Posts tagged "streamer fishing"

Early June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 3, 2021

With June starting, so do the big bugs.

Trout fishing has been the focus of most anglers recently. This time of year, folks tend to hit the river armed with a well-stocked box(s) of dry flies or get in the boat with visions of emergers, sailboat look-a-like duns and/or spinners on the water to imitate. Lots of different bugs can be bring trout to the surface this time of year which is why it is a favorite time to spend an evening on the water on the Manistee or other local rivers.

Sulphurs, Mohaganies, Yellow/brown stones, and Gray Drakes are of primary consideration. But beyond those (since aquatic bugs haven’t used logic or followed schedules the past 8 years), have Isonychias and Brown Drakes with your because you never know when they might start to emerge on the Manistee. (Some Brown Drakes have begun on the Au Sable system). The hatches have been light, if not sporadic with fluctuations in the weather and some cool nights, but one has to be prepared. Evenings are still the best bet under normal circumstances, so make sure your head lamp has fresh batteries.

More on early June hatches and fishing this time of year can be read here.

With the lack of any significant precipitation, the mosquitoes most nights have been non-existent. The lack of rain has also kept the river running low and clear for far too long. Stealth in your presentation is paramount and a good presentation is required – these fish are demanding. Streamer fishing has waned with the low water and increase in bug activity. With some significant warm weather in the forecast, likely the last few hours of the day should offer the best fishing in the foreseeable future, unless a cloudy day comes along.

The lake fishing has been good for those looking to cast to some fat and sassy bluegill. The bass have been playing along, too, depending on which lake you are fishing. The typical surface flies have been working but with the full moon behind us, we are getting into post spawn grumpy behavior.

Good luck

Ted

TEMPERATURE ALERT: With the hot weather and warm nights, monitor temperatures on trout rivers. Once the water hits 70 degrees, you should stay off the water to prevent mortality and help preserve the resource.

Trout Fishing – July and August is Terrestrial and Trico time! Start the day off casting to brook and brown trout
and get back to the family for lunch time – it’s a great way to start the day when in Northwest Michigan.
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.

au sable river, brown drakes, drakes, fishing guide traverse city, fly fishing guide, fly fishing report Michigan, isonychias, stoneflies, streamer fishing, sulphurs, trout 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

bluegill, bluegill fishing, borchers drake, dry fluy fishing, fly fishing guide, fly rod bluegill, mahoganies, manistee, roberts yellow drake, streamer fishing, sulphurs

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

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