Posts tagged "isonychias"

Mid June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 15, 2018

As we hit the mid-point of June it’s time to hit the trout rivers with a head-lamp for those late evening emergences and spinner falls. With the hot weather/temperatures forecast the big hex bugs should get going pretty soon. Until then, be armed with Isonychias, Brown Drakes, Stones – medium brown, golden and little yellow sally, Light Cahills, and the very last of the sulphurs. Consistent hatches have been hard to find this year but when we find them it offers up some good fishing with fish looking up. You can learn more about the other hatches that precede the Hex Hatch here.

With air temps rising, so do water temps – please play the fish fast and release them quickly for their survival. Remember, the MI-DNR doesn’t stock a majority of our rivers so do your part to help the fishery.

The bay fishing is hit or miss when it comes to the carp. Some days we find them and they are happy, other days we find them, and they aren’t happy. Then there are the days we don’t find them. Smallmouth bass have mostly come in to do their spawning, but some still can be found cruising the shallows. It’s best to hit the big water with an open mind – that is take whichever species presents itself. Carp are mostly in a pre-spawn mode unless you can find warm water that has remained warm for a few days – then they are in spawning mode.

The lake fishing for bluegills and bass remains strong. A lot of the bigger bluegills have left the shallows, but not all of them. With the moon cycle, they should be in again for a second round. Look for shallow water near drop offs for your best fishing. The bass fishing has been fun with smaller poppers and small streamers fished on floating lines.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – The big Bugs of June will be here before you know it…. Isos, Drakes and Hex – limited dates available.
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.

ausable river, bluegill, boardman, carp fishing, fly fishing traverse city, hex hatch, isonychias

Early June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 5, 2018

Fishing the Traverse City region in early June offers plenty of choices. Most fly fishers are going after trout since this time of year offers some technical dry fly fishing. Rivers like the Manistee, Boardman and Au Sable continue to produce a smorgasbord of flies on the water including: Gray Drakes, Great and Little Mahoganies, Sulphurs, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown Stones, Brown Drakes, Isonychias and Caddis. Any given day you can see a few different kinds of bugs, other days only one type but you should head out to the water with a loaded fly box and a headlamp with fresh batteries because a lot of times the spinner fall is taking place at dusk. Bring some bug spray, too.

Streamers and twitch flies on smaller sink tips have been working during the day to bring a fish out of the wood and onto the hook. This time of year, lightening up your streamer approach can be a good thing as the fish like a different presentation after six weeks of heavy streamer pressure.

The current cold-front has brought the water temperatures down in the river which is good – last week’s heat warmed them up a little too much, too quick. Levels and clarity are about perfect if there is such a thing. As always, handle the trout quickly and get them back in – most of these rivers rely on natural reproduction so even the small ones are important to tomorrow’s quality of fishing.

The inland lakes continue to produce good bluegill fishing as well as large and smallmouth bass fishing. The smallmouth are typically deeper and weighted flies and/or clear sink-tip lines will help you get to fish near those slight drop-offs. The largemouth and bluegill are in the shallow water and are mostly done spawning but are in a post-spawn mood.

With all the wind and cool temps, the fishing on the bay is still in its infancy for the carp and smallmouth but there are still some opportunities for those willing to put in the time and cover some water. Sustained weather (and warmth) will help make for some better fishing that is sure to come as June progresses.

If you are into the warm-water fishing, this weekend The Northern Angler is hosting there 2^nd Annual Cheese Cup Warm-water fishing tournament. This is a fun, fundraising event for the Third Level Crisis Center in honor of Alex “Cheese” Hawke who lost his battle with depression. The format is easy going and focuses on the warm-water species including bass, carp, pike, and bluegill. The after party is one you won’t want to miss. More detail’s here.

Good luck.

Ted

Baordman river, bluegill fishing, brown drakes, carp fishing, cheese cup fly fishing tournament, guided fly fishing, isonychias, manistee river, smallmouth bass fishing, traverse city fly fishing, trout fishing, twitch flies

Mid-July Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 13, 2016

The dog-days of summer are upon us with warm weather and the Cherry Festival behind us.

