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Posts tagged "swinging flies"

Steelhead

Posted by Ted Kraimer - January 13, 2023

SteelheadOne of, if not the most exciting and electrifying freshwater game fish in North America is the Steelhead, and we are lucky to have them coming out of the great lakes and into our rivers. Steelhead fishing is broken down into two categories: Spring and Fall. The warmer days and thaw periods of the the winter offer some good steelheading opportunities and a chance to shake off the winter blues. The average size of the steelhead we catch is eight pounds, with some years having returns of much larger fish tipping the scales over 15 pounds.

Spring Steelhead

Steelhead - Spring Fishing on the Manistee

Spring Chrome

Spring fish start entering the river when the days get longer and water temperatures improve. From mid-March through the first of May, anglers can expect to catch these hard-fighting fish which enter the river for their annual spawning ritual. Unlike the salmon in the fall, these fish spawn and then return to the lake, and hopefully return to the river again and again, which is why they vary in size from a few pounds (skippers – first-year return) to 15 pounds + (four-year return).

For those looking for something different, swinging flies and stripping streamers for drop-back fish can be effective as fish return to Lake Michigan after successfully spawning. Start the year’s fishing off right with some steelhead.

Fall Steelhead

Fall Steelhead Fishing Manistee River

Fall Steelhead – a Beautiful Time of Year

While we aren’t exactly sure why these fish come into the river, we do know they do come, and often their eagerness to eat the fly is strong.

Because salmon are in the river by the thousands, there are literally millions of eggs drifting through the river, providing a great food to imitate with egg patterns. Catching salmon happens frequently while targeting these steelhead so be prepared for something a little bigger on the end of you line. Like the early salmon, these fish will take a streamer if presented properly. Fall steelhead season begins the end of September and extends through November. Fishing late fall and into winter is always an option especially during mild winters or when a thaw takes place.

Methods

Swinging Spey Flies for Steelhead on Manistee River

Swinging Flies on the Manistee River

The most common and effective way to fish steelhead is by bottom bouncing nymphs with either a floating line or the “chuck and duck” method. The fish love well-presented eggs and nymphs. Swinging sink-tips with large flies that are more like streamers than spey flies is becoming more popular in the Midwest. While it isn’t the most productive way to catch a fish, no one will argue with the satisfaction of bringing a steely to hand via this method. More sporting? probably, but a steelhead is a steelhead no matter if you get them with a pair of eggs, an egg and nymph combo or a big, nasty swung streamer.
Since we fish from a boat, we strongly suggestwhen swinging flies with a spey rod, do so as a single angler.

Rivers

To learn more about the rivers we fish steelhead, click on the links below.

•  Big Manistee River (below Tippy Dam) •                       • Betsie River •

Winter Fishing
Spring Steelhead
Spring Steelhead
Fall Steelhead

betsie river fly fishing steelhead, current works, fall, fly-fishing guide manistee river, guide service, manastee river, manistee river steelhead fishing, manistee river steelhead guide, salmon, spey rod, spring, steel head, steelhead, steelhead fishing the manistee, swinging flies, ted kraimer

Late November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 25, 2022

As November comes to an end along with the Fall season, we find river and fishing conditions to be about what you’d expect for this time of year.

Water levels are running on the low and clear side of things which makes stealthy presentations a little more crucial. The unprecedented warm water temps we experienced this Fall have dropped significantly in the past week thanks to a snowstorm and cold temps; look for the thermometer to read around 40 degrees. When the water gets colder, the steelhead tend to shift and seek the slower water on the other (slower) side of the bubble line. Most of the snow is gone and stable temperatures are in the forecast so fishing should remain decent as we head into December.

Egg patterns continue to be an effective approach but egg and nymph combos become more common as the fish get off that egg bite with fewer salmon eggs drifting down river systems like the Manistee and Betsie. Steelhead buggers and medium sized black/brown stoneflies are always good choices this time of year.

Fish numbers have been o.k. the past few weeks. After the strong start to the season, we have had to work a little harder to bend the rod. This is the time of year that all three ways to present flies will work – duck and chuck, indicator/float, and swinging. And fish have been easier to land as the cooler temps take some of the near uncontrollable rambunctiousness out of them.

Good luck,

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Finish the season with what started the season – Steelhead! A few dates in late Nov. are open.
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.

betsie river, egg patterns, fly fishing gift certificates, mansitee river steelhead guide, nymphs, steelhead, steelhead fishing, swinging flies

New Years – January 2016 Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - January 6, 2016

Happy New Year!

With a bunch of white stuff on the ground and a thermometer spending more time below the freezing mark than above, opportunities to fish have been limited.  Still, when conditions are comfortable (think no or little wind) steelhead are playing along with our game plan of bending the rod. Steelhead numbers are decent for winter thanks to some timely rains late in the fall – these fish should “winter-over” until spring, with more trickling in all winter long.

