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Posts tagged "steelhead"

Early December Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 2, 2020

As we enter December, anglers will find steelhead throughout local river systems (Manistee and Betsie) and pretty well spread throughout them. Water temps are hovering around 40 degrees, but after some cold nights, the smaller rivers tend to drop temps until any sunshine that day might warm them up. Since the rivers aren’t very busy, sometimes it’s a good idea to get a later start and let both the air and water temps increase some. If there is one thing all species of fish don’t like, it’s a rapid drop in temps when things are already cool.

Not much has changed – it’s time to cover the water with your favorite method – drift fishing, indicators or swinging flies on sink-tips. Look for the fish to have moved into water a little slower than they have been as they begin to adjust to the colder temps and maybe consider taking up residence near some structure for the winter. A mix of fish are being caught – fresh chrome ones and some with a little color to them, especially the males. Bubble lines are still worth targeting, especially on the soft side of the current.

Eggs and beads are still working well, with caddis, hex and the occasional big stone fly working when tied below an egg. Swung flies in tan/brown with copper and olive and copper seem to have been more successful than other combinations.

There’s still some good weather and fishing to be had so don’t put your gear away just yet.

Ted

Fall Steelhead –  Take advantage of the mild late Fall weather – it’s a great way to finish the fishing season.
Gift Certificates –  Give the gift of a Fishing Trip or Lesson – Half of Full Days available – they’re easy and fast.

Betsie, caddis, chrome, egg pattern, gift certificates fly fishing, manistee, manistee river, manistee steelhead, steelhead

Late October Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 23, 2020

As October winds down, the river levels are on the way up. Recent rains have been significant and anglers will find the rivers like the Betsie and Manistee high and rising. Unlike Spring when high water events last a while, the rivers should drain out by later next week, providing we don’t experience additional showers.

Salmon are pretty much done, although there are some rough looking ones either doing the last of their spawning or waiting to become biomass. With all their eggs in the river combined with the high water, a natural chum line moving downstream should encourage more steelhead to enter the river system.

When water is high like this, look for those bubble lines and seams and fish the softer side as the current isn’t as strong and the fish like to move up in the slower moving water. Water temps are in the high 40’s so the fish are still eager to eat and eager to get away once hooked.

Egg patterns and beads are the leading choice right now with natural colors and sizes being recent producers but with the high water and excess leaf drop, look for bigger and bolder patterns to paly a role in your decision.

Please release all steelhead – today’s 5-pound fish becomes next year’s 8 to 10-pound fish, etc. They don’t taste very good and your manliness isn’t validated by the number of fish you parade around the parking lot or place in the smoker.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout/Steelhead Combo – Late fall can offer a combined chance at both species on the lower Manistee.
Fall Steelhead –  Some good dates are available in November – a great way to finish the fishing season.

betsie river, egg patterns, fishing guide, manistee river, michigan fly fishing, salmon fishing, steelhead, steelhead bead

Mid-April Ramblings

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 16, 2020

The Michigan Stay Home/Stay Safe order has been extended through the month of April, so guide trips will become available again starting May 1, 2020.

<<Click here to read an overview/options for May fishing>>

Anglers can still fish on their own if they maintain social distancing (6’) and will find steelhead in all the local rivers. You will find steelhead anglers, too, as there are a lot of folks with extra time on their hands and spending some of it on the water.

The forecast is calling for milder temps to return after some recent dustings of snow and sub-freezing overnight temperatures. It’s still mid-April, don’t let the mild month of March have you getting your swimsuit out just yet. Besides, most public beaches are closed anyway.

With so many of us anglers finding ourselves with extra time, there are a few things we can do related to fly fishing while sheltering in place. Here are just some ideas:

Organize your fly boxes. Either by species (steelhead, salmon, bass, carp), style (streamers, nymphs, dries) or hatches (Sulphurs/March Browns/Isos, Terrestrials/Tricos, Hex/Drakes), there are a number of ways to keep your flies in order and easy to access on the water. It also helps you find some vacancies in your line-up. Sharpen some hooks, throw away the rusty hooks and get some of the new style fly boxes.

Tie or buy flies. Fly tying materials are in high demand industry wide as folks are sitting down and wrapping some fur and bending some feathers at rates not quite experienced before. Locally, The Northern Angler is shipping out orders of materials available on their website. Whoever your local fly shop is, consider giving them your business as these are difficult times for independent retailers nationwide.

