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Posts tagged "isonychias"

Big Bug Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 20, 2019

Water levels on the local rivers are falling back into shape. While they are a higher than normal for this time of year, they are fishable and have a little stain to them – almost ideal. Water temperatures are still cool due to cool nights and a lack or significant warmth and sunshine the past month which is delaying some of the hatches.

Bugs have been fickle on the Manistee with the best hatches above M-72 as that water has fallen into shape sooner than the lower sections. Look for the last of the sulphurs, Isonychias, little mahoganies, gray drakes, brown drakes, yellow cahills, and some little yellow and medium brown stoneflies. No sign of hex on the Manistee but there are rumors of some on parts of the Au Sable river system.

Its that time of year that the riverbanks are active with more anglers wearing headlamps. Bring bug spray to keep the mosquitoes and ticks away, respect private property and share the resource.

Lake and pond fishing has another round of bigger bluegill in the shallow water with the week’s full-moon. These are a great species to target with a light rod and offer both experienced anglers and beginners the opportunity to bend the rod and just have fun. Some bass are around the shallow water, too, as they come out of the post-spawn funk and are a little more eager to eat both on the surface and below.

Stop your rod tip high.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

bluegills fishing, brown drakes, grayling fishing, isonychias, manistee river hex, michigan fly fishing trips, traverse city fly fishing, trout, trout fly fishing

Mid-June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 12, 2019

The weather can’t make up it’s mind – it goes from cool spring-like weather to full-on summer, then back to cool and rainy. And the trout can’t decide whether they want to play our game or not.

Trout fishing remains challenging on both the Manistee and Au Sable Rivers. Hatches have been decent, but most days the wind blows the bugs off of the water not giving the trout much opportunity to sip them. Spinner falls have been occurring and seem to be more prolific during the warmer parts of cloudy days rather than evenings when we are accustom to them falling. Best suggestion – get out when you can, but be careful.

River levels are up significantly for the wading angler on all of the local rivers with more rain in the forecast. This will also drop the water temperatures, prolonging the various hatches and delaying the start of other bugs.

Right now you can expect to see the sulphurs, great and small mahoganies, BWO, Cahills, Grey Drakes, Brown Drakes, Stones (little yellow, early brown, medium brown) and some caddis. Isonychias should make an appearance any day if they haven’t already on certain sections of rivers.

Streamer fishing continues to be tough and with all the high water washing subsurface food down stream, the fish seem well fed this year.

Lake/pond fishing remains good – some have bluegill fishing where other have come and gone from the shallows. The next full moon should get them back in shallow again for round two of spawning. Bass – small and largemouth are taking both surface and subsurface flies where shallow water meets a drop off. The bays have some smallmouth fishing accessible to the fly rod angler, but it’s been tough as the water is so much deeper than normal. Carp, too, have been moving in and out of the shallows wherever the water is warm which has been difficult to find with the cold bay and constantly shifting winds.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Father’s Day – Get dad on the water this year with a gift certificate for either a half and full-day trip.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

cahills, fathers day trout fishing, gift certificates, grand traverse bay carp fishing, grey drakes, isonychias, smallmouth bass fishing, upper-manistee

Early June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 4, 2019

June is one of the most popular times on the local rivers for trout fishing. The technical dry fly fishing of May eases up as the bugs get a little bigger and the fish tend to look up more making for a little easier dry fly fishing when bugs and feeding fish coexist.

The upper Manistee is in good shape and the Au Sable levels are dropping back to normal levels. Water temps are in the low 60’s making for ideal conditions. Streamer fishing has been tougher this year than normal but it’s still a great way to cover water when waiting for some bugs and fish to appear on the surface.

This time or year you will want a lot of different flies in your fly box to have you covered for likely hatch scenarios. Sulphurs, Great Mahoganies, Little Mahoganies, a few remaining light Hendricksons, Black Caddis, Tan Caddis, Stones (little yellow & medium brown), March Browns, Grey and Brown Drakes, and some Isonychias could show up any evening. With the cooler nights/evenings, sometimes the heavier bug densities (spinners) occur at the warmest time of day, but it’s difficult to predict. A fly box with various sizes of Borcher’s Drakes and Robert’s Yellow Drakes will cover a number of bugs right now.