The trout fishing has been up and down. Tricos are becoming more reliable on the Manistee and Boardman Rivers and will build over the month offering dry fly fishing for those looking to hit the water in the a.m. These small bugs are ideal for those 3 and 4 wt. rods you don’t use too often. The various terrestrials and attractors are becoming more effective each day and also will build – these windy days have blown ants, beetles and other insects onto the water and the brook trout and brown trout have noticed.

Those fishing in the evening and up until dark has been witnessing sporadic hatches of Isonychias, Great BWO, Light Cahills, a few caddis and little yellow sally stone flies. Now that we are on the other side of the Hex Hatch, it’s time to adjust our fishing after two months of evening fishing – you can learn more by reading “Trout Fishing After the Hex Hatch.”

Bass fishing on the lakes has been a lot of fun now that the weed growth is making it easy to find where the fish are laid up. Diving frogs, poppers and some baitfish streamers fished on a floating line can help you find a largemouth bass. Like always, target the structure of weeds, docks and drop offs. Try fishing deer hair sliders on a clear sink-tip line for a great presentation along drop-offs – most often they can’t help but eat those flies.

Those same lakes and ponds where you find bass will provide lots of opportunity for panfish and bluegill. While the big gills are off deep and pretty much out of reach for the fly angler, the smaller fish are offering plenty of opportunity to bend the rod. These fish are perfect for new and developing anglers as they offer endless opportunities to set the hook and bring them in while on a beautiful northern Michigan lake.

Smallmouth bass fishing on the Lower Manistee is increasing with the warm water and temperatures. These fish love a streamer fished on both floating line and sink-tips. While not for beginners, they offer a fun target for those looking to spend a day on the water.

There are a few Carp in Grand Traverse Bay but they have been highly difficult to pin down and predict – especially with all the wind we have been dealing with lately. The higher water of the bay has made fishing more difficult than years past but those shallow spots should have the occasional fish move through them. Consider fishing further north where the water is cooler. The majority of the season is behind us still leaving us realizing that we know less about these mysterious fish than we think.

Good luck and stay cool (on water).

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 fishing, boardman, carp, isonychias, manistee, smallmouth bass fishing, tricos

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

Trout Fishing and Transitioning from Hex

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 11, 2015

Now that summer is here with the warm daytime temps, the hex hatch has mostly caught up and is winding down on local rivers including the Manistee and Boardman. The upstream portions (think cooler water) of river systems are your better bets right now if you are still looking for those nocturnal bugs that bring out some really nice fish that are typically inaccessible the rest of the year with a dry fly. Since we have had our share of cool periods the past few weeks along with some cold nights – look for there to be sporadic bugs for another week, so keep a few of those big flies in your box if you are headed out in the evenings – the spinner falls should occur just before dark through the first hour of dark should conditions be right.

Other bugs have been on the water but they too, have been light in numbers: Isonychias, BWO, Light Cahills, Little Yellow Sallies, and gray drakes have been more commonly present in the evenings, but on cloudy days there has been some daytime emergences. To learn more on fishing trout after the Hex, click here.

As we transition from the match-the-hatch dry fly fishing done the past 7 weeks, start to look to prospect and probe your favorite trout water with some smaller streamers on floating lines and consider bringing your terrestrial patterns with you for some fun surface activity – this will only get better in the weeks ahead. The Tricos should start in another week or so and typically are on the water mid-morning before the sun gets too high. Now is also a good time to swing soft-hackles again through riffle water on your lighter weight rods if you are looking for some brookies and the occasional larger brown trout.

Bass fishing on local lakes continues to be good – be sure target the lily pads and drop offs for your best bet with surface poppers and diving bugs. The bluegill fly angler will find some bigger gills at first light and evening moving to the shallows while there are plenty of smaller bluegill/panfish in the shallows for those just learning to fly fish.

Smallmouth bass fishing on the lower Manistee river is getting better with the added heat and should only continue to as summer progresses. Fishing streamer patterns on sink-tips is the norm and popper fishing can be just what the fish are looking for.

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.

hex fishing, isonychias, manistee river, poppers, smallmouth bass, soft hackles, tricos, trout

«‹2 3 4 5 6 ›»