Posts tagged "streamer fishing"

Late May Fly FIshing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 23, 2021

It’s match-the-hatch time for selective trout.

Bugs have been fickle, but with any on the water some good fish are eating. Softer water can reveal the bulge of an emerger being eaten or a spinner being sipped, but you have to bring your best drag-free presentation and angling skills as the water is low and clear and when combined with angling pressure, the fish are pretty skittish. I often say you need two things to be successful this time of year: 1. The luck of bugs/rising fish and 2. The technical skills to present to them. Sorry, just one of these isn’t enough.

Sulphurs are just starting up and should build over the next week. Mahoganies and Great Mahoganies belong in your box too, as do caddis just in case our Michigan trout key in on them. I think the last of the Hendricksons have come and gone but have been replaced with some stones. Overwhelmed with pattern choices? This time of year you can often get by with Borcher’s Drakes and Robert’s Yellow Drakes in a range of sizes. Change the batteries in your headlamp and pack the insect repellent – it’s that time of year.

Streamer fishing has been tough– practically having 1/3rd of the precipitation YTD is leaving the roads dusty, the river low and the water clear. Try downsizing your streamers and consider fishing them on floating lines.

Bass and bluegill fishing has taken off with the recent heat. There are fish in shallow and willing to eat your dries, although the bass tend to like sub surface patterns this time of year. Don’t be overly surprised when a pike eats your streamer as they have a post-spawn hunger right now. Fishing a pond or lake is a great way to spend an evening and perfect way to introduce someone to the sport.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –perfect for beginners.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December

Early May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 3, 2021

We finally received some rain to knock down the dust and pollen while helping things finish greening up after an early start to the process. The rivers are still low and running clearer than normal for this time of year, but that’s been the story since late February. Water temps are stable in the mid-50s on the upper Manistee where this time of year we like to hit the water armed with a dry fly rod rigged in the event of an emergence while we cover water with streamers.

With the back-and-forth weather, the hatches have been sporadic. A warm day or two (anyone seen the sun lately?) can make a difference and get those water temps into the upper 50s which is ideal for the bugs and fish to be more active. If headed to your favorite trout water – be it on the Manistee, Boardman or Au Sable, make sure you have Hendricksons, small Black Caddis, BWO’s and Black Quills.

Mix up your streamer patterns – size, color, what they are representing (baitfish, sculpin, accessorized triple articulated pattern you saw on-line) as the fish have seen a lot of streamers with more people hitting the water again this year and the mild March and April.

Folks looking to try something different might look to fishing a lake for smallmouth and even some pike. Just mix it up and think subsurface for your best results. It’s still a little early for the bluegill but after a hot day or two of sunshine the shallow, dark bottoms of bays and coves should have the fish in shallow doing a little pre-spawn feed. The month of May offers some unique angling opportunities and variety – learn more here.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –
perfect for beginners or those looking to dial in a new technique.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December

ausable, bluegill, boardman, fly fishing guide, manistee, manistee river fly fishing, smallmouth bass, streamer fishing, trout, trout fishing guide, trout fishing traverse city

End of September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 26, 2020

A lack of significant rain this month has local rivers running lower and clearer than normal and prolonging the salmon run.

The upper Manistee river provided visibility like I had never seen before – it was a unique opportunity to see the water in greater detail as far as structure but also the number of big fish. With the lack of pressure on this side of Labor Day those wiley brown trout roam a bit more giving you a chance to feed them a fly.

With the dry weather and warmer temps, the terrestrial fishing has been pretty good, especially on cloudy/overcast days although bright days have been tough. Smaller, realistic streamers too have been effective and having both in your arsenal is a great approach. It’s still not easy fishing – the longer, well placed cast most days outperforms the bad presentation; that’s a given no matter what season/conditions. Fall colors along the river banks usually get started there earlier than other places in the region and this year is no different. Oh yeah, and there is pretty much no one else around.

