October is Here and so is Fall Weather

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 2, 2019

A few trees are starting to change colors as we head to the river but they remain pretty green along the river bank. Water temps are just starting to drop below the 60 degree mark after some cooler temps and more of the same in the forecast. Another batch of rain has sent another batch of salmon upstream on the local rivers including the Platte, Betsie and Manistee. Fish continue to run big this year so bring you’re A-game and eat your spinach the night before. With a little color to the fish, lately we are finding them a little easier to move to the net, but not easy. With yesterday’s rain, look for the river to be a little higher after just dropping and also a little stained. Eggs and Caddis have been the best producers.

Trout fishing continues as we approach that time of year when the Brook Trout begin their spawning. Browns are still in a pre-spawn mode on the upper Manistee and will chase a streamer. With all the vegetation, leaves and pine needles floating downstream and decreasing water temperatures, look for the dry fly bite to basically non-exist unless a BWO hatch presents itself. Smaller streamers on smaller sink-tip lines are a great approach this time of year.

Just a reminder that trout fishing is now closed on a lot of trout streams but much of the Manistee and Au Sable are open all year round.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Good November and December dates remain open for these prized sport-fish.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through September of 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

Mid December Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 18, 2018

As we cross the mid-point of December anglers are finding fishing conditions to be in step with the season. Cold temps for a month and some snow have the fish in a winter mode and sitting in the slower water and eating a little less aggressively than we got accustomed to the previous months.

A decent number of steelhead are in the local rivers –Manistee, Betsie and Boardman and some days are playing along. This time of year any slight increase in water temps can be the trigger to getting the fish to eat so look for some sunshine in the forecast and/or higher overnight temps to put conditions in your favor. The water levels are typical for this time of year – a little low, good clarity but cold – just under 40 degrees.

With the cold water look for both steelhead and trout to be sitting in the deeper, slower water and in tail-outs that offer the protection of wood. Fish will still chase a slow moving, swung fly but it’s the dead drift of an egg pattern or nymph that is likely to get the bite. Smaller, subdued Caddis and hex nymphs are a great choice this time of year. The fish are a little lethargic,so you can get away with lighter tippet right now.

Streamer fishing for trout will still move some fish if you fish the slower water and near structure. Big, heavy sink-tips aren’t your best bet as smaller sink-tips and floating lines with weighted flies are. Slow your presentation down and keep it moving when that big brown slowly comes up behind it.

Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Ted

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Early Winter Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 28, 2018

With November coming to an end, it is apparent that fall itself ended a few weeks ago. Winter temps and some snow have been the norm with air temps below freezing as water temperatures hover around 40 degrees on the local rivers.

There are steelhead in all the rivers, but they are spread throughout the watersheds and acting more like winter fish with their tendencies to sit in the deeper, slower holes and tail outs. There are still some fresh fish moving through as other fish transition to the cold water so don’t abandon the runs and seams that typically hold fish in the fall.

Egg patterns are still a favorite of steelhead as salmon eggs continue to trickle down the river. Small egg patterns and beads in pale colors like cream, egg, grapefruit, Oregon cheese, and buff do a good job of imitating the natural stage eggs are in after being deposited in the river over a month or so ago.

Fish eggs in tandem with some natural looking nymphs – hex, caddis and steelhead buggers are always the first nymphs to get tied on in fall, winter and spring. The swing bite continues to be tougher than we’d like as that window to get fish to chase a swung fly is getting narrower with dropping water temperatures.

Trout fishing also has slowed mostly because of dropping water temperatures. Those fishing streamers below Tippy Dam are finding natural bait fish patterns are doing a good job of imitating recently stocked/planted fish…. Dirty Hippies, Skam-Man, T&A Bunkers and bobble heads; Big trout eat smaller trout. It’s a good time of year to switch that long and heavy sink – tip for a shorter one so you can slow your presentation down without hanging up on the bottom. Nymphing under indicators close to the dam in distinct bubble lines can extend your trout season if streamer fishing isn’t your thing.

Good luck.

Ted

Early Winter Steelhead – There are decent numbers of steelhead in the Manistee and Betsie.
Fall Trout Combo – Target both steelhead and trout (with streamers) on the lower Manistee.
Gift Certificates – With the Holidays approaching fast – give or ask for some time on the water.

Betsie, caddis, egg patterns, gift certificates for fly fishing, steelhead buggers, streamer fishing, tippy dam, trout fishing, winter steelhead

Early November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 7, 2018

The low clear water of October is behind us as November brings cooler and higher water.

Significant recent rains has the river levels up on the local rivers including the Manistee, Betsie, Boardman and others. And with it should be another push of steelhead. Water levels are going to get a bit stained but that can be a good thing.

As water temps settle into the mid to upper 40’s look for fish to be in all kinds of water. Fresh fish moving through the river will be in the soft seams ascending the river where a mix of fresh and hold-over fish will be in the holes. With a few salmon still around look for the dark water downstream of them as well as vacant gravel to funnel any eggs drifting downstream to steelhead looking for an easy meal.

Egg patterns are ideal but a nymph bite continues to get stronger with steelhead buggers, bigger stoneflies and caddis producing. This is the time of year to pull the two-handed rod out and over runs and fish near structure as fall fish are generally more focused on eating and will eat – sometimes even chase – a swung fly.

Trout are in a post-spawn mode and looking to eat streamers. Some days they will hunt the big tandem articulated streamer out of aggression, but smaller 3 to 4 – inch patterns seem to be more stable producers. Natural looking sculpin and baitfish patterns are a great place to start but if the water is stained or has lots of leaves in it, try fishing something with a little flash to help it stand out. With the cooler water, slow your presentation down a little bit and even consider using a lighter sink-tip line.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Fall colors include chrome Steelhead until Winter gets here.
Fall Trout Combo – Target both steelhead and trout (streamers) on the lower Manistee
2019 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get next year’s fishing dates secured – booking through October

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Mid-September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 16, 2018

At the mid-point of September, it has felt more like the middle of summer.

After a lot of rain the first part of the month the rivers came up and have since come down. The Betsie still has the “Betsie Stain” to it but reveals that there just aren’t as many salmon around as we are accustomed to this time of year. Temps in the 80s, bright skies and no wind has put the run of fish on hold while the fish already in the system are spread out. After a drop in temps, some wind and rain, look for things to change – there are more fish to migrate upstream based on the reports from the big lake. The Manistee has fish spread throughout it, too, with most of the fish holding in pools and waiting for water temps to drop.

Trout fishing continues and offers solitude not typically found on the salmon rivers. The upper Manistee is in good shape with clarity and temperatures making for decent terrestrial and small streamer fishing. The brook trout are vibrant in their colors and they will remain that way for another month until their spawning is complete later in fall. The bigger browns are starting to feel a little more comfortable and show themselves with the decrease in angling pressure. This time of year BWOs can give you a shot at some dry fly activity, but until then, go with the bigger “foam and rubber” bugs that not only suggest terrestrials but also serve as attractors.

Good luck.

Ted

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Posts tagged "streamer fishing"

October is Here and so is Fall Weather

Mid December Fishing Report

Early Winter Fly Fishing Report

Early November Fishing Report

Mid-September Fishing Report

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