Spring Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 30, 2018

Steelhead fishing had been pretty solid for the past couple of weeks but with the increased pressure and lack of significant rainfall/runoff to bring up new fish, the numbers of fish in the rivers like the Betsie and Manistee are less than what we would expect for this time of year and the ones in there have gotten wise to our antics.

The rain we received earlier in last week stained the smaller rivers in the region but that’s ideal. The Big Manistee is running clear below Tippy Dam almost unprecedentedly for this time of year. Smaller diameter fluorocarbon lines are the key to helping the successful angler right now. Even though water temps are right around 40 degrees, the fish have been much stronger than usual when hooked sometimes causing that lighter line break. So much for the lethargic “alligator roll” that is typical in the colder water.

Orange egg patterns had been working the best with Chartreuse combinations a close second and in smaller sizes (#8). The more productive nymph has been the green caddis in size 8 and 10, black steelhead/ice buggers a second. As always, mix it up if your patterns aren’t working.

Some fish have started to spawn while most are in the pre-spawn stage surrounding the dark slots and deeper holes near gravel. But they are steelhead so they play by their rules and can also be found in some migratory slots and routes as they ascend the river.

Just a reminder – new fishing licenses are required April 1. Also April 1, certain sections of certain rivers (Little Manistee & Platte) have an early opening season.

As always, good luck.

Ted

The Spring Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe

Steelhead & Trout Combo – The first two weeks in May can offer steelhead in the morning and trout after noon.
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.

Ice Bugger

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 15, 2015

Ice Bugger – Effective on Steelhead, Salmon and Trout

Yet another variation of the effective wooly bugger, the Ice Bugger is simplified, is easier to tie and offers just a little bit more slink and suave motion than the original. The Ice Bugger isn’t a radical departure from the Steelhead Bugger – which was the influence when I was looking for a way to tie a bunch of effective flies, quickly – and ended up with this design.

While it isn’t the most creative fly or variation of an existing pattern that I have come up with, the Ice Bugger does speak for itself when in the water and what eats it. Originally I tied it for Salmon and Steelhead, I have since found it works well for Trout – typically fished swung with little strips back – especially when you add a black bead head and fish it on a floating line. When using this pattern on Steelhead and Salmon, fish it just about any way you would fish a nymph – dead drift, bottom bounce and/or under a float/strike indicator. To learn more about rigging for Steelhead and Salmon fishing, click here.

Option: Add a Bead Head to the Ice Bugger

The Ice Bugger suggests a number of food sources including leeches, but I think its real effectiveness comes from its profile and motion when wet – especially when fishing in some marginally slow water which really activates the materials. The iridescence of peacock Ice Dub – which the fly was named after – only adds to its appeal.

Tie a bunch of Ice Buggers and fill your box, but don’t over dress the fly – the streamlined and sparse amount of materials is imperative.

Recipe

Hook: TMC 3761 #6
Thread: Uni 6/0 – Black
Tail: Marabou, Blood Quill – Black
Flashabou – Black/Pearl
Body: Ice Dub – Peacock
Hackle: Hen Saddle – Black

Tying Instructions

Step 1. Wrap a thread base from behind the eye to above the hook point.

Step 2. Select a marabou feather and use some of the tip section by cutting just
enough of the tip from the feather. Pinch the fibers together (as it will look when wet)
to determine the proper amount. Use the photo in Step 3 as a reference as to how much.

Step 3. Tie in tail marabou feather so it extends one hook length beyond the tie in position.
Tie down the remainder of the feather on top of the shank to provide a little bulk for the underbody.

Step 4. Tie in a single strand of Flashabou on each side of the hook so it is no longer than the tail.

Step 5. Dub a noticeably tapered body towards the hook eye, but leaving a hook eye’s space bare for the hackle.

Step 6. Select a Hen Saddle feather from the pelt that is sized accordingly. Tie in at the tip.

Step 7. Holding the stem upward with light pressure, “fold” the fibers from both side of the step backwards by pinching them. Now, wrap a collar – one wrap in front of the other – until you get a full collar. Whip finish.

Finished Ice Bugger

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Transition from Steelhead to Trout

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 28, 2015

Trout opener has come and gone and apparently most of the steelhead run has too.

Without any rain the past week or two, the water levels have really come down on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers as the water temps are around 50 degrees and have cleared up – not what you think of when you think Spring Steelhead. I would imagine any significant amount of rain we get over the next week or so would bring in the last of the fish from Lake Michigan, but until then look for fishing to be tough with more stale fish around rather than fresh ones. Green Caddis, Steelhead Buggers and small, natural egg patterns (sockeye, gold nugget, steelhead orange/O.C) have been the more productive patterns lately.

