Posts tagged "Streamer fishing for trout"

Mid-May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 19, 2019

The middle of May finds most anglers on the trout rivers looking for bugs and rising trout.

While some days there are good hatches (Hendricksons and Black Caddis) on the upper Manistee and AuSable, finding days when both bugs and rising fish are present has been maddening. With water temps in the upper 50’s I’d say a couple degrees should help make for more consistent dry fly fishing. As the days get longer, it’s time to take your fly box with Sulphurs and Mahoganies along with your headlamp as hatches begin to go later into the day.

River conditions have been decent but the days when the sun it out, the water is too clear, and the fish do a great job of hiding; overcast days have made for noticeably better fishing. When fish are hiding, it’s time to take your flies to them and fishing streamers with sink-tips is one of the approaches to do that. There hasn’t been a leading pattern/color/shape that has been producing more than another so be sure to mix it up to find any daily preference. Sclupins and chestnut lampreys are always good to start with.

Lake anglers are finding that the smaller lakes that tend to warm quicker have a few bluegill moving into the shallows along with some bass. After the long winter/cool spring, water temps are still cool and things are a few days behind. Largemouth bass are around, too, but are mostly preoccupied with their upcoming spawning ritual.

While there haven’t been any mosquitoes, look for that to change any day so take some repellent with you.

Good luck!

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Father’s Day – Get dad on the water this year with a gift certificate for either a half and full-day trip.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

bass fishing, boardman river, chestnut lamprey, mahaoganies, match the hatch, sculpin, Streamer fishing for trout, sulphurs

September Salmon and Trout Fly Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 1, 2018

With September here, so are the salmon. Heavy rains and favorable winds the past week has kicked off the migration of salmon in rivers. While there are fish around, anglers will find other anglers as well as higher water and some new logs, branches and trees in your favorite bend. Water clarity is decent on the bigger rivers but smaller rivers like the Betsie it is limited. With more rain in the forecast fish should continue to move throughout river systems. Its a good time to use big egg patterns and darker nymphs and leeches as moving fish ascend the river focusing on tail outs and other migratory seams.

Trout fishing on the upper Manistee has been fishing a little better than normal for this time of year. Water temps are ideal and a little bump in the river flow combined with the overcast weather has made for some better fishing both on the surface and below. Small to mid-sized streamers and twitch flies are working and the big terrestrial/attractor patterns are bringing some fish to the surface. On the other side of Labor Day you can pretty much have most trout rivers to yourselves as school starts up and anglers chase migratory fish.

Bass fishing continues to be fun on the local lakes when casting poppers and divers. The smaller bluegill/panfish continue to come to the surface for those learning how to fly fish. As temps decrease through the month look for low-light hours to offer good bass fishing, bigger bluegill and the toothy species to move into the shallows again.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Fall colors include chrome Steelhead from Early October into December
Fall Trout – Fish the upper Manistee or combine steelhead and trout on the lower Manistee
2019 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get next year’s fishing dates secured – booking through September

Betsie, coho, fly fishing, manistee river, Platte River, salmon, salmon fishing, steelhead, Streamer fishing for trout, trout fishing

Late October Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 23, 2016

As we get deeper into October we are finding that the salmon are mostly done on the local rivers. A few fresh fish slip in but for the most part the salmon are dark, beat up and trying to get through their spawning ritual. In review, this year’s run of salmon was far better than the previous two years which was welcomed. It’s hoped that with natural reproduction, a limited number of stocked King/Chinook salmon, and a slight recovery in alewife/baitfish populations – Lake Michigan and its tributaries will return to a healthy, sustainable fishery going forward.

With all of the salmon in the river spawning, their eggs help convince fall steelhead to swim upstream, proving opportunity at what some consider the best freshwater species we get to pursue. The water temperatures are warmer than normal for this time of year so fish numbers are a little behind but there is typically no mistaking when a steelhead is on – most of the hooked steelhead have been rambunctious this fall making them hard to land. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

With fall steelhead fishing, key in on gravel beds with salmon still spawning and fish tandem egg patterns behind them in the darker holes and runs for fish eating their eggs. With all of the leaves in the water (the leaf drop, too, is behind this year) I prefer to fish a large egg pattern with a very realistic size and color egg below it. Water clarity on both the Betsie and Big Manistee below Tippy Dam is running clear so fluorocarbon is recommended. Although we have received some periodic rains, we could use some more of them to keep pushes of fish moving upstream – with the weather this fall, look for an extended fall run of fish

