October is Here and so is Fall Weather

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 2, 2019

A few trees are starting to change colors as we head to the river but they remain pretty green along the river bank. Water temps are just starting to drop below the 60 degree mark after some cooler temps and more of the same in the forecast. Another batch of rain has sent another batch of salmon upstream on the local rivers including the Platte, Betsie and Manistee. Fish continue to run big this year so bring you’re A-game and eat your spinach the night before. With a little color to the fish, lately we are finding them a little easier to move to the net, but not easy. With yesterday’s rain, look for the river to be a little higher after just dropping and also a little stained. Eggs and Caddis have been the best producers.

Trout fishing continues as we approach that time of year when the Brook Trout begin their spawning. Browns are still in a pre-spawn mode on the upper Manistee and will chase a streamer. With all the vegetation, leaves and pine needles floating downstream and decreasing water temperatures, look for the dry fly bite to basically non-exist unless a BWO hatch presents itself. Smaller streamers on smaller sink-tip lines are a great approach this time of year.

Just a reminder that trout fishing is now closed on a lot of trout streams but much of the Manistee and Au Sable are open all year round.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Good November and December dates remain open for these prized sport-fish.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through September of 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

Big Bug Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 20, 2019

Water levels on the local rivers are falling back into shape. While they are a higher than normal for this time of year, they are fishable and have a little stain to them – almost ideal. Water temperatures are still cool due to cool nights and a lack or significant warmth and sunshine the past month which is delaying some of the hatches.

Bugs have been fickle on the Manistee with the best hatches above M-72 as that water has fallen into shape sooner than the lower sections. Look for the last of the sulphurs, Isonychias, little mahoganies, gray drakes, brown drakes, yellow cahills, and some little yellow and medium brown stoneflies. No sign of hex on the Manistee but there are rumors of some on parts of the Au Sable river system.

Its that time of year that the riverbanks are active with more anglers wearing headlamps. Bring bug spray to keep the mosquitoes and ticks away, respect private property and share the resource.

Lake and pond fishing has another round of bigger bluegill in the shallow water with the week’s full-moon. These are a great species to target with a light rod and offer both experienced anglers and beginners the opportunity to bend the rod and just have fun. Some bass are around the shallow water, too, as they come out of the post-spawn funk and are a little more eager to eat both on the surface and below.

Stop your rod tip high.

Ted

Trout– Match-the-Hatch fishing through June including the big bugs. Terrestrial & Tricos in July and August.
Fall Fishing – Salmon begins in September which leads to Steelhead in October and November.

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Mid December Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 18, 2018

As we cross the mid-point of December anglers are finding fishing conditions to be in step with the season. Cold temps for a month and some snow have the fish in a winter mode and sitting in the slower water and eating a little less aggressively than we got accustomed to the previous months.

A decent number of steelhead are in the local rivers –Manistee, Betsie and Boardman and some days are playing along. This time of year any slight increase in water temps can be the trigger to getting the fish to eat so look for some sunshine in the forecast and/or higher overnight temps to put conditions in your favor. The water levels are typical for this time of year – a little low, good clarity but cold – just under 40 degrees.

With the cold water look for both steelhead and trout to be sitting in the deeper, slower water and in tail-outs that offer the protection of wood. Fish will still chase a slow moving, swung fly but it’s the dead drift of an egg pattern or nymph that is likely to get the bite. Smaller, subdued Caddis and hex nymphs are a great choice this time of year. The fish are a little lethargic,so you can get away with lighter tippet right now.

Streamer fishing for trout will still move some fish if you fish the slower water and near structure. Big, heavy sink-tips aren’t your best bet as smaller sink-tips and floating lines with weighted flies are. Slow your presentation down and keep it moving when that big brown slowly comes up behind it.

Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Ted

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Early July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 2, 2018

The current heat wave leaves no doubt that July is here and limits our fishing opportunities. As water temperatures increase the trout become vulnerable to the stress of fishing and therefore we are limiting our fishing to the early and late hours of the day for their sake and ours.

The nocturnal hex hatch is still going on but has become spotty as we have already had close two weeks of bugs on the local rivers like the Manistee and Boardman. Spinner falls occur at dusk and the duns emerge throughout most nights. In all its been a good hex hatch however the fish have been a little more elusive and selective than normal.