With the nice weather in the forecast the trout waters are warming up and dry fly/emergences are increasing, although they have been pretty light due to temperatures. Black stones and blue wing olives (BWOs) have been the most common flies but if you are headed to rivers like the Boardman, Upper Manistee, or AuSable – be sure to have some Hendricksons in your box as they could begin any day. Streamer fishing has been the go-to method for covering water but with the temps still a bit cool, look for slower retrieves to work better than the fast ones and often the fish are going to be in the bigger, deeper holes. Mix it up and see what works for you that day.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout Season – Streamer & Dry Fly fishing is ideal throughout May on the Upper Manistee & AuSable Rivers.
September Salmon – Dates are limited for fishing the Betsie River in early Sept. and later on the Manistee.
2015 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get your fishing trips planned for the year. Booking all species/seasons.

ausable, betsie river, boardman, caddis, dry fly, hendricksons, manistee, steelhead, steelhead bugger, streamer fishing, trout

Top 5 Steelhead Flies for Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 17, 2013

Steelhead anglers in Michigan and the Great Lakes have a lot of choices when looking to stock their fly boxes. There’s no shortage of effective flies, but choosing a select few can almost be confusing or even intimidating. This list of top 5 steelhead flies includes patterns that have produced for me and my clients over the years – both in spring and fall.

Those who have fished with me know that my fly boxes include more patterns than these. The purpose of this list is to help you identify and start to build a collection that will fish well and become the favorite, producing staples in your fly box.

Hex Nymph

Bear’s Hex Nymph

Hexagenia mayfly nymphs or “wigglers” are significant, since many of our rivers with steelhead also have this silt burrowing mayfly. One of the largest mayflies, the hex, looks buggy. Many of the patterns used to represent them also share looks similar to other important food sources, like sand sculpins and sucker minnows. No steelhead box should be without some.

Commercially Tied Patterns: Bears Hex Nymph, Schultzy’s Rabbit Hexum, Ted’s Edible Hex, Fox’s Shuck Hex Nymph

Sizes: #6 – 10

Caddis

Boogie Woogie Caddis

Lift just about any rock or log in the river, and you will find caddis cases clinging to the cover. This grub looking pupa ranges in size and color, but it seems that green and chartreuse are the most effective for Michigan steelhead. Most patterns are tied larger and brighter than real life and “suggest” caddis, but serve more as an attractor – especially when fishing stained water. Small, natural looking patterns in green, olive and cream are worthy of a place in your box when fishing low, clear water often associated with winter steelheading.

Commercially Tied Patterns: Disco Caddis, Boogie Woogie Caddis, PM Caddis, Flashy Brassie Grub

Sizes: #6 – 12

Click here to learn how to tie Caddis patterns.

Steelhead Bugger

The “Crescent wrench” of all fly boxes for most species is the wooly bugger — because it works. Tied with a touch of flash and with the natural, buggy appearance of peacock, the steelhead bugger (a.k.a. “The Steelie Bugger”) is a slight variation from the standard wooly bugger. Both patterns suggest a leech, a stone fly and who knows what else – it’s the Steelhead Bugger that seems to be even better. Make sure you have some in your fly box.

Commercially Tied Pattern: Umpqua’s Steelhead Bugger

Sizes: #6

Click here to learn how to tie a variation of this pattern.

Egg Pattern

Nuke Egg

Tandem fly rigs are the norm when targeting steelhead. More often than not, one of the flies is an egg pattern. Serving as a realistic egg imitation or when large and bright – an attractor, no veteran steelhead fly angler will deny the effectiveness of an egg pattern. To learn more about fishing eggs for steelhead, read, Egg Patterns.

Commercially Tied Patterns:
Glo Bugs (Oregon Cheese, Golden, Chartreuse)
Crystal Eggs (Peach, Chartreuse)
Nuke Egg (Oregon Cheese over Steelhead Orange, Chartreuse over Flame, Egg over Steelhead Orange.
Rag Eggs (Clown, Apricot/Dark Roe , Egg/Salmon, Oregon Cheese/Burnt Orange)

Sizes: #6-10

Stonefly

Trout Retriever

The first insect of the year to hatch in significant numbers is the small black stonefly. Tie one on when you see them crawling on snow banks or fluttering on the surface when the sun is out and water temps increase slightly, tie one on. Our waters have a variety of stoneflies ranging from the small stones mentioned above to some in excess of two-inches long. My favorites are black and cover the size range. As water temps cool in the fall and leaves start to decompose underwater, stoneflies get active making them a good choice at all times of the year. Oh, and when the bite is tough, sometimes the small stone pattern is enough to trick the fish into eating a small snack even if they aren’t actively hatching.

Commercially Tied Patterns: Mercer’s Biot Epoxy Stone – Dark, Trout Retriever, Ted’s Early Black Stone, 20 Incher

Sizes #6-12

Honorable Mention: Leech

Miles Davis

Often the spring run can coincide with winter’s thaw and/or spring showers leading to high, dirty water conditions where your small realistic nymphs can go unnoticed. Tied with rabbit strips or marabou, the black leech’s large profile, undulating motion and sometimes combined with some sparkle or flash can come up big, deserving a place in your fly collection. High and dirty water in the fall isn’t much of a concern to fall steelhead anglers here in Michigan, but those looking to swing flies on sink-tips should keep a leech handy.

Commercially Tied Patterns: String Leech, Silvey’s Tail Light, Miles Davis, Larimer’s Reverse Marabou

Sizes: Go big

Top 5 Steelhead Flies - Spring Steelhead Leech Pattern

Leech Eating Spring Steelhead

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Posts tagged "steelhead bugger"