[You can read more about some of the bugs that emerge this time of year by reading, Trout Fishing Before the Hex Hatch.]

Local lakes have had a lot of the spawning bass and bluegill finish up sooner than expected considering the water temps are still a bit behind, but fish in post-spawn mode are still the shallow and transition water depths that are approachable to the fly angler.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Father’s Day – Get dad on the water this year with a gift certificate for either a half and full-day trip.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

brown drakes, isonychias, manistee river, manistee trout fishing, sulphurs, trout, trout fishing, upper-manistee

Mid-July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 16, 2018

With Mid-July comes mid-July fishing conditions. With the warmer weather and bright sun we are finding the best trout fishing to be in the morning or late evening when the sun isn’t so bright and the fish are out looking to eat. Mid-mornings are offering good hatches of Tricos and BWOs with fish looking for them. While the big fish aren’t out eating these small mayflies, we sometimes are surprised by some nice fish. It’s a great time to fish with your favorite 3 or 4 wt rod.

Beyond Tricos, look for Isonychias and Light Cahills to be the other flies on the water and more so in the evening. This time of year we move from matching the hatch to fishing terrestrials and attractor patterns with rubber legs. Cover the water – hit the banks, the wood, the cross-over currents and twitch those flies a little to conjure up a strike. Water temps on the upper Manistee and Boardman rivers remain in the mid to upper 60’s so get the fish in and back to the water quickly.

Bass and bluegill fishing on the local lakes continues to fish strong especially when fishing in the shallows near drop-offs. Bass are loving the poppers and deer hair divers above and around submerged and surface weeds. Fishing tends to be better in the low light hours but the bass aren’t as picky as the trout and often play nice all day long.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout –  Trico Hatches and Terrestrial fishing has begun – it’s the perfect way to start the day on the river!
Stillwater- Bluegill and Bass fishing remains a favorite for beginners and experienced anglers through August.
Fall Steelhead –  It’s Summer which means it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates. Oct. thru Dec.

bass fishing, bluegill fishing, boardman river fly fishing, fly fishing the upper manistee, isonychias, traverse city fly fishing report, trico hatches

Late June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 23, 2018

With summer Solstice occurring this past week it’s the time of year trout anglers stay out late and well after the sun goes down.  The nocturnal Hex Hatch is off to a start on just about all local rivers in Northwest Michigan: The Au Sable, Boardman, Manistee, Pine, Platte, PM – it’s that time of year.  As the “once a year angler” heads to the river, ardent anglers find there are more anglers to share the water with. And sharing is a good approach as is practicing the golden rule along with the golden rule of fly fishing – catch and release.

Before the big bugs come out you should find a smattering of other bugs on the water including Isonychias, little Yellow Sallies, BWOs, Golden Stones, Light Cahills, Bat Flies and maybe more. Hatches have been hard to predict this year and they have been almost as fickle as the fish that eat them but when the stars line up, it provides some pretty good fishing.

The fishing on the bay has been spotty – the carp are acting like carp making an appearance one day, gone the next. Water temps are ideal but the wrong winds can change that for a day or two factoring where to fish. Covering water is the best approach and hope for some sunlight to make seeing them easier. Bass continue to slip in and out of the shallows with some in post spawn and a prediction of a second round of spawning to occur shortly.

Lake fishing is good for those looking for bluegill and bass. Largemouth are mostly done protecting their beds and making up for some lost meals. The bigger gills seem to be around the drop offs and close to structure where dries work but a swum nymph can work better. Look for the lake fishing to remain good as more weed growth develops as summer proceeds. The smaller gills continue to be the ideal species for those who want to learn how to fish.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – Terrestrials and Tricos are right around the corner – it’s the perfect way to start the day on the river.
Stillwater- Bluegill, Bass and Carp. With the best trout fishing in the evening, try fishing lakes during the day.
Fall Steelhead –  With Summer just arriving, it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates – Oct. thru Dec.

bass on the fly, bluegill fly fishing, carp fishing, fishing, fly fishing traverse city, fly fishing trips, hex hatch, isonychias, tricos
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