Late April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 25, 2025

With April coming to an end, so does our Spring Steelhead season. The run for this spring was a strong one the past 8 weeks and despite a week of high water in early April that made fishing tough – if not unsafe to get out, it provided a lot of fish and was a remarkable improvement over 2024 Spring Season’s fish numbers which was concerning.

There are still fish in the rivers, but in a week’s time, it went from a lot of fish to, not so many. Smaller rivers will have a few fish in them for a bit while larger rivers and their volume of water will continue to tease fish into the system, just as they have for years, resulting in late spawners which contributes to a longer season in years ahead.

Water temps are in the upper 40s and levels are about right for the time of year, but still running a bit stained which is still from the high water even we had over three weeks ago. Small natural eggs are catching more fish as they imitate the natural eggs drifting downstream and the salmon fry bite has been our best performing nymph over the past week.

Saturday is the traditional trout opener (walleye, pike and other species, too) and has a lot of folks swapping the heavy steelhead rods for their favorite trout rods. The timing of this year’s opener and the weather the past 2 months has been ideal. And because we had a “real” winter, it seems that conditions are now just building with only better days ahead as water temperatures climb into the 50s and create consistent conditions for hatches. In other words, after the hard winter and slow start of spring, the season is just starting where in recent years it has already been on and off again by the time opener arrived.

Hendricksons have started emerging and will only build in numbers especially with the forecast of warmer days ahead. BWO’s are always a staple in your fly box but this is a time of year you should expect to use them. Small stones are also fluttering on the surface some days when the sun is out, but most of the time a respectable sized trout won’t chase them on the surface unless there are a lot of them.

There are more hours on the water when bugs aren’t out than when they are emerging making an alternative presentation like streamer fishing a good way to cover water until bugs and rising fish present themselves. The fish haven’t been overly pressured but the water is still cold, so slow your presentation/retrieve and enjoy the start of a new trout season.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Spring season is all booked, but a few dates remain available for the Fall Steelhead.
Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best technical dry fly fishing as we chase bugs and browns.
2025 Season – Now booking the entire season for trout, bass, steelhead and salmon – get your dates planned

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Early April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 9, 2025

After a week of high and highly stained water, the river levels have returned to normal flows for this time of year and still have a bit of a stain, which also is normal for this time of year. Water temperatures are in the low 40s thanks to some cold nights and the lack of warm days to keep the run from running it’s course in short order.

The steelhead continue to be mixed – pre-spawn, spawning and post spawn. The males tend be a little older as they dance from gravel bar to gravel bar and have the color to show for it while fresh females are continuing to slip upstream. As with the fall run, the spring run has had more “skippers” (15-22” fish) than the larger adults however it seems lately a few more bigger fish are making a return to the river and bending the rod more. Don’t forget these smaller fish are next year’s bigger fish and the new fishing regulations as of April 1 limits harvest to only 1 steelhead/rainbow trout.

Larger flies have been working in the stained water – leeches, large stones and fry patterns tied below egg patterns and beads which have been bolder and more prominent in the stained water. Egg patterns with chartreuse have been working better than they had been, but that also usually results in an encounter with some walleye on the Manistee below Tippy dam as that’s seems to be a perennial favorite color of theirs. With the lack of rain in the forecast, I suspect smaller and more natural toned patterns will improve in effectiveness as the water continues to clear up.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Spring season is all booked, but a few dates remain available for the Fall Steelhead.
Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best technical dry fly fishing as we chase bugs and browns.
2025 Season – Now booking the entire season for trout, bass, steelhead and salmon – get your dates planned.

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Late December Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 23, 2024

As December winds down, so does the year. Thanks to all of you who got into the boat this past year and spent some time fishing for the so many different species we luckily have in our watersheds – it was a privilege to guide you and spend some time together on the water.

For those still looking to get out, you might find the warm-up in this week’s forecast will give you the excuse to get away from the visiting in-laws and chase after some steelhead on the local rivers.

Conditions remain ideal for this time of year. With the cold weather the past week, water temperatures are in the mid to upper 30s. Look for fish to be on the inside of the bubble line or even tail-outs of runs if there is some sun out. Deeper, slow holes with structure from wood and or ledges are classic winter spots worthy of fishing thoroughly.

