Posts tagged "steelhead"

Late March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 26, 2023

As March winds down, we find ourselves in a unique situation with the steelhead.

Not much has changed since the last report as we still have had back and forth weather including some storm systems that have left some snow on the ground, but then bright sunny days to melt it soon after.

A lot of spawning has taken place on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers over the past 10 days by the steelhead that were hold-overs from fall and those that came in over the winter. With relatively clear and low water, the strong pushes of fresh fish have been more of a trickle until flows change. The 6-10 inches of snow we received yesterday and how it melts should change things going forward in regard to color and height and making it more appealing for fresh fish to head upstream.

The fish are spread throughout river systems and can be found in all sorts of water. In the clear water, fish have been in the dark holes, pocket water and runs near gravel. Seems the fish are spawning mostly at night and low-light hours as the water has been clear enough to see fish if they were out. Tail outs will provide a crack at fresh fish moving through and some fish have been holding over in the big, deep holes, too.

With more eggs in the water, the egg pattern and bead bite has improved but a lot of fish are still coming on the nymph. Caddis and small stones have been fishing strong, but some bigger stones have been taking some fish too. The fry bite should take off any day but so far there hasn’t been many salmon fry seen in the shallow water so it’s a matter of days before they become productive for the steelhead.

Good luck.

Ted

2023 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons.
Trout – May’s streamer & dry fly fishing turns to the big bugs of June. Good dates to choose from.
Fall Steelhead – Just a few prime steelhead dates remain available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.

betsie river, caddis, egg patterns, fry pattern, manistee river, michigan, steelhead, steelhead fishing report, stoneflies for steelhead, stonefly

Steelhead

Posted by Ted Kraimer - January 13, 2023

One of, if not the most exciting and electrifying freshwater game fish in North America is the Steelhead, and we are lucky to have them coming out of the great lakes and into our rivers. Steelhead fishing is broken down into two categories: Spring and Fall. The warmer days and thaw periods of the the winter offer some good steelheading opportunities and a chance to shake off the winter blues. The average size of the steelhead we catch is eight pounds, with some years having returns of much larger fish tipping the scales over 15 pounds.

Spring Steelhead

Steelhead - Spring Fishing on the Manistee

Spring Chrome

Spring fish start entering the river when the days get longer and water temperatures improve. From mid-March through the first of May, anglers can expect to catch these hard-fighting fish which enter the river for their annual spawning ritual. Unlike the salmon in the fall, these fish spawn and then return to the lake, and hopefully return to the river again and again, which is why they vary in size from a few pounds (skippers – first-year return) to 15 pounds + (four-year return).

For those looking for something different, swinging flies and stripping streamers for drop-back fish can be effective as fish return to Lake Michigan after successfully spawning. Start the year’s fishing off right with some steelhead.

Fall Steelhead

Fall Steelhead – a Beautiful Time of Year

While we aren’t exactly sure why these fish come into the river, we do know they do come, and often their eagerness to eat the fly is strong.

Because salmon are in the river by the thousands, there are literally millions of eggs drifting through the river, providing a great food to imitate with egg patterns. Catching salmon happens frequently while targeting these steelhead so be prepared for something a little bigger on the end of you line. Like the early salmon, these fish will take a streamer if presented properly. Fall steelhead season begins the end of September and extends through November. Fishing late fall and into winter is always an option especially during mild winters or when a thaw takes place.

Methods

Swinging Spey Flies for Steelhead on Manistee River

Swinging Flies on the Manistee River

The most common and effective way to fish steelhead is by bottom bouncing nymphs with either a floating line or the “chuck and duck” method. The fish love well-presented eggs and nymphs. Swinging sink-tips with large flies that are more like streamers than spey flies is becoming more popular in the Midwest. While it isn’t the most productive way to catch a fish, no one will argue with the satisfaction of bringing a steely to hand via this method. More sporting? probably, but a steelhead is a steelhead no matter if you get them with a pair of eggs, an egg and nymph combo or a big, nasty swung streamer.
Since we fish from a boat, we strongly suggestwhen swinging flies with a spey rod, do so as a single angler.

Rivers

To learn more about the rivers we fish steelhead, click on the links below.

