Posts tagged "terrestrial fishing"

Late September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 29, 2024

With Fall officially starting last week and September coming to an end, it still kind of feels like summer with temperatures in the 80s. I guess, the summer of 2024 continues.

With salmon being a migratory species looking to get upstream to spawn, they have a biological clock that sometimes can’t wait for conditions to be perfect before they run upstream. The water is warm and the lack of any significant rain the past 7 weeks has rivers running low and clear.

There has been a steady trickle of fish in rivers like the Manistee and Betsie with many of the slower moving pools and holes holding pre-spawn fish as they look for water temperatures to drop before hitting the spawning gravel in earnest. Some spawning has taken place as has the migration of salmon fisherman and all that comes with it.

There is a mix of size classes – some small and some that are big. Seems that when you find big fish, they are just that – well over 20 lbs and become a real slug fest on the end of the line.

With the extension of this warm weather, trout fishing has continued to be decent for this time of year. Terrestrial fishing is still bringing fish to the surface but as heat stressed tress drop their leaves early and pine needs fall to the water’s surface on breezy days, it can be difficult for the trout to see a dry fly with all the debris on the water.

It’s a great time to fish a small to mid-sized streamer on either a floating line or clear sink-tip line for pre-spawn browns and even the aggressive brook trout that are all marked up with vibrant colors. With the trees changing colors and most anglers occupied elsewhere, you’ll pretty much have the river to yourself.

Keep in mind that a lot of the smaller trout rivers and streams in the region close to fishing on October 1.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Finish the season with steelhead on the lower Manistee. Good dates in November remain.
2025 Fishing Season – It’s not too early to look ahead to the next year and get your dates planned and secured.

Betsie, fly fishing traverse city, grayling, guided fishing, manistee river, salmon fishing, terrestrial fishing, trout fishing traverse city

September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 11, 2024

The 4th month of summer continues with some warm temperatures. The forecast calls for even more.

Water temperatures on the upper Manistee are in good shape with the cool nights and sometimes, they drop too low, and you need to wait until the sun warms it up a little for fish activity. The problem is, the water is about as clear as I have ever witnessed and, well, sunlight, clear water, and trout aren’t always a good combination in Michigan.

Hatches are mostly non-existent but you should have some blue winged olives, caddis (#14 tan), and brown/cinnamon flying ants (#14) for surface activity just in case. Terrestrial/attractors are always a good approach this time of year. Below surface, try the real small streamers fished on floating lines or intermediate tip lines. Fishing pressure has been light but after a long season of fishing to them, the trout are getting even wiser so adapt you approach and offerings.

The lake fishing for bass and bluegill has gone quiet and likely will remain that way until next spring.

Salmon have entered the local rivers, but with the warmer water in the bigger river systems, lack of rain in the region and warm weather, the fish are staggered as they prepare to move upstream to continue their lineage. As with salmon come salmon anglers – keep the peace and don’t take the fishing that serious as they are just fish.

Good luck.

Ted

fishing guide traverse city, manistee river, salmon, terrestrial fishing, trout fishing, upper manistee river

Mid July Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 13, 2024

Trout fishing on the local rivers continues but with a more casual approach as we aren’t matching hatches in low light to finicky fish. Instead head to the river with a mix of general dry flies that imitate mayflies since they have been eating them regularly for the past 10 weeks. Beyond fishing those natural dry flies, tie on attractors and some terrestrials.

Larger flying ants have been more noticeable lately than any other, but the deer fly and beetle imitations have been fooling fish reliably. Look for Tricos to start emerging and falling in the mid-mornings any day now. It’s also a great time to fish a swung wet fly as is a “micro streamer” – those subsurface flies that look more like a nymph, but fished with twitches and strips.

The smallmouth bass fishing on the lower Manistee has been varied – some days they play our game, other days it seems like they take their ball and go home. The softer streamer approach is the most productive most days fished on clear sink-tip lines. The popper and dry fly fishing hasn’t been as productive but I suspect with the dog-days of summer coming, that should change as it usually does this time of year.

