Posts tagged "isonychias"

Mid June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 11, 2021

We aren’t even to the mid-June but it already feels like mid-August. In Arizona.

Extreme heat (by northern Michigan standards), low humidity, and practically no rain the past month in addition to being down more than half the annual precipitation YTD, have left the rivers low, clear, and warm. And the fish are stressed. Temps on the upper Manistee have been in the upper 60s for a week and some days going beyond the 70-degree mark.

While you might think that makes for ideal wet-wading, it has made for tough conditions for trout survival. Just because you catch and release a fish and watch it swim away doesn’t ensure it survives the experience. Watching a dead trout tumble down the river from someone upstream is confirmation that another business partner has been lost and it’s one less fish any of us can catch in the future. It sucks. And most of the time, it can be prevented by not fishing in those conditions.

Please monitor water temps and when it nears the 70 degree mark, leave the trout alone. Instead, consider fishing a lake for other species, get caught up on house projects, catch a ball game or fix those leaky waders. Our un-stocked and often mis-managed fisheries just can’t handle an angler-inflicted blow caused by warm water and catch-and-release mortality.

To help you monitor temps, you can check out these links which will give you an idea on conditions:

Upper Manistee
Lower Manistee
Most rivers in the State of Michigan

With that said, I haven’t been on the water this week as trips have been cancelled or refocused to other sections of water or species. Not being there to witness hatches, experience tells me that often in warm conditions like this, bug activity tends to be condensed to the last hour of light, if it happens at all. Sometimes mid-morning can provide a spinner fall, but spinners are the most unpredictable stage of mayflies.

So, for the good news. The overnight temps are forecast to drop into the 50s for a while which will help our spring fed trout streams and rivers cool off. There might even be some rain to add some color to the water and keep the dust managed on the roads. More good news: with the lack of rain, mosquitoes have pretty much been non-existent.

When the rivers cool off, look for Isonychias, Stone flies, Bat Flies, and Brown Drakes to occupy the air space above your favorite pool and/or on the water itself.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – July and August is Terrestrial and Trico time! Start the day off casting to brook and brown trout
and get back to the family for lunch time – it’s a great way to start the day when in Northwest Michigan.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –perfect for beginners.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December.

brown drakes, catch and release mortality, fly fishing guide, fly fishing report, isonychias, michigan trout fishing, warm water

Early June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 3, 2021

With June starting, so do the big bugs.

Trout fishing has been the focus of most anglers recently. This time of year, folks tend to hit the river armed with a well-stocked box(s) of dry flies or get in the boat with visions of emergers, sailboat look-a-like duns and/or spinners on the water to imitate. Lots of different bugs can be bring trout to the surface this time of year which is why it is a favorite time to spend an evening on the water on the Manistee or other local rivers.

Sulphurs, Mohaganies, Yellow/brown stones, and Gray Drakes are of primary consideration. But beyond those (since aquatic bugs haven’t used logic or followed schedules the past 8 years), have Isonychias and Brown Drakes with your because you never know when they might start to emerge on the Manistee. (Some Brown Drakes have begun on the Au Sable system). The hatches have been light, if not sporadic with fluctuations in the weather and some cool nights, but one has to be prepared. Evenings are still the best bet under normal circumstances, so make sure your head lamp has fresh batteries.

More on early June hatches and fishing this time of year can be read here.

With the lack of any significant precipitation, the mosquitoes most nights have been non-existent. The lack of rain has also kept the river running low and clear for far too long. Stealth in your presentation is paramount and a good presentation is required – these fish are demanding. Streamer fishing has waned with the low water and increase in bug activity. With some significant warm weather in the forecast, likely the last few hours of the day should offer the best fishing in the foreseeable future, unless a cloudy day comes along.

The lake fishing has been good for those looking to cast to some fat and sassy bluegill. The bass have been playing along, too, depending on which lake you are fishing. The typical surface flies have been working but with the full moon behind us, we are getting into post spawn grumpy behavior.

Good luck

Ted

TEMPERATURE ALERT: With the hot weather and warm nights, monitor temperatures on trout rivers. Once the water hits 70 degrees, you should stay off the water to prevent mortality and help preserve the resource.

au sable river, brown drakes, drakes, fishing guide traverse city, fly fishing guide, fly fishing report Michigan, isonychias, stoneflies, streamer fishing, sulphurs, trout fishing

Hex Season

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 27, 2020

It’s that time of year where darkness brings out the big bugs, big fish and big crowds.

The rivers are in good shape with a little more water in them than normal (2 inches?) and a slight stain compared to the typical clear, low water found this time of year. Most of the local rivers in the region are experiencing hex bugs at night – both spinner falls and hatches. But in keeping in-step with the rest of our hatches this spring, they have been as fickle as the fish – sometimes being there, other times not. Having some stable weather in the forecast should help make more reliable hatches/spinner falls, but as I wrote a few weeks ago regarding bugs, I no longer predict hatches.

