Posts tagged "tippy dam"

It’s March and It’s Still Winter

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 7, 2014

It’s March with longer days and a sign of things to come. It has been a long winter and it appears that it’s not coming to an abrupt end, but rather teasing us with additional sunshine and some days ahead with temperatures above freezing.

The number of sub-zero temps and polar vortexes the past months has had an influence on the region’s rivers. Most rivers are frozen over or have significant shelf ice extending from the river banks on smaller rivers like the Betsie and Boardman making it hard to access; the Manistee is mostly open from Tippy Dam to High Bridge. If you are heading out be aware of those large chunks of ice as they break off and float downstream – they literally can be deadly.

Water temps are in the low 30’s but having a little sunshine makes a difference for fish and fisherman alike. Steelhead can be found in flat tail outs or even fully exposed on sand flats warming up this time of year. Keep an eye for those areas when fishing and focus on the deep and slow holes as fish are still somewhat in hibernation and waiting for another degree or two warm-up. With salmon fry and alevins starting to increase in numbers it’s a good fly choice when fished in tandem with an egg pattern. Other good fly choices this time of year include hex nymphs and black stones.

The good news is that a little bit of sun and some above freezing temps can start to knock down the near-record setting snow banks and get our spring steelhead season going. The strong run of steelhead from the fall are still in the rivers and will ensure good fishing until the run-off brings in fresh fish from the lake – it should be a good, long spring steelhead season.

My guess is that trout fisherman will find the hatches to be off a week or two, but one never knows as a significant warm-up or weather event can change things. One thing is for sure – it’s been a long winter and I’m looking forward to some hydro-therapy.

Good luck,

Ted

Steelhead -With fish in local rivers Spring steelhead fishing should start as soon as the weather changes.
Trout – May is a great time for mayfly emergences and streamer fishing before June’s Drakes, Isonychias & Hex.
2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

betsie river, fishing report, manistee, tippy dam

Mid-November Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 14, 2013

After a change in the weather the past week it appears that mother nature has made up for the mild fall we experienced in the beginning. After some snow, rain, temperatures below freezing and lots of wind, it appears most anglers are looking to pick their days based on the weather. Traffic on the water is down with plenty of steelhead around to play with. With the dropping water temps, fish are starting to act a little lethargic when hooked, but not all of them. Look for the steelhead to start to move into the transitional water between the quick runs and the soft side of the seam and some of the larger holes. A little sunlight can make a big difference as it warms up the water a degree or two and can help trigger more activity.

Eggs continue to be the primary diet of fish as the millions of salmon eggs continue to drift down stream even though the salmon are pretty much gone. Pale colored egg patterns like nuke and rags seem to be working best: egg/steelhead orange, Oregon cheese/burnt orange, tetra yellow/light roe have been good color combos lately. Smaller natural nymphs are starting to have their effect on both steelhead and trout in waters like the Manistee below Tippy Dam – caddis, pheasant tails, and scuds are great candidates. Olive and copper streamers have been the effective pattern colors when swinging flies. Look for the streamer bite for trout on the Manistee to get going as the fish drop back into their lies after a fall of having their noses close to the spawning salmon.

More fresh fish continue to move up the Betsie and Manistee rivers thanks to the rains which have provided fish throughout the river systems. Water is slightly stained and running a little higher than normal for this time of year but is generally in good shape. Be prepared to fish a few ways – drift fishing, indicator fishing over structure and even swinging a fly on a sink-tip.

Friday Nov. 15 th is opening day of firearm deer season. Be careful and respectful of hunters and wear a some blaze orange to be safe while fishing. The season extends through Nov. 30th.

Good luck.

Ted

Steelhead -Fall fishing continues through winter and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.
Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing now that the salmon are gone.
2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

betsie river steelhead, fly fishing report, manistee, nymphs egg patterns. swinging flies, steelhead, tippy dam, traverse city

It’s November – Fall Steelhead Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 1, 2013

The fall steelhead fishing on the Manistee has been inconsistent lately – doing well for a few days in a row and then experiencing a slow one. When its on, its on! Lots of weather systems have been through northern Michigan over the past week and even some snow fell between the rain showers which may have had something to do with the fish’s attitude. The recent rains brought the water up and should continue to bring fresh fish from the lake – there are fish from the dam to the lake. The report on the Betsie River is that there are some steelhead scattered throughout the river and a few scraggly salmon on gravel making the dark water behind them a great place to start fishing for the chrome ones. After the significant rainfall at the end of last week, most of the Betsie is running dark – be careful wading.

