Posts tagged "smallmouth bass fishing"

Mid-May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 17, 2023

Mid-May finds us headed to different waters in pursuit of different fish as this time of year offers choices to anglers.

May often means Mayflies but the cold nights have had an effect on the hatches. Once stable weather comes back, anglers can look for a mix of bugs on the upper Manistee and Au Sable rivers. March Browns, Mahoganies, Sulphurs, caddis, and the last of the Hendricksons should be in your fly box if headed out. For the next 6 weeks, a Borcher’s Drake should be with you as it’s just a great all-around imitator of so many bugs found in our rivers. Just as temps fluctuate, so do the times in which bugs can come off or fall as spinners. Water levels are low and running clear for this time of year so longer leaders and stealthy presentation helps with hooking up.

If streamer fishing between hatches, try smaller streamers with the lower water. Cover the water, work the wood and mix up the natural patterns to represent the baitfish and sculpins. If that doesn’t work, try some “twitch flies” that might just get the attention of the trout.

It appears that the Didymo/Rocksnot bloom that alarmingly was widespread on the upper Manistee in 2022 has pretty much disappeared. While that bodes well for fishing and the future of the river, it doesn’t mean anglers shouldn’t stop taking measures to prevent spreading the latent spores to other waters. If you have felt sole wading boots, now you have justification for buying a new pair of rubber soled boots as the felt harbors invasive species leading to transmission to other rivers.

Lake fishing is heating up but still can be a little moody with water temps fluctuating. Smallmouth bass are still in pre-spawn mode and are sitting in deeper water while a few Largemouth bass have gone shallow in lakes with dark bottoms and protected bays that help stabilize water temps. Regardless of where you are fishing, baitfish patterns tied in various densities/sink rates have been working. It’s also time to grab your favorite bluegill flies. When these fish come into the shallows, they are just a ton of fun on the fly rod – both on the surface and just below.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – May’s streamer & dry fly fishing turns to the big bugs of June. Good dates to choose from.
Smallmouth Bass– Spend a half or full-day on the lower Manistee fishing smallies – June through Late August.
Fall Steelhead – Just a few prime steelhead dates remain available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.

baitfish patterns, bluegill fishing, borchers drakes, dry flies, guided fly fishing, hatches, manistee river hatches, march browns, sculpin, smallmouth bass fishing, streamer fishing, sulphurs, traverse city fishing, trout fishing

Late July Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 29, 2022

The trout fishing has been decent lately with a mix of Tricos hatching in the morning and mostly smaller trout rising; it’s a lot of fun with a lighter weight rod. Other times when bugs aren’t on the surface, terrestrials will bring some fish up and sometimes decent sized fish so, having a little bigger rod makes casting the larger flies and bringing in larger fish easier. Mornings are still the ideal time with the sun still low and the water temps still ideal from the cooler evening temperatures. Water levels are still low and clear but considering July is coming to an end, that’s typical. It’s just a nice way to start a nice summer day.

Anglers with an ability to fish a streamer are finding the smallmouth bass a lot of fun on the end of the line. Targeting these on the lower sections of rivers is a great way to hone a number of fly fishing techniques as we often are using lighter sink-tip lines and “selling” the fly to interested fish that come to look at it. And when they eat, they pull. Baitfish patterns have been most productive, but smaller crayfish patterns have taken their share of fish, too.

The smaller lakes and ponds still have bluegill and bass willing to eat your fly both on the surface and below. Perfect for those learning how to fly fish and a lot of fun for those who already do, especially when fishing diving bugs, small streamers and popping a popper. Mornings and evenings are best when it’s a sunny day, but overcast is always best and can offer good fishing throughout the day, especially around weed beds, drop offs and other structures.

Good luck.

Ted

Learn to Fly Fish – Book a half-day trip with the idea of learning the basics in how to cast and fly fish.
Tricos and Terrestrials – Start your day on a cool river fishing for trout with dry flies from July into September.
Fall Steelhead – Although the Spring Season just ended, think fall steelhead. Good dates available in November

bass fishing, bluegill fly fishing, blugill fishing, guided fishing trip, learn to fly fish, manistee, manistee river, smallmouth bass fishing, terrestrial fly fishing, the northern angler, traverse city fly fishing, trout fishing

Mid-June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 12, 2019

The weather can’t make up it’s mind – it goes from cool spring-like weather to full-on summer, then back to cool and rainy. And the trout can’t decide whether they want to play our game or not.

Trout fishing remains challenging on both the Manistee and Au Sable Rivers. Hatches have been decent, but most days the wind blows the bugs off of the water not giving the trout much opportunity to sip them. Spinner falls have been occurring and seem to be more prolific during the warmer parts of cloudy days rather than evenings when we are accustom to them falling. Best suggestion – get out when you can, but be careful.

River levels are up significantly for the wading angler on all of the local rivers with more rain in the forecast. This will also drop the water temperatures, prolonging the various hatches and delaying the start of other bugs.

Right now you can expect to see the sulphurs, great and small mahoganies, BWO, Cahills, Grey Drakes, Brown Drakes, Stones (little yellow, early brown, medium brown) and some caddis. Isonychias should make an appearance any day if they haven’t already on certain sections of rivers.

Streamer fishing continues to be tough and with all the high water washing subsurface food down stream, the fish seem well fed this year.

