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Posts tagged "manistee steelhead"

Early December Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 2, 2020

As we enter December, anglers will find steelhead throughout local river systems (Manistee and Betsie) and pretty well spread throughout them. Water temps are hovering around 40 degrees, but after some cold nights, the smaller rivers tend to drop temps until any sunshine that day might warm them up. Since the rivers aren’t very busy, sometimes it’s a good idea to get a later start and let both the air and water temps increase some. If there is one thing all species of fish don’t like, it’s a rapid drop in temps when things are already cool.

Not much has changed – it’s time to cover the water with your favorite method – drift fishing, indicators or swinging flies on sink-tips. Look for the fish to have moved into water a little slower than they have been as they begin to adjust to the colder temps and maybe consider taking up residence near some structure for the winter. A mix of fish are being caught – fresh chrome ones and some with a little color to them, especially the males. Bubble lines are still worth targeting, especially on the soft side of the current.

Eggs and beads are still working well, with caddis, hex and the occasional big stone fly working when tied below an egg. Swung flies in tan/brown with copper and olive and copper seem to have been more successful than other combinations.

There’s still some good weather and fishing to be had so don’t put your gear away just yet.

Ted

Fall Steelhead –  Take advantage of the mild late Fall weather – it’s a great way to finish the fishing season.
Gift Certificates –  Give the gift of a Fishing Trip or Lesson – Half of Full Days available – they’re easy and fast.

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Late November Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 22, 2020

Steelhead fishing continues as the water temps remain in the mid to lower 40s on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers. Usually by now they are cooler, so the milder temps of Nov. has been welcomed. Fish continue to be fickle, spread-out, and doing a pretty good job of making us work for them each day. But not working hard in snow has made the challenge a fair and reasonable trade-off.

Fish are starting to like something more than just eggs with some nymphs starting to take their share of fish. Hex nymphs, caddis and steelhead buggers lead the category with beads and eggs in various colors working when tied above the nymph. In clear water, the muted and smaller sizes are ideal with bigger, bolder colors in the stained water combined with overcast skies. If that doesn’t work, do the opposite – it’s how 2020 has played out so consider this as a possible plan-B.

The trout fishing below Tippy Dam has been more of a struggle this year than anyone expected. Not sure if the hot summer wreaked havoc on the population or all the hunter-gather types harvested them all, but they have been elusive.

It’s still deer season so some hunter’s orange might be a good call if headed to the water.

Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving.

Ted

Fall Steelhead –  Take advantage of the mild late Fall weather – it’s a great way to finish the fishing season.
Gift Certificates –  Give the gift of a Fishing Trip or Lesson – Half of Full Days available – they’re easy and fast.

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April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 7, 2019

Local rivers are holding their own thanks to a slow melt/thaw of the remaining snow in the woods and a lack of significant rainfall. Steelhead fishing has been good as water temps have moved past the 40 degree mark and fish are starting to come out of the depths and are nosing around gravel on the Manistee. With much of the ice off Tippy Dam Pond, temps should stay above 40 from here on out. Smaller rivers like the Betsie already have spawning going in earnest with more fish coming from Lake Michigan with the increase in river flow.

With natural eggs drifting down stream, the rivers the smaller, more natural looking egg patterns are starting to be more effective but keep those larger, bolder egg patterns when fishing darker, overcast days or seeking fresh migrating fish in the lower sections. Caddis and Fry Patterns have been the more effective nymphs lately and with the warm temps in the forecast look for some stonefly activity to make fishing small stoneflies more effective.

While the steelhead fishing has been good, it sure seems that there has been an increase in fish harvest/mortality. Keep in mind that steelhead make a number of returns upriver in their life-cycle and that 10-pound fish you catch this year likely wouldn’t have been possible if it were kept as a 5 or 6 pound fish last year. Please limit your kill rather than kill your limit – the quality of our fishery depends on it.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – May and June offers some of the best trout fishing of the year matching the hatch and fishing streamers.
Fall Steelhead– It’s not too early to look ahead to fall run of these fish. Hard fighting and a beautiful time of year.
Booking 2019 – Reserve your date(s) and schedule life around fishing rather than trying to fit fishing into life.

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