Mid-December “Fall” Steelhead Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 15, 2015

The warm Fall season continues, even though we should be thinking Winter which is scheduled to start next week. Real unseasonable weather has been around for a few weeks as there is no snow on the ground, water temps are still around 40 degrees, and the air temps have been comfortable – especially when you consider it’s the middle of December.

With the warm temps came a lot of warm rain over the weekend. The rivers are running really high and there is significant color to them. Thankfully it was a warm rain and it should inspire more fresh fish to move upstream keeping a nice inventory of steelhead in the river over the winter. Look for the fish already in the system to be scattered throughout the lower and upper sections but also sliding into the inside and shallower seams in the cover of high water – this is a pretty unusual scenario for this time of year. Time to use big egg flies and attractor patterns – an approach similar to early Spring Steelhead fishing.

As the water drops, the trout fishing should turn on again with mid-sized streamers and attention paid to inside bends and softer water near structure rather than the deep and fast runs. If it weren’t for the high water, we would be experiencing some really good fishing – as it drops, it should fish well.

Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Ted

The December/Winter Newsletter just went out – click here to read or subscribe.

Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Steelhead – Look for fishing to continue through December and through a mild winter on the Manistee River.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

high water, river flow, steelhead fishing, streamer fishing, tippy dam, trout fishing

Early December Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 3, 2015

It’s December, but the rivers are acting like it’s still November thanks to a mild fall. After some significant rainfall last week (it would have been a lot of snow!) and a bit more since, the rivers came up but have since dropped to just above normal for this time of year.

With the rain came a “shuffling of the deck” – that is, the steelhead moved around throughout the river systems. Steelhead are scattered throughout the Manistee system and can be found in a mix of water types as they begin to transition into a late fall/early winter pattern. Fresh fish that are migrating up with the water will remain in the bubble lines and cross-overs where fish that have been in the system are starting to make the deeper water of holes their preferred residence. Look for fish to move towards structure as they get into a winter pattern as water temps drop. Thankfully the majority of the rain that fell last Thursday was warm leaving the water in the low 40s.

This is a good time of year to target the steelhead with a number of different techniques including floats/indicators, bottom bouncing/Duck-and-Chuck, and swung flies as you can target a variety of water. Eggs still are working but a nymph bite has become stronger. As for swung flies: brown with copper and Olive with gold have been working.

Trout fishing remains an option for those looking to extend their season especially with the mild temperatures. Conditions below Tippy Dam remain good for those looking to fish streamers for some chunky browns and the occasional steelhead. White baitfish patterns like Dirty Hippies – Rainbow, CF Minnows – Rainbow, and Half and Halfs in gray/white/grizzly have been producing.

Good luck,

Ted

Late Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Look for fishing to continue through December for steelhead on the Manistee River.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

eggs, fall steelhead, guide, nymphs, steelhead fishing, streamer, swinging flies for steelhead, tippy dam, trout

Late November Trout and Steelhead Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 23, 2015

The weather finally realized what time of the year it is as temps dropped and so did some white stuff. The water temp on the Manistee below Tippy dam is still in the low 40s which makes it ideal for both steelhead and trout fishing. More steelhead have entered the system since the past report and they are relatively spread throughout; word has it that other rivers like the Betsie, PM and Boardman also have more fish in them as well. Fresh fish continue to trickle in and some of fish are starting to get a hint of color that show’s their relation to rainbow trout. This also means that fish are beginning to transition to some holding water rather than mostly runs which has been the primary focus of anglers so far this fall.

As steelhead move around, target all types of water including holes, tail-outs, structure and around wood. Now is a good time to fish indicators/floats, swing a streamer/spey fly, or even cast streamers for steelhead. Streamer fishing the lower Manistee for trout remains good with 3-4″ baitfish patterns working well when olive and natural sculpin/goby patterns aren’t and hold on tight if a steelhead grabs the other end of your 6 wt. streamer rod – you’ll know it. The water levels are o.k. but are running clear – drop down in leader size and/or consider using fluorocarbon especially when the sun is out.

