Mid July Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 17, 2017

It’s the middle of July and the fish are in summer mode. Trout fishing seems best in the early and late portions of the day but if presented with an overcast day, the fishing can be good too. We have had a number of rains pretty much all spring and summer which have left the Manistee and Boardman River levels in good shape. The cool evenings have kept the water temperatures in check, too.

Most of the match-the-hatch fly fishing is beyond us with the exception of the Tricos which are just getting started and should be around for another month. Other bugs include BFOs, Isonychias, Light Cahills and the occasional Hex. With fewer bugs on the water it’s time to reach for the terrestrial box and fish ants, beetles, hoppers and other attractors as we approach the “foam and rubber” season. To read more on fishing trout rivers this time of year, click here to read: Fishing After the Hex Hatch.

The bluegill fishing on local lakes continues to be good with some bigger fish still in the shallows eager to eat your surface bug. Big bass are around too and typically prefer diving/sliding deer hair patterns and smaller poppers fished near weed beds and drop offs when not trying to eat the bluegill on the end of your line.

Good luck.

Ted

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

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.

Late May Fly Fishing Report Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 28, 2017

Trout fishing has been good for those looking to test their skills with matching the hatch and presenting dry flies and emergers to selective fish. Lots of bugs right now on the Manistee, Boardman and AuSable Rivers and this time of year it’s a pretty good idea to have them all in your box because there is no telling what the fish will want from one day to the next.

Sulphurs, March Browns, Blue Winged Olives, Mahoganies, Light Hendricksons, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium brown stones and caddis are the usual suspects and having some brown drakes with you might not be a bad idea either – just in case. To learn more on the hatches this time of year, click here.

Evenings have been best for emergences and spinner falls but with cloudy conditions and cooling temps, things can happen earlier rather than later. Surface activity with bugs can be isolated from one bend to the next so move if you aren’t seeing much happening. Until bug activity occurs, cast a streamer – especially after the rain that we received today. Brown and copper or Olive and copper seem to have been working well, but each day is different so mix it up until you find their daily preference.

Bluegill and bass fishing on local lakes/ponds continues to offer some great fishing as the fish have moved into the shallows. While spiders, beetles and small poppers have been working on top, slowly swimming damsel nymphs and small leeches tend to catch some bigger, more selective fish.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
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.

bass fishing, bluegill, brown drakes, fly-fishing guide traverse city, hatches, hendricksons, manistee river, traverse city fly fishing

Mid May Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 19, 2017

Trout continue to be the main focus of most anglers right now as this is a good time for those looking to do some match-the-hatch dry fly fishing. Rivers like the Upper Manistee, Au Sable and Boardman have had some decent hatches of a number of different bugs including: caddis, light Hendricksons, Sulphurs, Mahoganies and March Browns. After the cool front that came through the timing of the hatches and spinner falls will be a little difficult to predict instead of the typical late afternoons and evenings.

Until the bugs hit the water, work a streamer hard and heavy – it often takes a lot of casts but some of the fish that come to play this time of year makes you forget about all those previous casts. The lower Manistee below Tippy Dam is starting to see the number of spawning carp build and this tends to put the trout on a micro egg and small nymph bite until they clear out. Streamers (bait fish patterns) and wet flies have been working most days, but especially on cloudy days.

The bass and bluegill are moving into shallows and most lakes have fish starting to work nests/beds making for some great top water and small nymph fishing. Spiders, beetles and ant patterns work well on top but micro b.h. buggers, swimming nymphs and leeches are deadly when fished on a slow, steady retrieve.

Good luck.

Ted

May Fishing – Trout, late steelhead, hatches, streamer fishing, bluegill on lakes – don’t overlook fishing in May.
Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

bluefgill fishing, boardman river, carp, dry fly fishing, fly fishing traverse city, hendrricksons, manistee river, tippy dam, trout

Late February / Thaw Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - February 22, 2017

As anglers break out of hibernation mode, so do the fish. The recent weather has definitely been unusual for February. A few thaws throughout winter have left the snow pack minimal so the recent warm-up has kept water levels ideal with little run off. With the lack of cold water melting into tributaries, the bright sun has been able to warm the water to near 40 degrees and make for some decent fishing and a bonus for this time of year.