Other bugs you can expect to find on the water this time of year include Isonychias, Light Cahills, Bat Flies and BWOs. A Hex emerger fished around the mud and muck might move some fish, otherwise it’s time to start using the foam and rubber attractor/terrestrial patterns that imitate little but suggest a lot. Twitching flies on the surface and below it might just get fish to play as they recover from eating too many big bugs the night before. To read more about fishing on the other side of the Hex Hatch – click here the read Fly Fishing for Trout After the Hex Hatch.

Carp are still around in the bay and can be found shallow spawning as well as post spawn and cruising. With the hex emergence taking place on the bays, having some weighted hex nymphs is a good choice. After last week’s full moon, tan/brown crayfish are a good bet, too. Some smallmouth bass are cruising the shallows, but the warmth of the water is keeping most of the smallmouth deeper than most flies can effectively be fished.

Lake fishing for bluegill and largemouth bass is fishing well. The gills are still in shallow after a second spawn and bass are lurking around weeds and drop offs. Most fish are coming to the surface for floating bugs but the bigger bass are coming on sub-surface patterns and divers. Fishing lakes either in the morning or evening keeps fishing light, simple and fun.

Good luck!

Ted

Trout – Terrestrials and Tricos are right around the corner – it’s the perfect way to start the day on the river.
Stillwater- Bluegill, Bass and Carp. With the best trout fishing in the evening, try fishing lakes during the day.
Fall Steelhead – With Summer just arriving, it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates – Oct. thru Dec.

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Early June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 5, 2018

Fishing the Traverse City region in early June offers plenty of choices. Most fly fishers are going after trout since this time of year offers some technical dry fly fishing. Rivers like the Manistee, Boardman and Au Sable continue to produce a smorgasbord of flies on the water including: Gray Drakes, Great and Little Mahoganies, Sulphurs, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown Stones, Brown Drakes, Isonychias and Caddis. Any given day you can see a few different kinds of bugs, other days only one type but you should head out to the water with a loaded fly box and a headlamp with fresh batteries because a lot of times the spinner fall is taking place at dusk. Bring some bug spray, too.

Streamers and twitch flies on smaller sink tips have been working during the day to bring a fish out of the wood and onto the hook. This time of year, lightening up your streamer approach can be a good thing as the fish like a different presentation after six weeks of heavy streamer pressure.

The current cold-front has brought the water temperatures down in the river which is good – last week’s heat warmed them up a little too much, too quick. Levels and clarity are about perfect if there is such a thing. As always, handle the trout quickly and get them back in – most of these rivers rely on natural reproduction so even the small ones are important to tomorrow’s quality of fishing.

The inland lakes continue to produce good bluegill fishing as well as large and smallmouth bass fishing. The smallmouth are typically deeper and weighted flies and/or clear sink-tip lines will help you get to fish near those slight drop-offs. The largemouth and bluegill are in the shallow water and are mostly done spawning but are in a post-spawn mood.

With all the wind and cool temps, the fishing on the bay is still in its infancy for the carp and smallmouth but there are still some opportunities for those willing to put in the time and cover some water. Sustained weather (and warmth) will help make for some better fishing that is sure to come as June progresses.

If you are into the warm-water fishing, this weekend The Northern Angler is hosting there 2^nd Annual Cheese Cup Warm-water fishing tournament. This is a fun, fundraising event for the Third Level Crisis Center in honor of Alex “Cheese” Hawke who lost his battle with depression. The format is easy going and focuses on the warm-water species including bass, carp, pike, and bluegill. The after party is one you won’t want to miss. More detail’s here.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – The big Bugs of June will be here before you know it…. Isos, Drakes and Hex – limited dates available.
Stillwater- Bluegill, Bass and Carp. With the best trout fishing in the evening, try fishing lakes during the day.
Fall Steelhead – With Summer just arriving, it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates – Oct. thru Dec.

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Posts tagged "traverse city fly fishing"

October is Here and so is Fall Weather

Big Bug Fly Fishing Report

Mid December Fishing Report

Early July Fly Fishing Report

Early June Fly Fishing Report

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