Fall To Winter Steelhead & Trout Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 26, 2012

It didn’t take long for mother nature and conditions to go from a lingering fall right into winter mode. Temperatures have become more seasonable and so has the water temps slowing fish down a bit. It has been a while since we have received any significant precipitation so most of the steelhead in local river systems have been there a while and have been settling into their cold-water behaviors and lies. Water clarity is a little too good right now coupled with the low water levels so a little lighter line/tippet highly recommended.

Look for fish to be near wood structure in the slower moving water just and often just on the inside of a bubble line. As water temps drop these fish become a little more lethargic but they are still eating, albeit often selectively. Fishing with floats and suspending flies through bubble lines (fly pinning) is an effective method from now until spring as it helps with the drag-free drift and keeps your flies out of the wood. The swing bite for those looking to cast two-handed rods remains decent as this method can encourage some fish out of the wood to eat something big and flashy; target the soft water on the inside off the bubble line just like the nymph and egg angler and let the fly hang-down a little longer as this time of year the fish seem to get curious about big streamer/spey flies dangling in the current.

Trout fishing remains a viable option for those looking to catch some browns and bows. Streamer fishing in some of the bigger water this time of year requires a lot of casts but often with big rewards when you hit. Fishing below Tippy Dam offers both streamer and nymph fishing as there is a higher concentration of trout in the first couple of miles of downstream of the dam. Small, natural looking (pale and/or translucent) eggs are a great pattern to fish in tandem with either a scud/sow bug or bwo nymph under an indicator. While it appears that our warm summer had an effect on the trout population in this water, there are still plenty of fish to target.

Firearm deer season ends 11/30/12 so wearing a little blaze orange isn’t a bad call as hunters tend to get anxious to fill unused tags the last few days of the season.

Good Luck.

Ted

Late Fall Steelhead: Target angler’s favorite sport-fish through December – Stay active this Holiday Season.
Late Season Trout: Fish the Upper or Lower Manistee and have the river to yourself. Nymph & Streamer fishing.
Gift Certificates: Ask for or give the gift of a guide trip or casting lesson. It’s a quick and easy gift! Click here.
Booking for all 2013 Seasons and through September – reserve your place in the boat.

current works, fall steelhead, fly-fishing guide, manistee, manistee river, steelhead, ted kraimer, traverse city, upper-manistee

Steelhead Fishing Report – Mid-November

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 14, 2012

Not much has changed with conditions on the Manistee over the past week. The water is still low and clear because it’s been a while since we received any significant amounts of rain. Same with fresh pushes of fish. The fish in the system are spread out and becoming weary with a few new fish trickling in. With water temps dropping fast (lower 40’s) due to more seasonal weather we have been receiving, the steelhead are starting to transition into to slower seams and pools. Multiple approaches are working including big streamers swung on sink-tips to pull fish out of structure to eat something big. Fishing under indicators/floats, too, are allowing presentations in water that would otherwise result in snags if drift fishing. Cover lots of water, fish thoroughly and enjoy the solitude on the river – most people are in the woods right now leaving the rivers less pressured. With Firearm Deer season extending from Nov. 15 – 30, a little hunter’s orange will go a long way for safety while you fish.

Good luck,

Ted

Fall Steelhead: It’s time to target angler’s favorite sport-fish through November and into December.
Fall Trout: Fish the Upper Manistee throughout fall or Lower Manistee through November.
Booking for all 2013 Seasons and through September – reserve your place in the boat.

current works, fall steelhead, fly fishing, manistee, manistee river, s, steelhead, ted kraimer, traverse city

Steelhead & Trout Fishing Report – Nov. 8 2012

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 8, 2012

Steelhead continue to be the target of most anglers these days on the Manistee, however the targets are moving around and getting smart. The lack of any recent rainfall has kept any fresh pushes of fish from moving in from the lake and the fish in the system are spread out from Tippy dam to Lake Michigan.

With the low, clear water, fish are scattered and can be found in various types of water with more recently fish moving to and near wood structure. The runs, slots and holes are still a great place to target but look for fish in the secondary lies to provide opportunity as well. Float fishing/Fly pinning is a good way to keep your flies off of the bottom and keep your drift natural. With water temps in the mid-40s, now is a great time to carve the active fish away from wood and grabbing a swung fly. For more on rigging and the methods used for steelhead, click here.

Look for fresh fish to continue to trickle in until we receive rain when a larger push should migrate. Trout fishing with streamers is a good bet for anglers looking to catch post-spawn browns on the upper and lower Manistee with a few nice brookies also eating after their fall activities.

Good Luck,

Ted

current works, fall steelhead, fly-fishing guide, manistee, manistee river, michigan, steelhead, ted kraimer, traverse city, upper-manistee

Fall Steelhead on the Manistee

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 11, 2012

With the fall-like weather upon us, the fish are behaving appropriately. Some much needed rain has bumped up the water levels a bit on the Manistee River and with it have come additional steelhead. Fish like to be around all the salmon as their spawning activity makes for a great source of food the steelhead cash in on. Lots of egg patterns have been the trick in natural salmon color patterns and small as the water is really clear. The nymph bite has been improving in the deeper water and runs when targeting migrating fish including hex nymphs, big stoneflies and caddis. Those looking to target salmon will find a majority of them on or near spawning gravel. The coho salmon don’t seem to be around as much this year, but sometimes they run a little later; lake run browns have been showing up a little more this year as a nice added bonus.

With the winds and fall colors, there is no shortage of leaves in the water so check your flies each time you cast to make sure they are clean of debris and keep casting. When you do hook into those adult steelhead, hold on and hope as they are rambunctious in the mid-50 degree water – one little mistake and the fish are gone, but then again, a steelhead’s ability to act this way is in part why we fish them.

Good Luck,

Ted

October is the month for fall steelhead – Available Dates: October 31

Fall Steelhead: It’s time to target angler’s favorite sport-fish now through November.
Fall Trout: Fish the Upper Manistee throughout fall or Lower Manistee in late October and through November.
Booking for all 2013 Seasons and through September – reserve your place in the boat.

fall steelhead, manistee river, steelhead fly fishing

Not Enough – Rain or Salmon

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 10, 2012

We received some rain however it wasn’t enough to really make a difference in the number of salmon in local rivers. Simply put: things are slow on the Betsie river and the Manistee isn’t much better. Summer weather remains problematic for changing things and the lack of significant amounts of rain and continuing drought is keeping our salmon migration on hold. When we do get a heavy rain, look for fish to swim upstream in biblical proportions. Until then, cover lots of water and look for cloudy days to be better as the few fish in the river systems are hiding in the wood when its sunny and the water clear.

Trout fishing is o.k. right now on the upper Manistee with terrestrial fishing remaining one’s best bet as the summer conditions are making for happy grasshoppers. All things rubber -legged and attractor-like should receive priority in your fly choice. Streamer fishing has been o.k. on those rare days when the clouds are out and when fishing streamers in the low water conditions, fish your smaller patterns for your best success. Few natural bugs are on the water including: beetles, some flying ants, BWOs and small Isonychias.

Good luck,

Ted

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Salmon: Salmon fishing season extends through September. Limited dates available.
Steelhead: The end of September means it’s time to focus on fall steelhead through November.
Fall Trout: Fish the Upper Manistee throughout fall or Lower Manistee in late October and through November.
Booking for all 2013 Seasons and through August – reserve your place in the boat.

betsie river, manistee river, salmon, terrestrial fishing, trout

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Posts tagged "manistee river"