traverse city fishing report Archives - Current Works Guide Service

Without recent significant rains, the local rivers have dropped to what I refer to as full – not high, not low. Water temps currently in the low 60s are likely to climb this week with some hot days in the forecast. Bug/hatches should intensify with that heat, but I no longer predict hatches – picking winning lottery numbers might be easier and if I was any good at that, well, I would no longer be typing fishing reports.

If headed to the river, there are a bunch of bugs you are likely to encounter: March Browns, Mahoganies, Little Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Isonychias, Grey Drakes and Sulphurs. Mosquitoes and Black Flies, too. More on the the bugs and hatches over the next couple of weeks can be read here.

Covering the water with smaller streamers and lighter sink-tips is a good way to cover some water when waiting for surface activity to begin and is a softer approach as the fish become more oriented to a diet on the surface rather than chasing the triple articulated, swimming rubber-legged adorned pattern the size of a 1980’s tube sock.

Bass and bluegill fishing has been really good on the local lakes and with the full-moon, there should be some bigger gills up shallow having another go at spawning.

Good luck/stay safe.

Ted

Trout – The big bugs of June are beginning for an evening of match-the-hatch dry fly fishing.
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 in November remain available for these fall favorites.

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The unofficial start of summer begins with Memorial Day weekend and this year it coincides with our technical match-the-hatch dry fly fishing on the Manistee, Au Sable and Boardman Rivers.

After a long winter and short, cool spring, warmer temps are coming around and so are the bugs. So many different bugs can be found on the water this time of year, you might find your gear bag/fly vest a little heavier with all of the fly boxes holding the appropriate fly patterns.

If headed to the river, look for: Light Hendricksons, BWOs, Black Quills, Sulphurs, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown Stones, Mahoganies, and small Black Caddis. I wouldn’t be surprised if some Gray Drakes show up in the riffle sections of rivers any evening. Of course, the bugs come out when they come out and the evening mayfly spinner falls occur when temps hold steady, but be flexible and prepared for anything at any time – nature doesn’t follow a strict schedule. If there are no bugs around, go with some smaller weighted streamers fished on floating lines or short sink-tips for some sub-surface activity.

Those fishing lakes and ponds will find some large mouth bass in the shallows as well as those bigger bluegill that rarely give the shallow-water fly angler a chance to catch them.

The mosquitoes are just starting up to join the black flies so keep some bug repellent with you if needed; after the warm weather forecast, it’s likely to be required.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Father’s Day – Get dad on the water this year with a gift certificate for either a half and full-day trip.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

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Posts tagged "traverse city fishing report"

Early June Fishing Report

Late May Fly Fishing Report

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