Gear Bags. Every year I go through mine a few times to clean out what needs to be, sort through some things, inventory what’s missing or doesn’t belong, replace some leaders and tippet and refill the first-aid kit. If you don’t have a gear bag, consider getting one – they are awesome for organizing, keeping you ready for fishing opportunities and helps keep you from being unprepared.

Clean your fly lines. Send your broken rod back to the manufacturer. Click here to read an article on equipment care and maintenance.

Cast. On the nicer days, head outside and practice your fly casting in the yard or in the local park. We can all get better at casting. Yes, even you.

Read that old pile of fishing magazines or pull that dusty book off the shelf. Sometimes we can re-read something we forgot about that still works on the water today or simply enjoy a good story/novel with fly fishing intertwined throughout it.

Lastly, you could get to that list your spouse has created for you, which (speaking from personal experience) I am guessing doesn’t have anything to do with fishing.

Lastly, here is an old article I wrote with ideas for off-season activities for the fly fisher.

Good luck, do your part to be safe, and stay healthy.

Ted

Trout – May and June aren’t far away and offer ideal conditions for both streamer and dry fly fishing.
Tricos & Terrestrials – A great way to start a summer day. Float and Trout fish the Manistee in July and August
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates in Oct. and Nov. remain available but they are starting to become limited.

fighing, local rivers, May fishing, stay home, stay safe, steelhead, tie flies, traverse city

Late March Report – Guide Trips Suspended

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 24, 2020

In compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order, guide trips have been suspended until April 13th, 2020. As interpreted, outdoor activities are still permissible, however maintaining the 6 foot distance between others is not feasible during guide trips which led to this decision.

It’s not easy to walk away from three weeks of income, nor is it easy for customers to abandon their long-ago made plans, but it’s the right thing to do in an effort to not overburden our unprepared public health response through further transmission of this sneaky virus. And face it, most of us don’t want to get sick ourselves while unknowingly passing it along to others in the household.

While I am not an attorney, it appears that individual anglers can still head to the river on their own to fish as an outdoor activity. Those intrepid anglers will find the rivers in great shape as more steelhead move upstream and begin their spawning ritual – temps around 40 degrees, flows/height’s ideal and with a slight stain to the water.

If you are interested in a guide trip this spring after April 13, feel free to contact me about any further openings – plans are changing, and some dates are likely to become available.

Stay healthy and safe, and together, hopefully, we can get on the other side of this pandemic and get back to laughing together on the water while fishing.

Ted

Trout – May and June aren’t far away and offer ideal conditions for both streamer and dry fly fishing.
Tricos & Terrestrials – A great way to start a summer day. Float and Trout fish the Manistee in July and August
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates in Oct. and Nov. remain available but they are starting to become limited.

fishing, michigan fly flishing, no fishing during governors order, steelhead

Mid-March Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 13, 2020

Most of the snow is gone (except for north facing slopes) and much of that runoff has found it’s way to the river systems. Water levels are up on area rivers and they have some stain to them. The Manistee below Tippy Dam is running 3,200 cfs and the Betsie, too, is running full. The increase in water levels and recent big moon will help encourage more steelhead from the lake to migrate up stream, but with water temperatures in the upper 30’s, the run shouldn’t progress too quickly. As always, use caution if wading.

There is already a mix of steelhead in the rivers – fall hold-overs, winter fish and fresh chromers. With the higher water look for fish taking shelter in the deeper holes and moving fish to be near the soft seams. It’s a great time to fish your bigger egg patterns in bold colors as well as nymphs that have a significant silhouette in the darker water. A little flash might not be a bad plan either.

Fishing under indicators/floats and drift fishing with duck and chuck rigs are the primary presentations right now. Click here to read more on how to rig your equipment for steelhead.

Good luck!

Ted

Spring Steelhead – A few prime days in March remain open if your looking for fish and some fresh air.
Trout – May and June aren’t far away and offer ideal conditions for both streamer and dry fly fishing.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates in Oct. and Nov. remain available but they are starting to become limited.

betsie river, clown egg pattern, duck and chuck, egg patterns, manistee river steelhead, nymphs, steelhead, steelhead in rivers, tippy dam
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Steelhead Articles & Flies

May Fly Fishing - Streamer Fishing Michigan

May Days – A Month of Fly Fishing

Fonzi Fry

Fonzi Fry

Early Black Stonefly Nymph

Early Black Stonefly Nymph Pattern

Rigging For Steelhead

Rigging for Steelhead & Salmon

Streamer Fishing Tips for Trout

Tips For Better Streamer Fishing

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

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