With the fall-like weather upon us, the fish are behaving appropriately. Some much needed rain has bumped up the water levels a bit on the Manistee River and with it have come additional steelhead. Fish like to be around all the salmon as their spawning activity makes for a great source of food the steelhead cash in on. Lots of egg patterns have been the trick in natural salmon color patterns and small as the water is really clear. The nymph bite has been improving in the deeper water  and runs when targeting migrating fish including hex nymphs, big stoneflies and caddis.  Those looking to target salmon will find a majority of them on or near spawning gravel. The coho salmon don’t seem to be around as much this year, but sometimes they run a little later; lake run browns have been showing up a little more this year as a nice added bonus.

With the winds and fall colors, there is no shortage of leaves in the water so check your flies each time you cast to make sure they are clean of debris and keep casting. When you do hook into those adult steelhead, hold on and hope as they are rambunctious in the mid-50 degree water – one little mistake and the fish are gone, but then again, a steelhead’s ability to act this way is in part why we fish them.

Good Luck,

Ted

October is the month for fall steelhead – Available Dates: October 31

Fall Steelhead: It’s time to target angler’s favorite sport-fish now through November.
Fall Trout:  Fish the Upper Manistee  throughout fall or Lower Manistee in late October and through November.
Booking for all 2013 Seasons and through September – reserve your place in the boat.