Early March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 1, 2022

Now that it’s the first of March, it’s time to start thinking about fishing again!

It’s been a pretty cold winter with a few mild days mixed in to help keep the snowpack reduced. These mini run-off situations gave some bumps to the water levels which encouraged a few steelhead to come into the local rivers like the Manistee, Bear Creek and the Betsie. Water temps have been pegged in the mid-30s with, but with overnight temps staying in the double digits, things will slowly warm and fishing will only improve.

This time of a year the sun can come out just enough to help warm the water up just a bit. But if it is too warm and causes run-off from melting snow, the water temp usually drops making fish that tend to be lethargic even more so, and a little grumpy too. As we get a few warm-up cycles, look for fishing to improve, especially on the smaller rivers that tend to fluctuate quicker (think warmer) than bigger rivers.

Dead-drift egg and nymph combinations are your best bet this time of year, especially in some of the deeper slower moving water where a lot of the fall and winter hold over fish have taken up residence. The fish are shuffling around a little with the days getting longer with some steelhead starting to stage near the gravel sections of rivers. If you are fishing near gravel where salmon spawned in the fall, don’t hesitate to fish Alevin or even Fry patterns as these are starting to become active. Small (#10 and 12) Green Caddis in clear water can be real effective this time of year, too.

If you are looking to get fired up about fishing, check out the Fly Fishing Film Tour (FT3) this Saturday, March 5th, hosted by The Northern Angler at The City Opera House here in Traverse City.

Good luck.

Ted

May Days – The month that offers so much variety for a number of species. <<More info>>
Match the Hatch – Late May and June offer dry fly anglers some of the best trout fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain available in October, November and into December.

alevin pattern, betsie river, egg patterns, fly fishing guide, fonzi fry, fry pattern, green caddis, manistee river steelhead fishing, steelhead fishing, traverse city, traverse city fly fishing

Early November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 8, 2021

The fall weather sure has been comfortable to fish in, but it sure hasn’t made for great steelhead fishing.

The lack of any appreciable rainfall the past 6 weeks is taking a toll on fish inventory numbers in the river. We finally got some winds to blow some water around on Lake Michigan which helps congregate fish, but the low, clear water is keeping fish from migrating upstream like we have come to expect once the calendar hits November. Help is on the way with the forecast, just not sure how much rain we will get, but any is welcomed.

With the clear water, look to use lighter tippet than typical, but use your luck and skill to land these fish as they are still full of themselves with water temperatures in the Big Manistee river reading close to 50 degrees. Might be a good time to swing a fly and look for that aggressive fish looking to destroy something if looking to try something new. Otherwise, egg and beads are fooling most of the fish hooked and the nymph bite is starting to get better (hex and larger stones) as the salmon are done and the egg drop has diminished.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in the second half of November. Finish the season with some chrome.
Spring Steelhead – It’s not too early to think Spring! Get your dates secured for the first fishing of the year.
Gift Certificates – Ask or give the gift of a lesson, half or full-day trip on the water.

bead fishing, big manistee river, fall steelhead, nymph fishing, steelhead fishing

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

Late April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 21, 2021

It seems that this year’s April showers were replaced by April flowers as vegetation and gardens are 3 weeks ahead. We still haven’t had any significant rains and the rivers look like it – low and clear.

The steelhead have thinned out without many fresh fish showing up. Those that do seem to hit the gravel, spawn and leave, quickly. Still, enough time put into fishing runs and the dark water near spawning gravel will find you fish. It just hasn’t been the season we usually experience but it’s been stable, just fewer banner days than what usually comes with a season. I suspect fish will continue to trickle in over the next couple of weeks on the Manistee, but the majority of the spring fish have come and are already gone.

Trout opener is this weekend and it appears that the cold weather my be behind us by then and warmer days ahead might produce ideal conditions for some hatches and surface activity. Hendricksons, BWOs and black caddis should be in your box. When there aren’t any bugs around, go sub-surface with some streamers. The water is still cool (low 50s) so a little slower retrieve might be more suitable than the hard, quick rip and strip. As always, mix it up to see what they are in the mood for that particular day.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –
perfect for beginners or those looking to dial in a new technique.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December

bwos michigan, guided fly fishing manistee river, hatches, hendricksons, steelhead fishing, upper manistee

Mid April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 11, 2021

It’s approaching mid-April, but it feels more like the first of May with the recent weather. One could argue that it felt more like the end of May with the recent 70-degree days.

Steelhead fishing has been challenging as we had not received much precipitation and more anglers show up at the river for a reduced number of fish. Fish have been spawning on the Manistee and Betsie and a lot have completed the task leaving empty gravel beds. With the clear water a lot of fish slip off the gravel and wait low-light hours and take refuge in the darker pockets and runs nearby making them ideal locations to target. Drop-backs (fish that are done spawning) can typically be found in the medium flowing runs as they drop back to the lake.

We are finally getting some rain now and are forecast to get more in the next couple days which should help bring in some fresh fish to prolong the run. Suckers have been in the water well over a week and historically another run of steelhead takes place after the suckers.

The fry bite has been good as has small (Size 8 and 10), realistic looking egg patterns. With the suckers spawning, yellowish sucker spawn patterns might be worth fishing. Green caddis and Ice Buggers, too have been successful the past week.

I have not been on the trout waters but have heard a few Hendricksons and BWO’s have been coming off, but not heavily nor consistent. With the water temps still in the mid- 50’s fish tend to prefer eating subsurface until the upper 50’s. It’s a good time to go fish a streamer but have a dry fly rigged and ready should surface activity take place.

Good luck.

Ted

egg patterns, guide service, spawning steelhead, steelhead fishing, steelhead fishing report michigan, steelhead flies, sucker spawn, tippy dam

«‹3 4 5 6 7 ›»

Posts tagged "steelhead fishing"

Early March Fishing Report

Early November Fishing Report

Late September Fishing Report

Late April Fishing Report

Mid April Fishing Report

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