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

betsie river, manistee river, salmon fishing, streamer fishing, terrestrrial fishing, trout fishing, upper-manistee

Mid-May Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 17, 2018

Mother nature seems to have caught up with the times after some warm and bright days. Leaves, blossoms, green grass and insect hatches on the river seem to be in synch with the calendar.

Trout fishing on the local rivers continues to be ideal for those armed to fish subsurface with streamers until the surface activity begins. Water levels are ideal on both the upper and lower Manistee and the AuSable is running a little higher than normal. With temps in the upper 50s the Hendricksons continue to emerge and spinner falls are a little more predictable in the evenings with the warmer weather. Black caddis are making an appearance and building in numbers and shouldn’t be ignored if you see “slashy rises.” Be sure to have March Browns, Black Quills even some sulphurs with you just in case they start showing up. This time a year a Borcher’s Drake in various sizes can help you match a lot of the mayflies you will come across.

Fishing has been tough with the recent bright sun and fishing a streamer in the deeper runs and along cover are your best bet. Mix up your streamer patterns and presentation until you find whatever their daily preference is but, keep a dry fly rod near by as a hatch can have you changing from ripping and stripping to mending and sending in no time.

The lakes are still warming up and the first of the bluegill/panfish are moving into shallow waters on the dark bottom lakes that seem to warm up first. Bass too are starting to move in shallow water and keep an eye out for big pike looking to feed on the aforementioned as they are now in the post-spawn feeding pattern.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity. It’s also a great time to fish streamers for bigger trout.
Big Bugs – The big Bugs of June will be here before you know it…. Isos, Drakes and Hex – limited dates available.
Fall Steelhead – Spring Steelhead just finished up but it’s time to get your Fall Dates reserved – Oct. thru Dec.

borcher's drake, fishing report, fly-fishing guide, hendrickson, mayflies, streamer fishing, sulphurs, traverse city fly fishing, trout fishing

May Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 1, 2018

May is here and so is some weather to make up for such a cold April. Opening day of trout season took place over the weekend and greeted anglers with slightly high river levels and water temps lower than normal. It appears a few warm days are making a difference to get the mercury to rise when taking the water temp which is needed to bring on reliable hatches of Hendricksons and active trout. Unfortunately, there is rain in the forecast and while we need it, the rivers don’t need much of it as the upper Manistee, Boardman and Au Sable rivers are all running a bit high. The next month is the perfect time to fish streamers for big browns in the higher water but have a dry fly rod rigged for when some surface activity might present itself.

As the water continues to warm, the last of the steelhead have migrated into river systems and we are well beyond peak season. That big push of fish we were hoping for never came in but rather we experienced a good flow of fish throughout March and April. Remaining fish in the rivers are actively spawning and quickly getting it done before returning to the lake. Despite the cold April, it was a really good spring for steelhead numbers in the Manistee and Betsie rivers.

If you are still fishing steelhead rivers where they have recently stocked fish, please handle the young fish carefully as these are the big silver steelhead of the future.

More than trout season has opened up – local lakes are now ice-free and ice-out is a great time for those looking to target pike and musky in those dark, silty bays of lakes as they warm themselves up and put their post-spawn feedbag on.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity. It’s also a great time to fish streamers for bigger trout.
Big Bugs – The big Bugs of June will be here before you know it…. Isos, Drakes and Hex – limited dates available.
Fall Steelhead – Spring Steelhead is just finishing up but it’s time to get your Fall Dates reserved – Oct. thru Dec.

betsie river steelhead, fishing, hendrickson, hex, manistee, opening day trout, steelhead, steelhead season, streamer fishing, trout, upper manistee trout fishing

Late November Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 21, 2017

Its late fall fishing around here with mixed weather ranging from snow, to rain to even a little sun (we sure haven’t seen much of that for a while).

Steelhead remain the primary target for most anglers with the fish transitioning into hold-over water. Look for fish to be in holes and the slower tail-outs as the water temps continue to drop. Last week’s rain gave the levels a little bump but they are still in good shape as the water remains a little stained too on the Manistee and Betsie. Egg patterns and a nymph is a great one-two approach when drifting or fishing under an indicator. As temps hover around 40 our window for a good swing bite is starting to narrow.

Trout fishing below Tippy dam has been decent but with the stained water it’s hard to work the streamer efficiently around all the wood without donating a couple of flies. Baitfish and sculpin patterns have been best but like always, mix it up and fish it slower than you would in the spring as water temps are cooler.

With firearm deer season ending Nov. 30, consider wearing some orange while fishing for safety.

Good luck and have a nice Thanksgiving.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – As fall continues, so does our Steelhead season, into December or until the weather says no more.
Trout/Steelhead – The lower Manistee offers good streamer fishing for trout in late Fall for a combo of species.
Gift Certificates – With the Holiday Season near, give or ask for the gift of time on the water or a lesson.

betsie river, fall steelhead, manistee river steelhead fishing, sculpin patterns, streamer fishing, tippy dam

November Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 9, 2017

Its feeling like November with signs of Jack Frost in the morning, a little white stuff in the air and fish that are transitioning into mixed cover. With the salmon done in the rivers, steelhead are no longer easily found directly below them. A good number of fish have moved into the local river systems this fall including the Manistee and Betsie, but with all the rain, the fish have scattered themselves throughout the systems. Look for fish to be anywhere on a given day: in structure/ wood, holes, pocket water, cross-overs and inside seams.

The past week’s fishing slowed down after a productive fall, but there are still good numbers of fish to be caught with ideal water temperatures which remains in the upper 40s. The water clarity remains stained as the river works though all the run-off and tannins from all the rain the past two weeks.

With fish less focused on eggs, we have been fishing a tandem rig – one egg pattern with nymph trailers like steelhead buggers, hex nymphs and caddis. Those who prefer to swing flies – this is the time of year to pull out that two-hander and swing a big streamer across both transitioning flats and around wood. Some leaves are still around but the leaf drop/catch has been reasonable.

The trout fishing is starting to get going as they, too, look for alternative food sources now that the all you can eat salmon egg buffet has come to an end. Streamer fishing for brown trout should remain solid for the next month or so. Small baitfish patterns like Dirty Hippy – rainbow, are a great pattern to start with, then cycle through your favorite sculpin and attractor patterns after.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – October, November and into December, these fish will bend your rod like no other – experience it.
Trout/Steelhead – The lower Manistee offers good streamer fishing for trout in late Fall for a combo of species.
Gift Certificates – With the Holiday Season near, give or ask for the gift of time on the water or a lesson.

Betsie, brown trout, dirty hippy, egg patterns, hex nymphs, manistee, nymphs, steelhead, streamer, streamer fishing, swinging streamers, two-hander

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Posts tagged "streamer fishing"

Mid-September Fishing Report

Mid-May Fly Fishing Report

May Fishing Report

Late November Fly Fishing Report

November Fly Fishing Report

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