Posts tagged "streamer fishing"

Mid-September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 19, 2023

The summer weather is making a comeback as we officially transition to Fall this weekend.

Temps in the upper and 70s and approaching the 80s will give the trout rivers a last tickle of terrestrial activity for those looking to get out and get some dry fly fishing in for the year. The rivers (upper Manistee and Boardman) have mostly been untouched now that we are past Labor Day and well into September. In addition to the large foam and rubber leg attractor/terrestrial patterns, consider using some smaller terrestrials like ants and beetles.

Water temps are cool and sometimes when it is in the mid-50s it might be worth delaying your fishing until after the sun has come up and made it a little warmer. The brook trout have begun spawning and when you catch one you can’t help but notice those bold colors, especially on the males. And certain sections of rivers are showing some fall colors in the maples on the riverbank to really intensify the beauty of the river.

The larger and leery brown trout are starting to come out of cover after a long season of being targeted. They might grab a big terrestrial on top, but fishing smaller streamers (less than 3 inches) on intermediate sink tip lines is a great way to improve your chances and catching one.

The salmon are in the rivers pretty thick and are mostly in holding water waiting for conditions to be ideal before they hit the gravel sections to do their spawning. As usual, the rivers are busy with all types of anglers, sportsmen, poachers and others, so don’t expect to have the place to yourself. Once we get another change in the weather with the appropriate winds and some rain, look for another big push of fresh salmon to leave the lake and head up your favorite river.

Good luck,

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Just a few dates in November remain available – finish the fishing season strong.
Spring Steelhead – Most of the season is booked – get your dates for March and April while you can.
2024 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru August.

Early July Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 5, 2023

The big bugs and crescendo of our May and June hatches have pretty much come to an end. There might be an encore performance as there usually are some stragglers and late bloomers, but for the most part it’s near time to put the headlamp away for the season.

There seems to be a lull this time of year as recent fishing pressure and the big meals provided by the Hex mayflies have the trout laying low while digesting the two weeks of over indulgence. Other bugs come and go usually late mornings and late evenings, but be careful fishing in the evenings with water temps approaching the upper 60s. Have some Summer Olives/Drunellas (#14 BWO) and Pink Ladys/Epeorus (#14 Borchers). Always have some Isonychias in your box into August and some Bat Flies if headed out in the next week.

On the overcast days, cover the water with some sub-surface “twitch” flies like skunks and other weighted oversized nymphs, small streamers with rubber legs on them.

Speaking of rubber legs – it’s also time to think about fishing some terrestrials and attractors on the surface with their attention getting moving legs.

July and August are also great times to shift gears from the trout streams and hit the bigger rivers for some smallmouth bass. Baitfish streamers fished on slow sink-tip or intermediate-tip lines around log jams usually out produce poppers but when streamers aren’t working, think about going right to poppers/surface bugs. With the full-moon, crayfish are molting, and a tan colored imitation fished near rocks is usually a sure bet.

Lastly, with the full-moon look for the last of the big bluegill/panfish up shallow doing their last spawning cycle on the local lakes and ponds.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – July and August is time for Ticos and Terrestrials on the Upper Manistee – an ideal half-day on the river.
Smallmouth Bass– Spend a half or full-day on the lower Manistee fishing smallies – June through Late August.
Fall Steelhead – November still has some dates available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.

bluegill fishing, fishing guide. fly fishing traverse city, manistee river, popper fishing, smallmouth bass, streamer fishing, trout, trout fishing in July, trout fishing traverse city, twitch flies

Mid-May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 17, 2023

Mid-May finds us headed to different waters in pursuit of different fish as this time of year offers choices to anglers.

May often means Mayflies but the cold nights have had an effect on the hatches. Once stable weather comes back, anglers can look for a mix of bugs on the upper Manistee and Au Sable rivers. March Browns, Mahoganies, Sulphurs, caddis, and the last of the Hendricksons should be in your fly box if headed out. For the next 6 weeks, a Borcher’s Drake should be with you as it’s just a great all-around imitator of so many bugs found in our rivers. Just as temps fluctuate, so do the times in which bugs can come off or fall as spinners. Water levels are low and running clear for this time of year so longer leaders and stealthy presentation helps with hooking up.

If streamer fishing between hatches, try smaller streamers with the lower water. Cover the water, work the wood and mix up the natural patterns to represent the baitfish and sculpins. If that doesn’t work, try some “twitch flies” that might just get the attention of the trout.

It appears that the Didymo/Rocksnot bloom that alarmingly was widespread on the upper Manistee in 2022 has pretty much disappeared. While that bodes well for fishing and the future of the river, it doesn’t mean anglers shouldn’t stop taking measures to prevent spreading the latent spores to other waters. If you have felt sole wading boots, now you have justification for buying a new pair of rubber soled boots as the felt harbors invasive species leading to transmission to other rivers.

Lake fishing is heating up but still can be a little moody with water temps fluctuating. Smallmouth bass are still in pre-spawn mode and are sitting in deeper water while a few Largemouth bass have gone shallow in lakes with dark bottoms and protected bays that help stabilize water temps. Regardless of where you are fishing, baitfish patterns tied in various densities/sink rates have been working. It’s also time to grab your favorite bluegill flies. When these fish come into the shallows, they are just a ton of fun on the fly rod – both on the surface and just below.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – May’s streamer & dry fly fishing turns to the big bugs of June. Good dates to choose from.
Smallmouth Bass– Spend a half or full-day on the lower Manistee fishing smallies – June through Late August.
Fall Steelhead – Just a few prime steelhead dates remain available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.

baitfish patterns, bluegill fishing, borchers drakes, dry flies, guided fly fishing, hatches, manistee river hatches, march browns, sculpin, smallmouth bass fishing, streamer fishing, sulphurs, traverse city fishing, trout fishing

Smallmouth Bass

Posted by Jeanne Kraimer - January 11, 2023

Smallmouth Bass offer some of the best fishing when things get warm from mid-June through August. Whether you are an angler looking to improve your skills, or you’re an advanced fly fisherman looking for a fun day on the water, spending a half or full-day river on the Manistee River is for you.

Smallies are not only eager to please, but it’s mostly a visual presentation and grab, and they can really put a bend in the rod making them a great alternative to trout. And we fish for them in daylight without the use of headlamps. What’s not to like?

Method

Fishing slow sinking-tip fly lines and a baitfish streamer or crayfish is usually the most effective technique, but there are days when they prefer it on top. Face it — fishing on the surface is a favorite for just about anyone who fly fishes. Sometimes they sip grasshopper/terrestrial patterns other times they explode on poppers — it’s always fun when they eat.

The Smallies’ wavering ways of choosing what and what not to eat is part of the fun as anglers work to solve the puzzle but its easier to do than with trout. And when it comes together the only one not smiling is the fish.

Bass on the Flats

Those anglers looking for smallmouth on a flats setting should consider carp fishing in the Grand Traverse Bays as the two species share a lot of the same water. While stalking the “Golden Bones” of the bay, the smallmouth often provide opportunities some bass anglers never get. When conditions are right (late May and in June), the larger smallmouth bass come in shallow making them the primary target and focus of anglers with a fly rod.

Each year bass fishing TV programs and their hosts either discover or reveal what they have known for a while — that the fishing on Grand Traverse Bays for smallies is among the 10 best in the world.

Related Articles

: Smallmouth on the Bay

: River Smallmouth Fishing

: Smallmouth on Lakes

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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

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.

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