Those looking for salmon will find fish in the local rivers as well as plenty of people fishing for them. The Betsie, Platte, Manistee, Boardman – they all have fish in them but some days you wonder if the fishermen outnumber the fish. As more people have more time on their hands this fall, it seems that the busy fall salmon season has been busier this year. Spawning has just started but there are enough fish in the holding water that are more likely to eat a well-presented fly (and give you a better fight) as they wait for conditions to change. With the lack of rain, consistent wind direction to organize water temps (and fish) in the lakes, and warmer air and water temps, the salmon run is likely to be drawn-out again this year. But with all things in 2020, who knows what will happen.

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 a fishing season.

betsie river, boardman river, manistee, michigan fall trout fishing, salmon, salmon fly fishing, streamer fishing, terrestrial fishing, trout fishing fall

End of August Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 29, 2020

With August coming to an end it is apparent that the Trico hatch on the local trout rivers has also come to an end. This time of year typically is a transition time where fish start focusing on subsurface presentations and streamer patterns but it’s still summer-like and the fish are still looking up and taking terrestrials, attractors and even mayfly impressions (great olives, small Isos). Some flying ants have been around and they are always a safe bet to have in your fly box for the next 5 weeks if headed to the upper Manistee or Boardman rivers.

Fishing pressure has been light and once we get on the other side of Labor Day, anglers will have the trout water pretty much to themselves and the wildlife. Take some smaller streamers and fish sub-surface on floating lines should the fish not be looking up or there is too much debris floating on the surface as winds blow pine needles, dead grass and more into the river. If you never fished your favorite trout river in September, you should try it.

Many anglers think that with September comes the salmon. This year the salmon run is running late because of the hot summer, warm water temperatures at river mouths, and lack of rain, cool nights and favorable winds. Eventually as the season starts to act a little more typical for this time of year, fish should be showing up in better numbers. The forecast calls for more of the same so look for the run to get a slow start.

Bass fishing on the local lakes has been good for those that can cast the larger patterns and covers some water. Big foam/hard shell poppers and diving deer hair sliders/divers have all taken some good fish near structure – weed beds, wood and drop offs. Bluegill fishing has slowed down but I suspect that should pick up again as water temperatures in local lakes begin to cool off.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – Late fall can offer some really good trout fishing for those willing to fish streamers.
Or consider a trout/steelhead combo in November on the lower Manistee.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates are available in November – a great way to finish a fishing season.

Betsie, fall steelhead, salmon, steelhead fishing, streamer fishing, terrestrial fishing

December Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 10, 2019

While we are officially still in Fall, there is no denying that we are in Winter once we step outside or even look out the window. And the fish know it, too.

Fishing has become tough the past couple weeks with water temps in the mid 30’s. If it is steelhead you are after, look for them to be in the darker, deeper holes/water just off the side of the main current seams.

Fish can be found in the Manistee and Betsie river systems, they are just spread out and it seems that their numbers are a little thin considering the number of fish encountered this past fall. Perhaps sore-mouthing them educated and encouraged them to head back to the lake; angler’s placing fish on a rope or in a cooler definitely had an impact, too. With river temperatures less than the lake temperatures, I’m thinking that new fish migrating upstream will be minimal until the days start getting longer again. I’ve been wrong before, though.

Just as the steelhead fishing slowed, the trout fishing also requires persistence. Those fishing streamers might be better served fishing the inside bends and soft water structure for brown trout looking to have their Christmas feast. Mid-sized streamers seem to be more effective after a few years of triple-tandem articulated, keel-shanked,and over accessorized rattling streamer patterns fished big and heavy. Try fishing those smaller streamers slowly either on a small sink-tip or floating line if the pattern has some weight.

Good luck, enjoy the solitude out there and Happy Holidays!

Ted

The Winter Newsletter just went out –
click here to read and/or subscribe.

2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through October of 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.
Gift Certificates – As we approach the holiday season, consider asking or giving the gift of time on the water.

betsie river steelhead fishing, manistee river fishing report, steelhead fishing on the manistee, streamer fishing, trout

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The Winter Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

The Winter Newsletter just went out –
click here to read and/or subscribe.