Posts tagged "michigan"

Late March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 26, 2023

As March winds down, we find ourselves in a unique situation with the steelhead.

Not much has changed since the last report as we still have had back and forth weather including some storm systems that have left some snow on the ground, but then bright sunny days to melt it soon after.

A lot of spawning has taken place on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers over the past 10 days by the steelhead that were hold-overs from fall and those that came in over the winter. With relatively clear and low water, the strong pushes of fresh fish have been more of a trickle until flows change. The 6-10 inches of snow we received yesterday and how it melts should change things going forward in regard to color and height and making it more appealing for fresh fish to head upstream.

The fish are spread throughout river systems and can be found in all sorts of water. In the clear water, fish have been in the dark holes, pocket water and runs near gravel. Seems the fish are spawning mostly at night and low-light hours as the water has been clear enough to see fish if they were out. Tail outs will provide a crack at fresh fish moving through and some fish have been holding over in the big, deep holes, too.

With more eggs in the water, the egg pattern and bead bite has improved but a lot of fish are still coming on the nymph. Caddis and small stones have been fishing strong, but some bigger stones have been taking some fish too. The fry bite should take off any day but so far there hasn’t been many salmon fry seen in the shallow water so it’s a matter of days before they become productive for the steelhead.

Good luck.

Ted

2023 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons.
Trout – May’s streamer & dry fly fishing turns to the big bugs of June. Good dates to choose from.
Fall Steelhead – Just a few prime steelhead dates remain available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.

betsie river, caddis, egg patterns, fry pattern, manistee river, michigan, steelhead, steelhead fishing report, stoneflies for steelhead, stonefly

Smallmouth Bass

Posted by Jeanne Kraimer - January 11, 2023

Smallmouth Bass offer some of the best fishing when things get warm from mid-June through August. Whether you are an angler looking to improve your skills, or you’re an advanced fly fisherman looking for a fun day on the water, spending a half or full-day river on the Manistee River is for you.

Smallies are not only eager to please, but it’s mostly a visual presentation and grab, and they can really put a bend in the rod making them a great alternative to trout. And we fish for them in daylight without the use of headlamps. What’s not to like?

Method

Fishing slow sinking-tip fly lines and a baitfish streamer or crayfish is usually the most effective technique, but there are days when they prefer it on top. Face it — fishing on the surface is a favorite for just about anyone who fly fishes. Sometimes they sip grasshopper/terrestrial patterns other times they explode on poppers — it’s always fun when they eat.

The Smallies’ wavering ways of choosing what and what not to eat is part of the fun as anglers work to solve the puzzle but its easier to do than with trout. And when it comes together the only one not smiling is the fish.

Bass on the Flats

Those anglers looking for smallmouth on a flats setting should consider carp fishing in the Grand Traverse Bays as the two species share a lot of the same water. While stalking the “Golden Bones” of the bay, the smallmouth often provide opportunities some bass anglers never get. When conditions are right (late May and in June), the larger smallmouth bass come in shallow making them the primary target and focus of anglers with a fly rod.

Each year bass fishing TV programs and their hosts either discover or reveal what they have known for a while — that the fishing on Grand Traverse Bays for smallies is among the 10 best in the world.

Related Articles

: Smallmouth on the Bay

: River Smallmouth Fishing

: Smallmouth on Lakes

carp, current works, fly-fishing for smallmouth bass, grand traverse bay, guide trip, guided trips, manistee river fly-fishing, michigan, small mouth bass guide, smallies, streamer fishing, ted kraimer, traverse city

Mid July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 16, 2021

Mid-week rains have brought the seasonal rainfall almost up to it’s average annual amount making last month’s drought a memory and the river levels up, too.

The water is high for this time of year and a bit stained due to the tannin and silt but there is still enough transparency to fish. When wading, take each step with a little more caution that what you have earlier this summer. Water temps are still bouncing from the high 50s to mid-60s as overnight temps keep the water from getting too warm when the sun is out.

Hatches have been limited on the upper Manistee River and Boardman River with Tricos just starting to show up mid-mornings. The no-see-ums, too. It seems I go through more bug spray this time of year than any other time as the micro biters like to chew on you before the sun gets out. It’s still a time of year when the trout’s focus is transitioning from mayflies to terrestrials. With the high water, it’s a good time to get those smaller streamers out and work those softer edges targeting fish looking for what’s washing downstream. Twitch flies too (think old-school sized streamers often with rubber legs, fished with some twitches) are always a good bet this time of year.

