Posts tagged "terrestrial fishing"

August Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 9, 2020

With August here we usually think about the dog days of summer, but seeing how we have already had five weeks of them, the trend continues as does our current fishing conditions.

Trout anglers are finding the waters of the upper Manistee and Boardman in the low to mid-60s (depending on overnight temperatures) making for safe fishing. The Tricos have been reliable each morning, but some days they last longer than other days offering some fun match-the-hatch fishing for mostly smaller fish with the occasional bigger fish testing to make sure we are tying good knots in our 6 and 7x tippets.

Terrestrial fishing has been o.k. – it never seems to be great like most people think of when comparing it to out west or the reading they have done on the subject. Still, those larger patterns with rubber legs (“foam and rubber” hatch) will make for some surface/dry fly fishing with mostly smaller fish showing up, but like with the Tricos, we get caught off guard when that big one comes up and slowly eats the fly. In summary, it’s a good time to drop down to 3 and 4 wt rods, keep it simple and enjoy a morning float before the sun gets too high and the fish hide for the day.

Lake and pond fishing has been decent. With the heat came good weed growth and that’s the place to target the bass with those poppers and sliders. Lilly pads, docks, drop offs or places where all three come together makes for some good fishing. Bluegill/Panfish still come to the surface and entertain those learning how to fish as they develop their skills in a still water setting.

Good luck,

Ted

New to the Sport? Bass and Bluegill fishing is the perfect way to learn to fish after a quick casting lesson.
Tricos & Terrestrials – A great way to start a summer day. Float and Trout fish the Manistee in July and August.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates are available in November – a great way to finish a fishing season.

Late July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 23, 2020

We find ourselves in the middle of summer headed to the trout rivers in the mornings for the best fishing for brook and brown trout. Water temps remain cool in the 60’s as their spring fed nature allows them cool off in the evenings after a hot day. Recent rains have the river in good shape with a little stain to them but at levels a little higher than normal for this time of year but by no means are they high.

Mid-mornings are presenting Trico spinner falls and have fish selectively feeding – it’s time for 6x or 7x tippet and a pair of cheaters to tie on the #20 fly. Being so small, consider tying them to another fly to serve as an indicator to help track it. Smaller Isonychias / rusty spinner patterns have been good too, both in the evening and morning.

If you aren’t into the small flies then start to fish terrestrials – and think a little smaller than the big grasshoppers mostly associated with terrestrial fishing and this time of year. A mix of wet flies and twitch flies can also bring some fish to hand if you the surface bite isn’t happening.

Largemouth bass fishing has been pretty good on the smaller lakes when focusing on the structure of drop-offs and weed beds. Of course docks are always a good place to lay a cast up against. The bigger panfish have moved deep but the smaller ones are still shallow helping to bend the rod for those learning how to fly fish. A third round of spawning will bring those bigger gills back to the surface for one more crack at the slabs.

Good luck,

Ted

bass fishing, bluegill, fly fishing july traverse city, isonychia, panfish, terrestrial fishing, tricos

Mid July Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 12, 2020

The recent deep heat the region experienced for the last 10 days has finally let up, at least for now. I am happy to report that some cooler evenings and cloud cover has helped the local rivers drop into the low to mid-60’s making trout fishing an option again. I don’t ever recall such hot weather for such a long time. Looks like warm weather is in the forecast, however the cooler overnight temps will allow the spring fed nature of the Upper Manistee and Boardman Rivers to remain cool enough to fish.

With the majority of our hatches beyond us, we find ourselves in the typical transition period of early July where fish are digesting the hex mayflies they have loaded into their guts the past three weeks (feeling like many of us do after the holiday season) as we wait for Tricos to start any day. As typical for this time of year, the morning is the ideal time to take advantage of shadows and fish looking up. Smaller terrestrials, wets and twitch flies are a good approach as we get deeper into summer.

More on fishing post Hex Hatch can be read here.

