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Posts tagged "manistee"

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

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 guide, manistee, manistee river, michigan, steelhead, ted kraimer, traverse city, upper-manistee

Steelhead Fishing NW Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 24, 2012

The water levels have come down, water clarity is pretty much ideal and water temps are perfect – it is a great time for steelhead. Fishing the last few days has been spotty – either it’s real good or it has bee slow. With the salmon numbers significantly diminishing, the steelhead are transitioning from only being directly below spawning fish to the seams and pools funneling eggs into them.  Deeper holes are providing fish on the Manistee from the Tippy dam to the Lake with runs giving up fish, too. With conditions ideal, now is a good time to swinging flies with spey rods as the fish will move to eat something other than an egg.

Because eggs are still a major and primary part of the steelhead’s diet, double egg patterns have been working closer to gravel whereas an egg and nymph combo has been the go-to in the longer runs. Mix it up, cover lots of water and hold on when hooked – they are jumping, pulling and otherwise finding ways to separate themselves from the angler.

Good luck,

Ted

Fall Steelhead & Trout –  Early November Available Dates: Nov. 1

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.

Betsie river salmon fishing, egg patterns, fall steelhead, fly-fishing guide, guide, manistee, steelhead fishing the manistee, ted kraimer, tippy dam

It’s October – Steelhead and Salmon Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 3, 2012

The month has changed and so has the color of the leaves – it’s fall’s best fishing.  The weather has been more than pleasant lately but the much needed rain never came however the forecast for some precipitation is promising. Actually Sunday’s forecast is threatening a rain and snow mix – its officially fall.

On the Manistee there are lots of salmon in various stages – from holding in deep pools to gravel and more fresh fish moving upstream as the calendar advances. More steelhead have been showing up and with the water temp in the upper-50’s they are hard to hold onto once hooked.  With all the salmon spawning, the egg bite for skipper and adult steelhead has been good in the water near beds with nymphs like buggers and hex working in the runs targeting migrating fish. For more on fishing eggs for steelhead click here.

This time of year offers a nice mix of fish – from Chinook/King  and Coho/Silver salmon, steelhead and even a rare lake run brown or two.  As water and air temps cool and more water flows through our already clear waters, look for fishing to only improve, not that it isn’t good now.

Good luck,

Ted

October is the month for Steelhead! Available dates:  16, 18, 30, 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.

egg flies, egg patterns, fall steelhead, flies, lower manistee, manistee, salmon, steelhead

September Salmon

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 4, 2012

After 3 weeks of virtually no rain, we finally received some.  While it should help with the migration of salmon in our rivers, more rain is needed and it looks like there might be some relief in the forecast. A shift of strong northerly winds and lower air temps will help too, but never underestimate the will -power of fish to move up stream.

The Betsie is still plagued by low water levels and the fish are having a difficult time getting over the shallow river mouth at Betsie Lake. Look for strong westerly winds to back water up and allow easier migration to all the fish staging there. Some fish are in the river but they are not at their typical levels for this time of year – lots of casts and fishing lots of water is key. The Manistee has fish in the lower sections, too, and will benefit from improved conditions of rain fall, temps and wind direction. Stay tuned.

Trout fishing continues on the upper Manistee for those looking for solitude and smaller fish.  The hatches are very light right now making it ideal for the hopper/terrestrial/ Rubber legged pattern angler to cover water and elicit a strike. The water is running nice and cool, however it is very clear right now. Some rain to stain the water would make for decent streamer conditions and chose cloudy days over bright ones for the best action no matter how you fish. Have small Isonychias, BWOs, Cahills and flying ants in your box for any natural bugs that might emerge.

Good luck,

Ted

 The latest newsletter recently went out – click here to read and/or sign up for delivery

Salmon: Salmon 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, manistee, salmon

Summer Continues, Fall Approaching

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 27, 2012

As kids prepare to return to school, salmon have their annual fall migration in mind as they  return to rivers. Numbers of fish are light due to the return of warm weather and the lack of rain with some fish in the Manistee and Betsie Rivers. Look for things to really change after a significant rainfall as good numbers of fish are staged at river mouths. Early season king salmon offer some exciting streamer fishing for those willing to put in the time casting large streamers with heavy sink-tips. As the days continue to get shorter, the fish will build in numbers and nymph fishing becomes our go-to method.

Trout fishing has been o.k. the past week with the fish feeling better with the cooler water temps. It has been a long season and the fish are getting smarter, naturally, so think about mixing up your approach and presentation. Small streamers fished on floating line is a good alternative to try. Terrestrial fishing has slowed but some good fish are still coming up from time to time to eat that rubber-legged hopper pattern or attractor. Very few bugs have been on the water however you will want some isonychias, cleons/bwos, flying ants, beetles and Lt. Cahills in your fly box.

The bass fishing in lakes remains good. Both top-water and sub-surface presentations have been working;  I usually start off with top-water. Swimming frog/baitfish patterns do a good job of fishing both the surface and subsurface. With the warm-up, look for fish to concentrate near weed beds and drop-offs.

Good Luck,

Ted

The latest newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or sign up for delivery

Salmon: Salmon 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, isonychias, manistee, salmon, trout
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Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156

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