There haven’t been too many other bugs on the water but to be prepared, you will want some Isonychias, Brown Drakes, Bat Flies, Sulphurs and Med Brown Stoneflies in your box as these have been around, just not in heavy numbers.

There seems to be even more folks on the water than normal for this time of year. After the three months we have all gone through it’s seems the water is the place where people can get out and maybe forget about those past three months – can’t blame them for that. Most have a smile on their face, are pleasant with a nod and smile, and even some friendly words rather than the territorial grunt of a hunter-gatherer typically experienced this time of year. Let’s keep that attitude going forward to help make it a nice experience for everyone out there.

Lastly, water temps are increasing so when you hook into that fish, take advantage of that 6 wt rod and 1x tippet and get them in quick and back in the water. Sadly, most of the local trout rivers are not stocked by the DNR and these adult fish are responsible for future generations through natural reproduction and that can’t happen if the fish dies after a 20 second photo session.

Good luck.

Ted

New to the Sport? Bass and Bluegill fishing is the perfect way to learn to fish after a quick casting lesson.
Tricos & Terrestrials – A great way to start a summer day. Float and Trout fish the Manistee in July and August.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates are available in November – a great way to finish a fishing season.

ausable river, crowded fishing, drakes, fishing guide, fly fishing report traverse city, hex emergence, hex fishing, Hex Season, isonychias, manistee

June Flyfishing Report and Covid

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 1, 2020

June has arrived and usually the first of the big bugs on the river arrive with it. Isonychias should be in the fly box if you are headed out to the local rivers. Plenty of other bugs can be found on the water this time of year, too: March Browns, Sulphurs, Mahoganies and Black Caddis. Want to simplify your fly selection? Have Borcher’s Drakes and Robert’s Yellow Drakes in sizes 12, 14 and 16.

If headed to the local rivers, you will find them running high and stained from the recent rains and high water table – it’s not unusual for that to happen this time of year, just not welcomed. Some warmer, clear weather in the forecast should condense a lot of the hatches into the mornings and evenings but with all the rapid fluctuations in the weather, it’s anyone’s guess when the bugs will come off. Mosquitoes are a little more dependable so have some repellent with you.

Lake fishing for bluegill and bass is ideal right now. Both surface activity and small streamers/swimming nymphs are catching both species as they are in the shallow and most are in a post spawn mode. A couple of pike are around too, so don’t hesitate to cast a larger streamer along emerging weed beds and gradual drop offs.

Covid-19 continues to put a wrinkle in guiding – stay tuned for more info as we approach the current stay home order’s expiration, potential further easing, and associated safety guidelines. We are still booking trips and will perform them if we are able to do so, refunding deposits or rescheduling if not. Your understanding of the situation is appreciated – believe us: guides miss being on the water, our clients, and the income.

Good luck/Stay safe.

Ted

bass fishing, bluegill, fly fishing, isonychias, manistee river

Summer Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 29, 2019

As August comes around, we find that the seasons are becoming a bit more aligned with where they should be for this time of year.

Trout fishing has eased up with less hatches to match, but with fish still looking to come up to eat a dry fly. The Tricos are like most mayflies this season and are running late and are just now beginning to emerge which should make for a few weeks of good August fishing.

Isonychias, Cahills, Great BWOs, and Little Yellow Sallies can be seen on the water when not fishing with terrestrial patterns like ants and hopper-ish looking flies that are always important this time of year. Some days they want movement, other’s they want dead-drift. On the overcast days, look for fish to be anywhere there is a darker bottom indicating depth/structure/current. Small streamers fished on a floating line is a nice addition to the presentation this time of year as they are twitched through likely seams.

Water levels are fine for the wading angler. They are a little higher than normal for this time of year due to rains but by no means are they considered high. Clarity is fine, too. Water temps fluctuate daily this time of year on the Boardman and Upper Manistee so factor that into your plans as fishing late in the day after a few hot days can be slow and stressful to the fish.

Lake and pond fishing for bass and bluegill remain great options for those who have spent enough time chasing trout and trying to please them. Some bigger gills are still in the shallows in part because of the late start to the season spared them from anglers keeping a lot of them. Bass fishing on top with poppers, deer hair bugs and sliders is a lot of fun this time of year when they come from the weeds or depths to chomp on your fly.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Terrestrial & Trico fishing for Brooks and Browns through August and into September.
Salmon – The Kings of September are running big this year – a limited number of dates available.
Fall Steelhead – October through December – a fall favorite for many. A few ideal dates remain open.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through August of2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

bass bugs, bass fishing, bluegill fishing on the fly, glen arbor, glen lake, isonychias, manistee, terrestrial fishing, tricos, trout fishing, water temps

‹1 2 3 4 ›»