Unless you are “mouser”, it’s time to put away the head lamp, reduce half of the fly boxes in your gear bag and simply fish. River levels and temps are ideal for wet wading if not fishing from a boat

Bass and bluegill fishing has slowed down some with the heat, but like the trout fishing, lake temps will cool off a little with the cooler temps and some wind. Some big gills are still coming to the surface in their second post-spawn phase. Bass have been bass hiding in the weeds and slurping sliders, divers and the occasional popper.

Good luck and thank you to the sportsman that held off on fishing during the recent hot weather to help the fish population.

Ted

boardman river, fly fishing guide traverse city, hatches, hex, manistee river, river fishing, terrestrial fishing, traverse city fly fishing, tricos

Summer Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 29, 2019

As August comes around, we find that the seasons are becoming a bit more aligned with where they should be for this time of year.

Trout fishing has eased up with less hatches to match, but with fish still looking to come up to eat a dry fly. The Tricos are like most mayflies this season and are running late and are just now beginning to emerge which should make for a few weeks of good August fishing.

Isonychias, Cahills, Great BWOs, and Little Yellow Sallies can be seen on the water when not fishing with terrestrial patterns like ants and hopper-ish looking flies that are always important this time of year. Some days they want movement, other’s they want dead-drift. On the overcast days, look for fish to be anywhere there is a darker bottom indicating depth/structure/current. Small streamers fished on a floating line is a nice addition to the presentation this time of year as they are twitched through likely seams.

Water levels are fine for the wading angler. They are a little higher than normal for this time of year due to rains but by no means are they considered high. Clarity is fine, too. Water temps fluctuate daily this time of year on the Boardman and Upper Manistee so factor that into your plans as fishing late in the day after a few hot days can be slow and stressful to the fish.

Lake and pond fishing for bass and bluegill remain great options for those who have spent enough time chasing trout and trying to please them. Some bigger gills are still in the shallows in part because of the late start to the season spared them from anglers keeping a lot of them. Bass fishing on top with poppers, deer hair bugs and sliders is a lot of fun this time of year when they come from the weeds or depths to chomp on your fly.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Terrestrial & Trico fishing for Brooks and Browns through August and into September.
Salmon – The Kings of September are running big this year – a limited number of dates available.
Fall Steelhead – October through December – a fall favorite for many. A few ideal dates remain open.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through August of2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

bass bugs, bass fishing, bluegill fishing on the fly, glen arbor, glen lake, isonychias, manistee, terrestrial fishing, tricos, trout fishing, water temps

Late September Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 25, 2018

As we approach the end of September the weather is transitioning to what we should have had the past few weeks – cooler nights, some precipitation and some color in the trees to let us know that fall is here. More fish, too.

The extension of summer has kept a trickle of chinook/king salmon moving upstream on the Betsie and Manistee rivers but not to the level we expect for this time of year. The lack of consistent winds on Lake Michigan has the fish scattered off shore which is in part why only a trickle of fish are ascending the rivers. If the forecast proves accurate, fall fishing should kick-in fully very soon.

Fish are starting to post up near gravel sections and a few fish have even started to spawn. As eggs drift downstream look for more fish to follow upstream including the first wave of steelhead and more coho salmon.

The upper Manistee is clear, cool and beautiful with a number of trees already showing their fall color. Some brook trout are spawning and others are still coming to the surface for terrestrials thanks to the warm weather. Small streamers fished on floating lines are taking some brown trout as are short sink-tip lines. The river is pretty vacant of anglers and will remain that way for the rest of the fall – its a great alternative to the rivers that experience migratory fish.

Please keep in mind that fishing on a number of trout rivers and streams come to a close on October 1 as trout season closes.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Fall colors include chrome Steelhead from Early October into December
Fall Trout – Fish the upper Manistee or combine steelhead and trout on the lower Manistee
2019 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get next year’s fishing dates secured – booking through September

betsie river, brook trout, chinook salmon, fall steelhead, king salmon, manistee river, steelhead, terrestrial fishing, trout fishing, upper manistee river

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