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Posts tagged "salmon"

Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City Mid-August

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 15, 2013

Trout fishing has been consistent these past weeks as water temps have been much cooler than normal for this time of year due to the mild air temperatures. The Trico hatch has been going a little later in the morning on the upper Manistee River once the sun gets higher and warms things up a bit, however the water is very clear and too much sun is a good thing. Not much else is on emerging on the Manistee and Boardman but attractors are working well for the brook trout and smaller browns where the larger terrestrials and foam and rubber patterns are bringing up some bigger fish. With the weather forecast calling for warmer conditions, look for the terrestrial fishing to get even better.

Bass and Bluegill on ponds and lakes has slowed a little with the cooler weather, but fish continue to play the game and eat flies – poppers, sliders, diving baitfish and baitfish streamers. The warmer weather should bring things back to where they should be for this time of year. Bluegill and panfish are taking smaller dry flies – small terrestrials like beetles, ants and small hoppers are great places to start. Smaller streamers fished just below the surface have been working, too.

The cool weather and water has brought some salmon closer to the river mouths and some fish have slipped up some of the local rivers but they are still low in numbers.  It appears the fall run of salmon should be a good one this year.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout Fishing – Morning Trico s and fishing terrestrials is a great way to start a day in August
Bluegill & Bass – Fishing for both species is a great way to spend some time on the water over summer.
Salmon & Fall Steelhead –Salmon season is all booked and just a few dates remain for fall steelhead.

bass fishing, bluegill, boardman, fly fishing, manistee, salmon, tricos, trout

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

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

Not Enough – Rain or Salmon

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 10, 2012

We received some rain however it wasn’t enough to really make a difference in the number of salmon in local rivers. Simply put: things are slow on the Betsie river and the Manistee isn’t much better. Summer weather remains problematic for changing things and the lack of significant amounts of rain and continuing drought is keeping our salmon migration on hold.  When we do get a heavy rain, look for fish to swim upstream in biblical proportions. Until then, cover lots of water and look for cloudy days to be better as the few fish in the  river systems are hiding in the wood  when its sunny and the water clear.

Trout fishing is o.k.  right now on the upper Manistee with terrestrial fishing remaining one’s best bet as the summer conditions are making for happy grasshoppers. All things rubber -legged and attractor-like should receive priority in your fly choice. Streamer fishing has been o.k. on those rare days when the clouds are out and when fishing streamers in the low water conditions, fish your smaller patterns for your best success.  Few natural bugs are on the water including: beetles, some flying ants, BWOs and small Isonychias.

Good luck,

Ted

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

Salmon: Salmon fishing 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 river, manistee river, salmon, terrestrial fishing, trout

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

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