I’m always a fan of fishing an egg or bead with a nymph this time of year and as long as the water is clear my first choices are pale orange or even bleached patterns like Oregon cheese. Nuke eggs and rag style eggs tied in subtle colors are more natural looking. Size 8 eggs and 8 mm beads would likely be your best bet. Nymphs would include green caddis in #10, hex nymphs and steelhead buggers.

Happy Holidays and all the best to you on and off the water in the New Year!

Ted

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Spring Steelhead – A few dates remain available for Spring 2025 in March and April – “think Spring”
2025 Fishing Season – It’s not too early to look ahead to next year and get your dates planned and secured.
Gift Certificates – Available for Half or Full Day Guide Trips or a Casting Lesson making perfect gifts for anglers

fishing, fishing guide, fly fishing, gift certificates, green caddis, hex nymph pattern, nuke egg pattern, steelhead fishing, traverse city

Early December Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 5, 2024

Winter has come in hard with some sustained lake effect snow like we haven’t seen in some time. Thankfully the ground isn’t frozen and some of this snow will slowly seep into the water table to replenish an aquifer that was parched from last summer’s and fall’s drought.

Steelhead fishing has slowed down with water temperatures dropping pretty significantly the last 10 days to about 40 degrees. Steelhead don’t like rapid drops in temperature so I’d look for them to be grumpy until the temp stays relatively stable. As temps drop into the upper 30s, look for fish to seek out the slower holes and pools.

With a warm up in the forecast this weekend, some run-off should occur which might add some needed color to the Manistee and Betsie while encouraging a few fish to migrate upstream. With water temps in Lake Michigan being so warm, the cold river isn’t too inviting, which should bode well for a good Spring run of fish as they are likely to stay in the big water a while before moving upstream.

Good luck.

Ted

Spring Steelhead – A few dates remain available for Spring 2025 in March and April – “think Spring”
2025 Fishing Season – It’s not too early to look ahead to next year and get your dates planned and secured.
Gift Certificates – Available for Half or Full Day Guide Trips or a Casting Lesson making perfect gifts for anglers

betsie river, fly fishing, gift certificates, guide, manistee river, snow, spring steelhead, steelhead fishing, traverse city, winter steelhead

Mid November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 11, 2024

The unseasonably mild fall weather continues to make for comfortable fishing.

While we have had some rain in the past, the river levels have only experienced moderate increases in levels before dropping back to the low-levels we have had for months. Still, the steelhead have been showing up as they move upstream from the Lake Michigan.

Smaller rivers like the Betsie got a nice push of fish with last week’s rain, while the Manistee has maintained a respectable number of fish all fall. Water temps remain a bit warmer than normal for this time of year and the fish continue to be a little more spirited once hooked. With the clear water, we have been using lighter line to fool fish.

Egg patterns are still the first choice of anglers and fish, with nymph patterns building in effectiveness as the natural salmon eggs in the river diminish a bit. Shades of yellow and pale orange rag eggs and beads have been working in smaller sizes (#8 and 8mm). Steelhead buggers, Hex, and mid-sized stoneflies are fooling fish, too.

With the warmer water, the steelhead are more apt to eat a swung fly fished on sink-tips, typically with a spey rod on the larger rivers. Leeches and baitfish patterns in black, olive or tan – all with copper flash – have been working. If you’ve had an interest in trying this method, conditions have made this an ideal year to learn.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Take advantage of the mild fall and warm water! Good dates in November remain.
2025 Fishing Season – It’s not too early to look ahead to next year and get your dates planned and secured.
Gift Certificates – Available for Half or Full Day Guide Trips or a Casting Lesson making perfect gifts for anglers.

baitfish patterns, Betsie, casting lessons, fall steelhead, fly fishing, manistee river, spey rods, steelhead, steelhead fishing, traverse city fly fishing

Posts tagged "steelhead fishing"

Late April Fishing Report

Early April Fishing Report

Late December Fly Fishing Report

The annual newsletter has just gone out. If you aren’t subscribed, you can read (and subscribe) here.

Early December Fishing Report

Mid November Fishing Report

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