newsletter just went out – Click here to read and/or sign up for future delivery

Trout Fishing – Evening hatches should transition to morning trico s and terrestrial fishing as July sets in.
Bluegill & Bass – Lake fishing for both species is a great way to spend some time on the water over summer.
Fall Steelhead – Its not too early to start thinking about fall’s best fishing fish. Late Sept. – Nov.

bass, boardman, grand traverse bay carp fishing, hex, hex hatch, iso, isonychia, manistee, river

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