On water still open to trout fishing, anglers are finding most of the brown trout done spawning and in a post-spawn mode. If you come across beds of spawning fish, please leave them alone as most of the rivers rely solely on natural reproduction. This is the time of year to put the dry fly rods away and cover some water with sink-tips and streamers. As salmon numbers decline below Tippy Dam, so do salmon anglers, making it a good place to target trout that become aggressive after a month of a steady salmon egg diet.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – Target post-spawn browns with streamers on the upper Manistee or Below Tippy Dam.
Fall Steelhead – Warm weather is making for comfortable steelhead fishing. Oxymoron, isn’t it?
Late Fall Trout – After gorging on salmon eggs, streamer fishing below Tippy Dam can be outstanding.

betsie river, egg patterns, fall steelhead fishing, fall steelhead with egg flies, post-spawn trout fishing with streamers, spawning salmon, Streamer fishing for trout, tippy dam steelhead fishing

Mid-October Salmon, Steelhead and Trout Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 12, 2016

As we approach mid-October it feels closer to the beginning of the month based on conditions and temperatures.

We finally received our first nights of mid-30 degree temperatures and the water temps have dipped into the 50s which is needed for the the salmon to continue to enter the rivers. And, today we have received some very much needed rain; as water levels increase, look for the remaining salmon waiting to migrate upstream to their spawning areas and bring a few steelhead along with them.

The Betsie continues to have spawning salmon working the gravel sections as does the Manistee – primarily in the water directly below Tippy Dam. A few steelhead are around but well below what we expect for this time of year. As the weather realizes the time of year and begins to feel fall-like, look for more fish. Over the next few weeks It’s time to match the hatch and fish egg patterns that are realistic as both trout and steelhead key in on the “protein drip” – that is, the eggs from spawning salmon.

Those looking for trout will find some of bigger browns just starting to get busy on gravel – please leave those fish alone as they are future of our trout fishing – especially those rivers that are solely reliable on natural reproduction. Streamer fishing for pre-spawn and post-spawn fish on sink tips can make for some of the year’s best fishing as they are ornery and hungry. Cover water and respect the resource.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – Have the Upper Manistee to yourself fishing wets, dries/terrestrials and streamers.
Fall Steelhead – Starting in October, extending into December. Fall Color Tour includes Chrome!
Late Fall Trout – After gorging on salmon eggs, streamer fishing below Tippy Dam can be outstanding.

Betsie, egg patterns, fall steelhead, manistee, manistee river tippy dam, salmon, steelhead, Streamer fishing for trout, tippy dam

Late November Trout and Steelhead Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 23, 2015

The weather finally realized what time of the year it is as temps dropped and so did some white stuff. The water temp on the Manistee below Tippy dam is still in the low 40s which makes it ideal for both steelhead and trout fishing. More steelhead have entered the system since the past report and they are relatively spread throughout; word has it that other rivers like the Betsie, PM and Boardman also have more fish in them as well. Fresh fish continue to trickle in and some of fish are starting to get a hint of color that show’s their relation to rainbow trout. This also means that fish are beginning to transition to some holding water rather than mostly runs which has been the primary focus of anglers so far this fall.

As steelhead move around, target all types of water including holes, tail-outs, structure and around wood. Now is a good time to fish indicators/floats, swing a streamer/spey fly, or even cast streamers for steelhead. Streamer fishing the lower Manistee for trout remains good with 3-4″ baitfish patterns working well when olive and natural sculpin/goby patterns aren’t and hold on tight if a steelhead grabs the other end of your 6 wt. streamer rod – you’ll know it. The water levels are o.k. but are running clear – drop down in leader size and/or consider using fluorocarbon especially when the sun is out.

Don’t replace your fly rods with snow shovels just yet – there is still some good fishing to be had – especially if the predicted mild El Nino keeps temps moderate.

Happy Thanksgiving and Good luck,

Ted

Late Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Look for the good fishing in Nov. & into December for steelhead on the Manistee River.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

manistee river, spey fly, steelhead, steelhead fishing, Streamer fishing for trout, thanksgiving, tippy dam, trout, winter fishing

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