Mid-October Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 15, 2017

The weather continues to be a little warmer than usual for this time of year making for comfortable fishing most days and decent catching along the way.

We are well past peak salmon fishing on all local rivers as the fish are determined to get their spawning accomplished despite the warm water temps. The recent rain should drive up any last salmon holding in the lake/river mouths including the Betsie and Manistee but don’t expect too many fresh fish. Cohos continue to dominate on the Platte River and up by Tippy Dam where they are congregated.

Some steelhead have moved into the river systems and can be found close to any spawning salmon as their eggs serve as a natural chum line for the protein loving fish. Egg patterns that closely resemble natural eggs are your best bet especially in the clear water. Jump up a size and go to a brighter/bolder color in low-light or stained water and as the leaves drop into the water, fish even bigger egg patterns to stand out. The dark pockets, holes and runs directly downstream from spawning salmon are great places to target. With the water being so warm, hold on tight – they have been hard to land. Try to get them in as quick as possible and revive them to ensure survival in water temps in the upper 50s. You can read more about fishing egg patterns here.

Trout fishing has been tough with the clear water of the upper Manistee. Despite little angling pressure, these fish have been elusive as we approach the time of year that brown trout move to do their spawning. With the water temps being in the mid 50’s dry flies are pretty much done although you will want some small flying ant and BWO patterns just in case. Big wet flies, twitch flies and mid-sized streamers are a good approach this time of year and look for fish to be on the structure on inside bends as much as they are on the usual and likely places.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – October, November and into December, these fish will bend your rod like no other – experience it.
Trout/Steelhead – The lower Manistee offers good streamer fishing for trout in late Fall for a combo of species.

October and Fall Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 1, 2017

It’s October which undeniably means fall is here with cooler mornings and often sunny afternoons – it’s a great time to be on the water.

Those looking to fish salmon are still finding fish moving through river systems. The nice weather of September disrupted the flow of fresh fish but with some recent north winds and some rain some fresh fish have moved into local rivers.

The Betsie still has king/Chinook salmon in it and some fresh ones migrating up but the peak and bulk of the fish have moved through. Look for the river to receive spurts of fish throughout the month with most of the fish either intent on reaching spawning gravel or actively on spawning gravel. The Platte River continues to experience near record number of Cohos and that is likely to continue for a little longer.

The Manistee has salmon spread throughout it with more Cohos than Kings. Water levels are a little lower than ideal and clarity is making for some tougher conditions when the sun is out. Majority of the fish are on spawning gravel and the nearby holding water just below Tippy dam.

Trout fishing has been tough on the Upper Manistee river with the clear water. Brook trout tend to be a little more active than the browns but each day is different and sometimes only browns want to play the game. If you head to the river be prepared to fish a number of ways – terrestrials on top (ants, beetles and attractors (Skunks)) with the occasional BWO to match the hatch, and mid-sized to small streamers fished below the surface. When the winds drop lots of tree detritus on the surface go with something subsurface that might stick out and get noticed. It’s still pre-spawn mode with the browns while the brookies are bold and bright in color and doing some spawning. Just a reminder, many of the trout streams and rivers are closed to fishing beginning Sept. 30th – check the DNR regulations for what water remains open (much of the Manistee and AuSable).

Good luck,

Ted

Salmon/Steelhead Combo – Early October offers a chance at both species on the Manistee.
Fall Steelhead – October, November and into December, these fish will bend your rod like no other – experience it.
Trout/Steelhead – The lower Manistee offers some great streamer fishing for trout in late Fall as another option.

betsie river, chinook salmon, coho, fly fishing, manistee, Platte River, salmon fishing, streamers, tippy dam, trout fishing, upper manistee river

Late September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 19, 2016

As we approach the Fall Equinox it still feels like summer with warmer than normal temps and without those cool nights that say it’s fall.

Despite the warm weather some salmon have been moving into the local rivers, just not in the numbers we have come to expect after a few early runs in recent years. After the two previous year’s runs, some anglers are skeptical as to what this year will offer. So far the number of fish in rivers this year exceeds what we saw last year and once we get the cooler weather, N.W. winds, and some rain – the run should kick into high gear. The success of the charter boats on the lake help support our optimism.

The Platte has had decent Coho salmon move through it despite the water being so warm. The Betsie has had a consistent trickle of fish moving through it and the Manistee system is slowly building in numbers. Fish are often holding in the deep holes and waiting, too, for the weather to change before they hit the gravel.

The extended summer has given trout anglers a longer terrestrial season than ever expected on the upper Manistee and Boardman. From flying ants to grasshoppers, activity on the dry flies has been decent. Twitching big wet flies and small streamers on a floating line helps get the attention of those brook and brown trout that are feeling skeptical this far into the season of foam and rubber flies twitched on the surface. Have some large BWO patterns for any matching of the hatch opportunities and enjoy having the river pretty much all to yourself.

Good luck.

Ted

Salmon – A few dates remain for Salmon fishing on the Betsie River throughout September.
Late Summer Trout – Have the river to yourself fishing wets, dries, terrestrials and streamers.
Fall Steelhead – Starting in October, extending into December. Fall Color Tour includes Chrome!

betsie river salmon, blue wing olives, boardman river, charter boats, coho, lake michigan, Platte River, platte river coho salmon, salmon, salmon run, upper-manistee

Salmon Fishing with Steelhead Beginning

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 26, 2012

Last week’s weather was a great shot in the arm to salmon fisheries in the area. Water levels have pretty much returned to normal and with that push of water came a nice push of fish in the Betsie, Platte and Manistee Rivers. The Betsie is still plagued by low water levels at the mouth of the river making it difficult for a lot of the fish to make it up stream – another significant rainfall should help change that.

The fish in both the Manistee and Betsie can be found scattered throughout the system and in various types of water: some are on gravel, others moving upstream in both slots and inside bends and others staged and holding in the deep holes. This time of the month with the big moon you might find good numbers of fish in a specific area one day only to have them gone the next day so look to cover different sections of water as these fish migrate. A few steelhead have trickled into the Manistee making for a fun, mixed bag of fish along with king/Chinook and Coho/silver salmon but with more rain, a fresh push of all species should make their way up.

There have been no magic flies that are working better than another lately with a nymph ( caddis, hex, bugger) and egg fly combo being the go-to choice right now and as more fish hit the spawning gravel, look to the double egg rig to perform best.

With the MI-DNR significantly reducing the number of salmon stocked/planted in the Lake Michigan by 2/3rds in 2013, please practice catch and release to help promote natural reproduction and future fish populations.

Good luck,

Ted

October is the month for Steelhead! Available dates: 16, 18, 30, 31

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 salmon fishing, Manistee Salmon fishing, Platte River, salmon, steelhead

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Posts tagged "Platte River"

Mid-October Fly Fishing Report

October and Fall Fishing

Late September Fishing Report

Salmon Fishing with Steelhead Beginning

October is the month for Steelhead! Available dates: 16, 18, 30, 31

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