Lake/pond fishing remains good – some have bluegill fishing where other have come and gone from the shallows. The next full moon should get them back in shallow again for round two of spawning. Bass – small and largemouth are taking both surface and subsurface flies where shallow water meets a drop off. The bays have some smallmouth fishing accessible to the fly rod angler, but it’s been tough as the water is so much deeper than normal. Carp, too, have been moving in and out of the shallows wherever the water is warm which has been difficult to find with the cold bay and constantly shifting winds.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Father’s Day – Get dad on the water this year with a gift certificate for either a half and full-day trip.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

cahills, fathers day trout fishing, gift certificates, grand traverse bay carp fishing, grey drakes, isonychias, smallmouth bass fishing, upper-manistee

Early July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 2, 2018

The current heat wave leaves no doubt that July is here and limits our fishing opportunities. As water temperatures increase the trout become vulnerable to the stress of fishing and therefore we are limiting our fishing to the early and late hours of the day for their sake and ours.

The nocturnal hex hatch is still going on but has become spotty as we have already had close two weeks of bugs on the local rivers like the Manistee and Boardman. Spinner falls occur at dusk and the duns emerge throughout most nights. In all its been a good hex hatch however the fish have been a little more elusive and selective than normal.

Other bugs you can expect to find on the water this time of year include Isonychias, Light Cahills, Bat Flies and BWOs. A Hex emerger fished around the mud and muck might move some fish, otherwise it’s time to start using the foam and rubber attractor/terrestrial patterns that imitate little but suggest a lot. Twitching flies on the surface and below it might just get fish to play as they recover from eating too many big bugs the night before. To read more about fishing on the other side of the Hex Hatch – click here the read Fly Fishing for Trout After the Hex Hatch.

Carp are still around in the bay and can be found shallow spawning as well as post spawn and cruising. With the hex emergence taking place on the bays, having some weighted hex nymphs is a good choice. After last week’s full moon, tan/brown crayfish are a good bet, too. Some smallmouth bass are cruising the shallows, but the warmth of the water is keeping most of the smallmouth deeper than most flies can effectively be fished.

Lake fishing for bluegill and largemouth bass is fishing well. The gills are still in shallow after a second spawn and bass are lurking around weeds and drop offs. Most fish are coming to the surface for floating bugs but the bigger bass are coming on sub-surface patterns and divers. Fishing lakes either in the morning or evening keeps fishing light, simple and fun.

Good luck!

Ted

Trout – Terrestrials and Tricos are right around the corner – it’s the perfect way to start the day on the river.
Stillwater- Bluegill, Bass and Carp. With the best trout fishing in the evening, try fishing lakes during the day.
Fall Steelhead – With Summer just arriving, it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates – Oct. thru Dec.

bluegill fishing, carp fishing, fly fishing report traverse city, hex hatch, smallmouth bass fishing, traverse city fly fishing

Early June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 5, 2018

Fishing the Traverse City region in early June offers plenty of choices. Most fly fishers are going after trout since this time of year offers some technical dry fly fishing. Rivers like the Manistee, Boardman and Au Sable continue to produce a smorgasbord of flies on the water including: Gray Drakes, Great and Little Mahoganies, Sulphurs, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown Stones, Brown Drakes, Isonychias and Caddis. Any given day you can see a few different kinds of bugs, other days only one type but you should head out to the water with a loaded fly box and a headlamp with fresh batteries because a lot of times the spinner fall is taking place at dusk. Bring some bug spray, too.

Streamers and twitch flies on smaller sink tips have been working during the day to bring a fish out of the wood and onto the hook. This time of year, lightening up your streamer approach can be a good thing as the fish like a different presentation after six weeks of heavy streamer pressure.

The current cold-front has brought the water temperatures down in the river which is good – last week’s heat warmed them up a little too much, too quick. Levels and clarity are about perfect if there is such a thing. As always, handle the trout quickly and get them back in – most of these rivers rely on natural reproduction so even the small ones are important to tomorrow’s quality of fishing.

The inland lakes continue to produce good bluegill fishing as well as large and smallmouth bass fishing. The smallmouth are typically deeper and weighted flies and/or clear sink-tip lines will help you get to fish near those slight drop-offs. The largemouth and bluegill are in the shallow water and are mostly done spawning but are in a post-spawn mood.

With all the wind and cool temps, the fishing on the bay is still in its infancy for the carp and smallmouth but there are still some opportunities for those willing to put in the time and cover some water. Sustained weather (and warmth) will help make for some better fishing that is sure to come as June progresses.

If you are into the warm-water fishing, this weekend The Northern Angler is hosting there 2^nd Annual Cheese Cup Warm-water fishing tournament. This is a fun, fundraising event for the Third Level Crisis Center in honor of Alex “Cheese” Hawke who lost his battle with depression. The format is easy going and focuses on the warm-water species including bass, carp, pike, and bluegill. The after party is one you won’t want to miss. More detail’s here.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – The big Bugs of June will be here before you know it…. Isos, Drakes and Hex – limited dates available.
Stillwater- Bluegill, Bass and Carp. With the best trout fishing in the evening, try fishing lakes during the day.
Fall Steelhead – With Summer just arriving, it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates – Oct. thru Dec.

Baordman river, bluegill fishing, brown drakes, carp fishing, cheese cup fly fishing tournament, guided fly fishing, isonychias, manistee river, smallmouth bass fishing, traverse city fly fishing, trout fishing, twitch flies

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