3rd Week of June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 20, 2021

As June continues, so do the fluctuations in weather. Thankfully the water temps have remained “safe” for trout fishing on the upper Manistee staying below 70 degrees for over a week now.

Hex flies have begun on parts of the river as have the Isonychias and, some Brown Drakes are still around typically at dusk. Other flies on and above the water include medium brown stones, bat flies, the last of the Sulphurs and even a great mahogany or two.

The weather forecast is calling for a significant cold front which should interrupt the cycle of emergences for a bit until normal temps come back again later in the week. Fishing will be challenging for most as you can’t hide in the cover of darkness when fishing in daytime when bugs are likely to be on the water. As it has been the case all season, really good presentations are required to fool these wise, educated and pressured fish.

Bass and bluegill fishing remains good on the smaller lakes. The bass are in a post spawn mood and hanging in the structure looking to eat, while the bluegill have gone shallow again. Weed growth is where it should be for this time of year giving you a great place to target both your dries/poppers and slider/divers.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – July and August is Terrestrial and Trico time! Start the day off casting to brook and brown trout
and get back to the family for lunch time – it’s a great way to start the day when in Northwest Michigan.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –perfect for beginners.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December.

Late May Fly FIshing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 23, 2021

It’s match-the-hatch time for selective trout.

Bugs have been fickle, but with any on the water some good fish are eating. Softer water can reveal the bulge of an emerger being eaten or a spinner being sipped, but you have to bring your best drag-free presentation and angling skills as the water is low and clear and when combined with angling pressure, the fish are pretty skittish. I often say you need two things to be successful this time of year: 1. The luck of bugs/rising fish and 2. The technical skills to present to them. Sorry, just one of these isn’t enough.

Sulphurs are just starting up and should build over the next week. Mahoganies and Great Mahoganies belong in your box too, as do caddis just in case our Michigan trout key in on them. I think the last of the Hendricksons have come and gone but have been replaced with some stones. Overwhelmed with pattern choices? This time of year you can often get by with Borcher’s Drakes and Robert’s Yellow Drakes in a range of sizes. Change the batteries in your headlamp and pack the insect repellent – it’s that time of year.

Streamer fishing has been tough– practically having 1/3rd of the precipitation YTD is leaving the roads dusty, the river low and the water clear. Try downsizing your streamers and consider fishing them on floating lines.

Bass and bluegill fishing has taken off with the recent heat. There are fish in shallow and willing to eat your dries, although the bass tend to like sub surface patterns this time of year. Don’t be overly surprised when a pike eats your streamer as they have a post-spawn hunger right now. Fishing a pond or lake is a great way to spend an evening and perfect way to introduce someone to the sport.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –perfect for beginners.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December

bluegill, bluegill fishing, borchers drake, dry fluy fishing, fly fishing guide, fly rod bluegill, mahoganies, manistee, roberts yellow drake, streamer fishing, sulphurs

Early May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 3, 2021

We finally received some rain to knock down the dust and pollen while helping things finish greening up after an early start to the process. The rivers are still low and running clearer than normal for this time of year, but that’s been the story since late February. Water temps are stable in the mid-50s on the upper Manistee where this time of year we like to hit the water armed with a dry fly rod rigged in the event of an emergence while we cover water with streamers.

With the back-and-forth weather, the hatches have been sporadic. A warm day or two (anyone seen the sun lately?) can make a difference and get those water temps into the upper 50s which is ideal for the bugs and fish to be more active. If headed to your favorite trout water – be it on the Manistee, Boardman or Au Sable, make sure you have Hendricksons, small Black Caddis, BWO’s and Black Quills.

Mix up your streamer patterns – size, color, what they are representing (baitfish, sculpin, accessorized triple articulated pattern you saw on-line) as the fish have seen a lot of streamers with more people hitting the water again this year and the mild March and April.

Folks looking to try something different might look to fishing a lake for smallmouth and even some pike. Just mix it up and think subsurface for your best results. It’s still a little early for the bluegill but after a hot day or two of sunshine the shallow, dark bottoms of bays and coves should have the fish in shallow doing a little pre-spawn feed. The month of May offers some unique angling opportunities and variety – learn more here.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –
perfect for beginners or those looking to dial in a new technique.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December

ausable, bluegill, boardman, fly fishing guide, manistee, manistee river fly fishing, smallmouth bass, streamer fishing, trout, trout fishing guide, trout fishing traverse city

Mid December Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 17, 2020

With mid-December here, so is the snow and cold, and it appears winter might have settled in for the season. Water temps on the local rivers (Manistee, Platte and Betsie) have steadily decreased into the mid-30s and has pretty much put the steelhead into a winter funk. There are fish around, but it seems fewer than normal as the second half of fall had a less than average number of fish to play with.

If cabin fever drives you out, focus on the deeper and slower water. Typically winter water would be the primary target when casting nymphs and egg/beads. Fishing under indicators and floats is your best bet in these conditions and those looking to get a tug on a swung fly – your window for success is rapidly closing with these diminishing water temps.

Consider getting a later start to the day and/or fishing after a rare sunny day which might help bump the water temp a degree or two to increase activity, if not make the fishing a little more comfortable.

Fishing reports will likely cease for a while after this one unless we get a prolonged warm-up. Thanks to all three of you that read these throughout the year.

Happy Holidays to you and yours and lets hope 2021 is a much better year for us all – both on and off the water.

Cheers.

Ted

Winter 2020 Newsletter just went out; click here to read.

2021 Fishing – Now booking for all seasons in the New Year. Get your dates and schedule life around fishing.
Gift Certificates – Give the gift of a Fishing Trip or Lesson – Half of Full Days available – they’re easy and fast.

manistee, steelhead, swung fly, winter fishing

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.

Betsie, caddis, chrome, egg pattern, gift certificates fly fishing, manistee, manistee river, manistee steelhead, steelhead

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Posts tagged "manistee"

3rd Week of June Fly Fishing Report

Late May Fly FIshing Report

Early May Fishing Report

Mid December Fishing Report

Early December Fishing Report

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