• Big Manistee River (below Tippy Dam) • • Betsie River •

: Winter Fishing

: Spring Steelhead

: Fall Steelhead

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Late November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 25, 2022

As November comes to an end along with the Fall season, we find river and fishing conditions to be about what you’d expect for this time of year.

Water levels are running on the low and clear side of things which makes stealthy presentations a little more crucial. The unprecedented warm water temps we experienced this Fall have dropped significantly in the past week thanks to a snowstorm and cold temps; look for the thermometer to read around 40 degrees. When the water gets colder, the steelhead tend to shift and seek the slower water on the other (slower) side of the bubble line. Most of the snow is gone and stable temperatures are in the forecast so fishing should remain decent as we head into December.

Egg patterns continue to be an effective approach but egg and nymph combos become more common as the fish get off that egg bite with fewer salmon eggs drifting down river systems like the Manistee and Betsie. Steelhead buggers and medium sized black/brown stoneflies are always good choices this time of year.

Fish numbers have been o.k. the past few weeks. After the strong start to the season, we have had to work a little harder to bend the rod. This is the time of year that all three ways to present flies will work – duck and chuck, indicator/float, and swinging. And fish have been easier to land as the cooler temps take some of the near uncontrollable rambunctiousness out of them.

Good luck,

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Finish the season with what started the season – Steelhead! A few dates in late Nov. are open.
2023 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.
Gift Certificates – Quick and easy gifts of a half-day, full-day or casting lesson for friends or family.

betsie river, egg patterns, fly fishing gift certificates, mansitee river steelhead guide, nymphs, steelhead, steelhead fishing, swinging flies

Early October Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 1, 2022

It’s October and it feels like it – cool nights, mild days and some color staring in the trees.

Most anglers are focused on the salmon in local rivers as it’s been a good year with decent numbers and big fish. The run has been mixed with some fish having been in the river a while and are occupying spawning gravel while others are staged waiting for a change in conditions to really trigger their spawning activity. Colder rivers (Betsie) get fish going sooner where the warmer rivers (Manistee) take a little longer to get things going in full. Regardless, it’s that time of year and you won’t be alone on whichever river you decide to fish.

Trout fishing in September on the upper Manistee was kind of a dud. Typically, it’s that time of year where pre-spawn brookies and browns are taking advantage of little pressure and roam around putting on some weight before spawning eating both dries/terrestrials and smaller streamers. It was slim-pickin’s with few fish looking to play the game or witnessed swimming away after being spooked in the clear water. Not sure what the future holds for the water between M72 and M66 but one has to be an optimist because lately reality has been giving us a swift kick in the ass up there.

Just a reminder that certain rivers closed on September 30 while other rivers and/or sections rivers remain open. With most folks spending time chasing salmon and steelhead, hunting or watching football, you should find the trout rivers pretty much unfished in the fall.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Finish the season with what started the season – Steelhead! Good dates available in November
2023 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.
Gift Certificates – Quick and easy gifts of a half-day, full-day or casting lesson for friends or family.

betsie river, fall fishing, manistee river, october, salmon, steelhead, stream fishing, trout fishing, upper manistee

Mid – September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 12, 2022

Nearing the mid-point of September, it feels like the seasons are thinking about transitioning. September can be a continuation of summer or the end of the summer – just depends on the day. With the weather changes comes changes in fishing.

Trout anglers will find that they have the rivers to themselves. Hatches are relatively non-existent but this time of year you should always have a selection of BWOs, flying ant patterns and small Isonychias as they can show up. Like May, this time of year you should hit the water with the ability and willingness to fish both the surface and below.

Larger terrestrial patterns continue to bring some fish to the surface but on days when fish aren’t looking up or there is too much debris (leaves and pine needles) floating on the surface, go subsurface with some smaller streamers. It’s been a long season of the trout being pressured by anglers, but with fewer people on the water lately, they are starting to move out from their bunkers where can present some flies to them once again.

Salmon have moved into the usual rivers in decent numbers but as salmon do, they can be in a funk; weather and conditions can make the difference with bright and sunny – tough, overcast – ideal. With the abundance of baitfish in Lake Michigan, the fish are running a bit larger this year so hold on when you hook up.

The bass and bluegill fishing is winding down as it typically does this time of year. It seems they go fairly deep this time of year proving a little difficult with the fly rod, but somedays they will be along the drop offs and other structure willing to eat on the surface and more so, bellow.

Good luck,

Ted

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