Bass and bluegill fishing on the local lakes continues to be our favorite venue for those trying / learning to fly fish with all their eagerness to come to the fly and provide action as the skills are developing. Those more experienced can fish a streamer or diving bug near the weed beds and drop offs for those bigger largemouth bass.

Good luck!

Ted

Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – July & August offer fun dry fly fishing on the upper Manistee river.
Smallmouth Bass – Fish the lower Manistee with streamers & poppers this summer for fish that can pull.
Learn To Fly Fish – 1/2 Day trips are perfect for beginners! Learn how to cast before hitting the water to fish.

bass and bluegill fishing, fly fishing guide, fly fishing traverse city, guide trip, manistee river, manistee river guide, smallmouth bass fly fishing, streamer fishing, terrestrial fishing, upper manistee fly fishing

Early September Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 5, 2023

With September here and the weather forecast to turn to seasonal weather this week, it might be time to give a nod to the long summer season and everything the fish provided. And since most fisheries were getting tired, the change in weather and angling pressure should help to improve fishing.

The clear water of the local trout streams has been challenging the last few weeks. Thankfully the water levels stayed fine, and temps stayed nice and cool, but the fish seemed to get weary – especially without any bugs on the surface drawing them out from their cover.

Terrestrial fishing has been spotty on the upper Manistee river – some nice brown trout have come to our foam and rubber flies, but the next day you might think there isn’t a fish in the river. Twitch flies lost some of their effectiveness, too, but with the coming cooler nights, shorter days and fewer people on the water trends should reverse. The brook trout’s colors are getting vibrant as they start to think about spawning which typically takes place later this month. It’s a pretty nice time of year to be on the trout waters.

Salmon have entered most of the rivers in the region but the recent near record setting heat has put a pause on a fresh run of fish and the fish already in the systems have gotten a little stale. The salmon fishing, too, will improve with the change in weather, especially some favorable winds on the lake and some precipitation.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – November still has some dates available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.
2024 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru August.
Gift Certificates – Quick and easy gifts of a half or full-day guide trip or casting lesson for friends or family.

brook trout, guided fishing traverse city, salmon fishing, terrestrial fishing, trout fishing, upper manistee river

Mid-August Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 16, 2023

Mid-August finds us with tired fishing conditions. It’s been a long season and most species have been pressured for months now and are playing coy if not selective. But it’s still fun.

The trout rivers are about as clear as I have seen them in any summer prior. The lack of rain this year has kept visibility too good and on rivers like the upper Manistee, their spring fed nature has kept a minimal flow throughout and the cool nights have kept temps ideal through most of summer.

Tricos are still on the water most days mid-morning and terrestrials are bringing fish to the surface when not. Kind of a blast with a lighter weight rod and targets feeding on the surface. Smaller streamers and twitch flies fished on floating lines have been good at getting some suspect and reluctant fish to come out.

Smallmouth bass fishing on the Manistee has been tougher than normal this summer. Some days they make it easy to figure out what they want, other days you change a dozen patterns and figure it out. Or just happen to be there when they want to start eating. Smaller streamers (primarily baitfish imitations) have been working when fished on slow sink or intermediate-tip lines. The popper and terrestrial bite has been hard to come by, but yellow or black poppers seem to be the ones they prefer when they are looking up.

The largemouth bass in the lakes have gone deep and aren’t showing up much in the water for the fly rod angler, except for those low-light hours. Look for lily pads near drop offs to offer the best fishing. Bluegill fishing remains good for those learning the sport but they aren’t the big “gills” that we find in shallow in May and June.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout – Tricos and Terrestrials on the Upper Manistee a great way to spend a half-day on the river.
Smallmouth Bass– Spend a half or full-day on the lower Manistee fishing smallies – through Late August.
Fall Steelhead – November still has some dates available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.

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