Late September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 25, 2021

With September winding down it seems fishing is ramping up.

The trout streams have been pretty quiet with few anglers fishing and the fish have responded by slipping out from their protective log jams and are out where you can get a fly to them. With the water clear (upper 50s temp), you can see the fish, but usually after you have spooked them. Cast down and across with smaller streamers and twitch and strip rather then rip and strip for your best success. With some days forecast to be in the 70s, keep a box of terrestrials with you in case the fish start looking up again. Fall colors on the upper Manistee are starting to pop making it a great way to spend an early fall day in solitude.

<<Click here to read an article on how to move your streamer a little slower>>

Salmon fishing picked up this week with a change in the weather and some favorable winds to mix up the water and draw some fish closer inshore and up the rivers. All the local NW Michigan rivers have fish in them and a few are starting to scratch the gravel as they begin the spawning ritual.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December. Finish the season with some chrome.
2022– Booking next year’s fishing seasons through September. Don’t miss your favorite seasons and good dates!
Gift Certificates – Ask or give the gift of a lesson, half or full-day trip on the water.

manistee river, salmon, salmon fishing, steelhead fishing, streamer fishing, terrestrials, upper manistee

Early September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 1, 2021

The water has come up and down again after heavy rains over the weekend leaving the water stained which should clear up by the weekend. The hot weather has thankfully left us with nice, cool, evenings and sunny afternoons in the forecast.

The Tricos have come and gone on the trout rivers and the terrestrials are hit and miss, so is the fishing. After a long season the trout are warry. Experience tells me once the water temps drop, the days get a little shorter and the brook trout get that pre-spawning tingle in their loins, fishing improves for both brookies and browns. Cloudy/overcast days continue to be preferred over the bright days.

Terrestrials and twitch flies are a great approach but keep some smaller Isonychia and BWO dries in your box and a few of your favorite wet flies. Have any flying ants in your box? You should because if they show up like they often do in Sept, so do the fish. Once Labor day is behind us, most folks forget about trout fishing making the local rivers good place to spend a few hours.

The cooler weather will help improve the lake fishing for those looking to get some more gill and bass fishing in as they move from deep back into the shallows again.

Good luck.

Ted

September Trout Fishing – Cool nights and warm days, this time of year you have the river to yourself.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December. Finish the season with some chrome.
2022– Booking next year’s fishing seasons through August. Don’t miss your favorite seasons and good dates!

guided fly fishing traverser city, salmon, september trout fishing, traverse city fly fishing, trout, upper manistee trout fishing

Early November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 1, 2020

November is here and as I type, so is the snow.

Last week’s high water has pretty much dropped to normal levels leaving local rivers like the Betsie and Manistee running just a little above average re: fall levels/flows, with a slight tinge to it and in the mid-40s – kind of ideal if not perfect. Except the steelhead didn’t get the memo. The past week was unusually tough fishing especially considering the time of year and the conditions we had which should have made for a great week of fishing.

The current forecast calls for a warming trend which should help keep the water temps in the mid-to upper 40s and ideal for a number of techniques and presentations (bottom-bouncing, indicators, spey/swinging flies).

Just a few salmon remain in parts of rivers finishing up their spawning with the steelhead still sitting in the runs behind them eating eggs. It’s the time of year that we start to mix up the presentation with some nymphs fished in tandem with the eggs, or even swinging the big fly on sink-tip lines, but like most of the fall, there hasn’t been any one size, color or pattern that has been the go-to proven leader. I’m blaming 2020 on the lack of consistency.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout/Steelhead Combo – Late fall can offer a combined chance at both species on the lower Manistee.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates are available in November – a great way to finish the fishing season.

betsie river steelhead, manistee river guide, manistee river steelhead fishing, salmon, spey flies, steelhead fishing

End of September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 26, 2020

A lack of significant rain this month has local rivers running lower and clearer than normal and prolonging the salmon run.

The upper Manistee river provided visibility like I had never seen before – it was a unique opportunity to see the water in greater detail as far as structure but also the number of big fish. With the lack of pressure on this side of Labor Day those wiley brown trout roam a bit more giving you a chance to feed them a fly.

With the dry weather and warmer temps, the terrestrial fishing has been pretty good, especially on cloudy/overcast days although bright days have been tough. Smaller, realistic streamers too have been effective and having both in your arsenal is a great approach. It’s still not easy fishing – the longer, well placed cast most days outperforms the bad presentation; that’s a given no matter what season/conditions. Fall colors along the river banks usually get started there earlier than other places in the region and this year is no different. Oh yeah, and there is pretty much no one else around.

Those looking for salmon will find fish in the local rivers as well as plenty of people fishing for them. The Betsie, Platte, Manistee, Boardman – they all have fish in them but some days you wonder if the fishermen outnumber the fish. As more people have more time on their hands this fall, it seems that the busy fall salmon season has been busier this year. Spawning has just started but there are enough fish in the holding water that are more likely to eat a well-presented fly (and give you a better fight) as they wait for conditions to change. With the lack of rain, consistent wind direction to organize water temps (and fish) in the lakes, and warmer air and water temps, the salmon run is likely to be drawn-out again this year. But with all things in 2020, who knows what will happen.

Good luck.

Ted

betsie river, boardman river, manistee, michigan fall trout fishing, salmon, salmon fly fishing, streamer fishing, terrestrial fishing, trout fishing fall

End of August Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 29, 2020

With August coming to an end it is apparent that the Trico hatch on the local trout rivers has also come to an end. This time of year typically is a transition time where fish start focusing on subsurface presentations and streamer patterns but it’s still summer-like and the fish are still looking up and taking terrestrials, attractors and even mayfly impressions (great olives, small Isos). Some flying ants have been around and they are always a safe bet to have in your fly box for the next 5 weeks if headed to the upper Manistee or Boardman rivers.

Fishing pressure has been light and once we get on the other side of Labor Day, anglers will have the trout water pretty much to themselves and the wildlife. Take some smaller streamers and fish sub-surface on floating lines should the fish not be looking up or there is too much debris floating on the surface as winds blow pine needles, dead grass and more into the river. If you never fished your favorite trout river in September, you should try it.

Many anglers think that with September comes the salmon. This year the salmon run is running late because of the hot summer, warm water temperatures at river mouths, and lack of rain, cool nights and favorable winds. Eventually as the season starts to act a little more typical for this time of year, fish should be showing up in better numbers. The forecast calls for more of the same so look for the run to get a slow start.

Bass fishing on the local lakes has been good for those that can cast the larger patterns and covers some water. Big foam/hard shell poppers and diving deer hair sliders/divers have all taken some good fish near structure – weed beds, wood and drop offs. Bluegill fishing has slowed down but I suspect that should pick up again as water temperatures in local lakes begin to cool off.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – Late fall can offer some really good trout fishing for those willing to fish streamers.
Or consider a trout/steelhead combo in November on the lower Manistee.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates are available in November – a great way to finish a fishing season.

Betsie, fall steelhead, salmon, steelhead fishing, streamer fishing, terrestrial fishing

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Posts tagged "salmon"

Late September Fishing Report

Early September Fishing Report

Early November Fishing Report

End of September Fishing Report

End of August Fishing Report

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