Look for fish in the Manistee to be spread throughout the system from Tippy Dam to the mouth and with a tendency to lurk in the deeper, slower water in and around structure. Now is a good time to fish indicators/floats to suspend flies above wood  but drift fishing and evening swinging a fly is working with water temps in the mid to upper 30’s  – a rare occurrence for January.  This time of year I like to fish a relatively large egg pattern (#6) in tandem with a hex nymph that has lots of motion to it. The Betsie and even the Boardman has had some fish in them for those looking to fish a smaller river and/or have limited time and need to fish close to home/work.

Trout fishing remains a possibility on the Manistee with the streamer bite continuing to produce, however you want to slow that strip down and fish some of the slower moving water rather than the fast stuff. It’s not a bad idea to shorten that fly’s size a little bit, too – fish are getting lethargic.

Keep cabin fever at bay by looking at the forecast and get out when those breaks in the weather offer an opportunity to spend it on the water rather than at the fly tying bench.

Good luck.

Ted

Click here to read the December / Winter 2016 Newsletter.

Trout – Browns below Tippy Dam continues despite the weather – look for warm-ups and get out.
Steelhead – Fish numbers are decent and should provide opportunity throughout the mild forecast winter.
Spring Steelhead – Typically starting late March and extending through April – got your dates secured?

Betsie, boardman, fishing, fly fishing, hex nymph, manistee, rivers, steelhead, swinging flies, tippy damn, trout

Winter / Late Fall Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 24, 2014

After our first (and hopefully last) polar vortex of the season came through dropping the air temperature and lots of snow, the weather this weekend became a little more typical of what the November offers. Most of the snow has melted although there are still some traces. Well, until the next snow comes which is forecast for this week.

In addition to the run-off from the snow and the rains we just received the river levels are running a bit high and with some color to them. It appears that over the past two weeks a few more steelhead have moved into local rivers like the Manistee and Betsie and I imagine the other rivers in Northwest Michigan. As water temperatures drop, look for steelhead to be in the deeper water and in the tail-outs surrounded with wood as fish start to take to their winter residence. It is a good time to fish some realistic nymphs as drag free as possible along with an egg (think about using an indicator or float). Swinging flies is still appropriate for those looking to use their two-handed rods as water temps are in the upper 30s; the warm rain should help offset the cold run-off.

Trout fishing continues to be decent to good for those looking to fish streamers despite the cooler weather. As the fish prepare for winter themselves, they are putting on the feedbag a bit. Really big streamers have taken some really big fish, but it’s the mid-sized streamer (size 2-6) that have been catching all sizes of fish. Mix up your colors after the olive, white, and copper/brown patterns aren’t working.

Just a reminder – firearms deer season continues until Nov. 30 so wear some bright clothing on the river for safety.

Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving.

Ted

Trout – Streamer fishing on the Manistee into winter an be hot when temps gets cold.
Fall Steelhead– This big fish will continue to offer us a chance until the weather keeps us indoors.
Gift Certificates – Give or ask for a gift certificate; trips or lessons available. Quick & easy holiday shopping
2015 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get your dates booked for next year – now booking for all seasons.

Betsie, guide, mansitee, michigan, northwest michigan, steelhead, streamer, swinging flies, trout fishing

As Temps and Snow Fall Steelhead Conintue

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 25, 2013

It appears that Winter has come in fast and hard dropping both air and water temperatures not to mention some of the white stuff. Back a week ago when it was still Fall, we received significant rainfall in the region increasing water levels and the number of fish in local rivers like the Manistee, Betsie and Boardman. While the water was high and dirty, it has come down and once/if more seasonal weather comes back anglers will find plenty of fish around to play with throughout the winter.  Right now the challenge can be getting to the river rather than catching the fish.

As the water continues to drop in levels and temps, look for steelhead to be sitting in those soft pockets and the tail-outs of the deeper holes. Drag free drifts using indicators and floats with egg and nymph combo on the business end would be a good place to start. Those who enjoy the two-hand approach to swinging flies will find fish still looking to eat, but that window where fish will chase a fly down is getting pretty narrow as water temps creep into the upper 30’s.

Good luck, stay warm and keep an extra change of clothes just in case.

Ted

Steelhead -With plenty of fish in local rivers it should be a good Winter.  Got your Spring Steelhead dates?
Gift Certificates – Ask for or give a Gift Certificate for guide trip or lesson – Make them Happy Holidays!
2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

manistee, steelhead, swinging flies
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Trout Fishing Manistee River near Traverse City Michigan

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King Salmon Fly Fishing - Betsie River Near Traverse City

Salmon

Fall Steelhead Manistee River

Steelhead

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

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