Smaller rivers like the Betsie respond well to these warm-ups and offer good fishing as it has retained enough clarity as the water has warmed up a bit. Like the Manistee, it has a mixed bag of fish in it – hold-over winter fish and some fresh ones too willing the play the game. The lower Manistee below Tippy dam to the lake is open and has fish dispersed throughout it with some trout closer to the dam.

Presentation is mixed – indicator/float rigs have been the ticket in the cold water but as it has warmed, the fish have been responding to drift/”duck and chuck” presentations. Bigger egg patterns tied in tandem with the usual nymphs have been good including: caddis, small black stone flies and hex patterns. Over the next couple of weeks, look for alevin and fry patterns to increase in effectiveness as salmon eggs transform to fish.

Like anglers, steelhead like the sunlight after months of not seeing much of it and this helps inspire fresh fish to think about ascending rivers – it inspires us to fish those rivers. Take your sunscreen – after a gray winter indoors, a little sun on the water goes a long ways.

Good luck.

Ted

Spring Steelhead – A mild winter should offer good fishing, early. A few dates remain in late March and April.
May Fishing – Trout, late steelhead, hatches, streamer fishing, bluegill on lakes – don’t overlook fishing in May.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

betsie river fishing report, black stone fly, manistee, manistee river, tippy dam

Early October Salmon, Steelhead and Trout Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 1, 2016

October is here and it’s starting to look and feel a little more like fall. Despite much warmer than normal temperatures, some leaves are starting to turn, the nights are a little cooler and some big fish are showing up in rivers.

The Betsie continues to receive some salmon, especially after favorable weather like wind and rain. Many of the fish are hitting the gravel and doing their annual spawning duties, but fresh fish are still making their way up stream. Look for fish to be running through the slots as they move towards gravel upstream. The darker holding and pocket water near worked-over gravel sections are holding staging fish, too.

The Manistee this past week has seen some of the first fish hit the spawning gravel in the upper sections and more fish stage. Water temps below Tippy Dam are about 10 degrees warmer than they should be for this time of year. Once the water temperature drops – along with some rain – the river is likely to get a big push of fish, until then it will likely be a reduced migration of fish. Word from the boats leaving out of Manistee is there are still a lot of adult fish in Lake Michigan. I think a few years of early runs have us impatiently waiting for the big push when they are just a little behind. Regardless, the number of fish this year is significantly greater than the last two years with more to come.

A lot of trout rivers and streams closed September 30th, but portions of others – like the Manistee and Au Sable – are still open to fishing. As the brookies are spawning and the browns are getting ready to do the same, the pre-spawn bite can be decent for those fishing streamers on smaller sink tips and even floating lines. Have some Blue Winged Olives and Caddis in your box just in case of an emergence. On the warmer days ahead it isn’t unusual to witness some flying ants and other terrestrial patterns on the water so make sure you have some in your fly box.

Good luck!

Ted

Available Dates in October: 19, 23 and 3oth.

Trout – Have the Upper Manistee to yourself fishing wets, dries/terrestrials and streamers.
Fall Steelhead – Starting in October, extending into December. Fall Color Tour includes Chrome!
Late Fall Trout – After gorging on salmon eggs, streamer fishing below Tippy Dam can be really good.

betsie river, blue winged olives, caddis, manistee river, salmon eggs, steelhead, tippy dam

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Posts tagged "manistee river"

Mid July Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City

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

Late May Fly Fishing Report Traverse City

Mid May Fly Fishing Report

Late February / Thaw Fly Fishing Report

Early October Salmon, Steelhead and Trout Fly Fishing Report

Available Dates in October: 19, 23 and 3oth.

Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156