Don’t replace your fly rods with snow shovels just yet – there is still some good fishing to be had – especially if the predicted mild El Nino keeps temps moderate.

Happy Thanksgiving and Good luck,

Ted

Late Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Look for the good fishing in Nov. & into December for steelhead on the Manistee River.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

manistee river, spey fly, steelhead, steelhead fishing, Streamer fishing for trout, thanksgiving, tippy dam, trout, winter fishing

Mid November Trout and Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 11, 2015

The lack of rain and seasonal weather has frankly left the river with a lack of fish. The Manistee is running low and clear with less than normal steelhead numbers throughout the river system. It appears that the other local rivers are experiencing similar conditions as we wait for wind and rain. The unseasonable weather we have had the past two-plus months has had an impact on the fish migration and the fish that are in the system quickly get wise to our intentions. The past few days we finally had some cold nights and some rain is forecast a few times over the next 10 days which should only help send more fish upstream while improving conditions. Water temps have slipped into the upper 40s which is great and the forecast of a mild winter should only help make late fall fishing good.

Trout fishing has been good thanks to the lack of cold weather. Streamer fishing on the Manistee – above and below Tippy dam – has been a great approach with overcast days being much better. The clear water and bright sun has been a bad combo as the fish tend to hide in those conditions. Various streamers have been working with white/gray baitfish (think stocked 4-5 inch skamania steelhead) patterns tending to out produce the other colors. Mix up colors and as the water temps dip, mix up your retrieve.

Firearms deer season begins Sunday Nov. 15 – if you head out to the river, wear some bright orange for safety.

Good luck.

Ted

Late Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Look for the good fishing in Nov. & into December for steelhead on the Manistee after some rain.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

dear season, manistee, skamania steelhead, steelhead, streamer fishing, tippy dam, trout fishing

Hatches and Dry Flies – More of the Same

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 8, 2015

The bugs continue to be mixed and varied on the Upper Manistee, Au Sable and Boardman rivers. March Browns, Sulphurs, Black Quills, BWOs, and Mahoganies have been around with some Brown Drakes on the Au Sable and a few Isonychias just starting on the Manistee. And some nights, no bugs – much depends on the weather. This is the time of year to have Borcher’s and Robert’s Yellow Drakes in your fly box in a number of sizes to match the many bugs that hatch this time of year in the evenings up until dark.

The trout fishing below Tippy Dam has improved with lots of the spawning carp leaving this past week. Soft hackle and caddis fishing in the evenings has been productive after streamer fishing and nymphing during the brighter times of the day.

Carp fishing on Grand Traverse Bays has also been inconsistent with weather being the biggest factor. The week of solid weather forecast with moderate night time temps should help bring those fish into the shallows in better numbers as they feed while in pre-spawn mode. The same with smallmouth bass – they are still deep however a few are cruising the flats looking to eat your crayfish and goby patterns – cover water and keep you eye’s out when not fishing blind to deeper water or other likely structure.

Bluegill and Bass fishing continues, however it appears that the really big gills have either slipped back deep or left on stringers. Some really good fishing remains for both species. Nothing new here….. small poppers and spiders for the gills and smaller bass where the small nymph suspended over fish will out fish just about most bluegill flies – consider using a small indicator to detect that delicate take before they spit it out. Bass have been responding more to streamers like natural sculpins and crayfish fished on a floating line and the occasional slider on the surface.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout Season – June is the month of the big bug dry fly fishing on the Upper Manistee & AuSable Rivers.
Summer Fishing – Terrestrial and Trico fishing in July and August on the Manistee, Bluegill and Bass on Lakes.
Fall Steelhead – Late September through November is the time for sassy steelhead on the Lower Manistee.

bluegill, brown drakes, carp, carp fishing grand traverse bay, goby patterns, isonychias, lower manistee, manistee, sulphurs, tippy dam, trout, trout fishing

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