Bass and bluegill fishing continues to offer the stillwater angler an option closer to home. It’s been a blast watching anglers new to the sport develop their skills with so much action as well as those with experience bend the rod even more. A few bigger fish can be found in the shallows in the lower light hours of morning, evening and even the rare cloudy day. Largemouth bass have been more shy than normal this year but they are still around, however seem a little wiser. Maybe we caught them last year and they haven’t forgotten the experience? Anyways, divers and sliders around lily pads have worked most days. Typically terrestrial patterns with rubber legs do a good job on the smaller panfish and occasional bass. Hard to beat a Turk’s Tarantula this time of year whether you are fishing trout, bass, or bluegill!

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.

bass, bass fishing, bluegill, boardman river, guided fishing trips traverse city, lake fishing, learn to fly fish, michigan, river levels, streamer fishing trout, terrestrials, trico fishing trout, trout fishing guide, upper manistee river

Early March Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 1, 2018

March is here and so is an early start to the spring steelhead fishing. The winter – at times – has been just that – winter, but there have been plenty of thaws along the way pretty much leaving us without any snow, ice-free rivers and a favorable forecast.

River levels on the Manistee and Betsie are up a bit with some stain but that is pretty much normal for this time of year as some run-off works its way through the river systems kick-starting things. With the rising water levels and increased water temps, combined with a few days of sunshine, the steelhead are a little restless. Fish that have wintered over are moving around throughout river systems and getting closer to gravel sections but are still hanging out in the nearby deeper holes with a little less current moving through them. Fresh fish will trickle through the systems offering a mix bag of fish – from colored up winter fish to bright chromers.

With water temps still in the upper 30s, drag-free/Indicator and bottom-bounce presentations are your best bet. As is normally the case for late winter and spring steelheading, an egg pattern fished with a nymph is a great one-two approach. Egg patterns in orange combinations along with chartreuse combinations are ideal in the stained conditions. For nymphs, look for black stoneflies, caddis and alevin to produce.

Don’t put your snow shovels away just yet, but definitely get your fishing equipment out.

Good luck.

Ted

Spring Steelhead – Now through April, get on the water for Spring’s first opportunity to bend the rod.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity and it’s also a great time for fishing streamers.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betsie river, black stone fly pattern, caddis, fishing report, fry patterns, manistee, march fly fishing, michigan, spring steelhead, steelhead, trout

Tough Trout Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 15, 2015

Lots of rain has fallen over the past 10 days and the rivers look like it.

The Upper Manistee river continues to be challenging with high water, sporadic bug emergences and fish that are mostly uncooperative. Finding times when both the bugs and fish are active has been rare with the occasional good day to keep us coming back. Even the streamer fishing – under ideal conditions – has been off. Give the river 4 or 5 days to drop to normal levels and clear up and by then Isonychias should be emerging more steadily – typically in the evening and up to dark if temps stay warm. In the meantime if you are headed there you will want the following flies: mahoganies, sulphurs, little yellow stones, epeorus, brown drakes, isonychias, big golden stones, BWO’s, small black caddis and a lucky rabbit’s foot. I’ve often been accused of telling it like it is.

The Boardman has been tough to fish the past couple of weeks with the higher water, but Brown Drakes and Gray Drakes have been around with a few sulphurs and caddis in the evening. The AuSable, too, hasn’t been fishing up to its reputation with bugs and fish being off. Lots of water in that system also has had its impact on the river as the fish are able to eat well sub-surface with the higher water.

Carp fishing on the bay has improved as fish are starting to show up a little more in the shallow water as they near their spawn cycle. The water in the bay is still pretty cold so wind direction, intensity of sun light and overnight temps have a significant impact on the fishing the shallow flats. A few smallmouth bass have moved into the shallows but look for the smallmouth bass season to be spread-out and focus on cruisers and darker water for your best biting fish.

Bluegill fishing on the lakes has slowed down some for the large gills as they have abandoned their beds and moved back deep. Some lakes and ponds tend to run behind while others spawn over a protracted period and with some searching you should find those fish. By now the fish that spawn tend to really protect themselves in the structure with bigger predatory fish looking to eat them. On the up-side, the largemouth bass fishing has improved with more fish eating sliders/diving frogs and poppers. Same routine – look for fish in and around the lilly pads and drop offs for your best action.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Season – June is the month of the big bug dry fly fishing on the Upper Manistee & AuSable Rivers.
Summer Fishing – Terrestrial and Trico fishing in July and August on the Manistee, Bluegill and Bass on Lakes.
Fall Steelhead – Late September through November is the time for sassy steelhead on the Lower Manistee.

bluegill, brown drakes, carp fly fishing, carp on the fly, grand traverse bay, isonychia, michigan, smallmouth bass fishing, upper manistee river

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