When fishing below Tippy dam, natural eggs and small, natural nymphs like pheasant tails and baetis are working on the pressured steelhead and brown trout. In the lower sections bigger, brighter egg patterns fished in tandem with larger nymphs and small streamers have been the ticket lately – it seems that the “bugger bite” has improved significantly since the last report. Each day is different and this is only a reference as to what has been working for us. To read the Top Five Steelhead Flies article, click here.

With the water temps hovering around 50 degrees and fresh fish around, this is a great time to swing a big fly for steelhead. Olives and tan/brown patterns with lots of gold and copper flash would be a great place to start and always have a black pattern on deck and ready to go.

Good luck,

Ted

Steelhead -A few fall steelhead dates remain and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.
Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing once the salmon leave.
2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

Betsie, fall steelhead fishing, guide, manistee steelhead fishing, Northern Michigan, steelhead flies, tippy dam

Fall Colors, Spawning Salmon, and Super-Charged Steelhead

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 12, 2013

With another week of mild weather its hard to believe that it is mid-October. Since we haven’t had a frost yet in the region the fall colors aren’t as brilliant as usual, but the fishing has been making up for it.

After last week’s rain, river levels came up and have since dropped while leaving the water with a slight stain – which is a good thing with all the bright sunshine we have been experiencing. The spawning salmon continue to populate the gravel sections of local rivers, most notably the Betsie and Manistee. Below Tippy dam there are countless numbers of salmon on gravel spawning with others right behind them in pocket water and still some fresher staging fish in the bigger, deeper holes waiting for their time to come. Look for steelhead to be in the dark water right behind spawning fish and the egg collecting runs below spawning areas. With water temperatures near 60 degrees the fish tend to jump out of the water a bit and make it hard to bring them to hand. Majority of the steelhead have been coming from egg patterns with smaller, natural color’s being best. Mix it up throughout the day as sunlight and angling pressure changes.

I haven’t been on the trout waters nor have I heard reports of people fishing the Upper-Manistee, but I imagine the terrestrial fishing on the surface is going strong considering the mild temperatures. The brook trout can be amazing this time of year and we are getting closer to when the browns spawn and sometimes – given the right weather conditions, the streamer fishing can be outstanding.

Good luck,

Ted

betsie river, brook trout, egg patterns, fly fishing, spawning salmon, tippy dam

Steelhead Fishing NW Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 24, 2012

The water levels have come down, water clarity is pretty much ideal and water temps are perfect – it is a great time for steelhead. Fishing the last few days has been spotty – either it’s real good or it has bee slow. With the salmon numbers significantly diminishing, the steelhead are transitioning from only being directly below spawning fish to the seams and pools funneling eggs into them. Deeper holes are providing fish on the Manistee from the Tippy dam to the Lake with runs giving up fish, too. With conditions ideal, now is a good time to swinging flies with spey rods as the fish will move to eat something other than an egg.

Because eggs are still a major and primary part of the steelhead’s diet, double egg patterns have been working closer to gravel whereas an egg and nymph combo has been the go-to in the longer runs. Mix it up, cover lots of water and hold on when hooked – they are jumping, pulling and otherwise finding ways to separate themselves from the angler.

Good luck,

Ted

Fall Steelhead & Trout – Early November Available Dates: Nov. 1

Fall Steelhead: It’s time to target angler’s favorite sport-fish now through November.
Fall Trout: Fish the Upper Manistee throughout fall or Lower Manistee in late October and through November.
Booking for all 2013 Seasons and through September – reserve your place in the boat.

Betsie river salmon fishing, egg patterns, fall steelhead, fly-fishing guide, guide, manistee, steelhead fishing the manistee, ted kraimer, tippy dam

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