Posts tagged "traverse city fly fishing"

Mid-May Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 17, 2018

Mother nature seems to have caught up with the times after some warm and bright days. Leaves, blossoms, green grass and insect hatches on the river seem to be in synch with the calendar.

Trout fishing on the local rivers continues to be ideal for those armed to fish subsurface with streamers until the surface activity begins. Water levels are ideal on both the upper and lower Manistee and the AuSable is running a little higher than normal. With temps in the upper 50s the Hendricksons continue to emerge and spinner falls are a little more predictable in the evenings with the warmer weather. Black caddis are making an appearance and building in numbers and shouldn’t be ignored if you see “slashy rises.” Be sure to have March Browns, Black Quills even some sulphurs with you just in case they start showing up. This time a year a Borcher’s Drake in various sizes can help you match a lot of the mayflies you will come across.

Fishing has been tough with the recent bright sun and fishing a streamer in the deeper runs and along cover are your best bet. Mix up your streamer patterns and presentation until you find whatever their daily preference is but, keep a dry fly rod near by as a hatch can have you changing from ripping and stripping to mending and sending in no time.

The lakes are still warming up and the first of the bluegill/panfish are moving into shallow waters on the dark bottom lakes that seem to warm up first. Bass too are starting to move in shallow water and keep an eye out for big pike looking to feed on the aforementioned as they are now in the post-spawn feeding pattern.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity. It’s also a great time to fish streamers for bigger trout.
Big Bugs – The big Bugs of June will be here before you know it…. Isos, Drakes and Hex – limited dates available.
Fall Steelhead – Spring Steelhead just finished up but it’s time to get your Fall Dates reserved – Oct. thru Dec.

borcher's drake, fishing report, fly-fishing guide, hendrickson, mayflies, streamer fishing, sulphurs, traverse city fly fishing, trout fishing

Mid July Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 17, 2017

It’s the middle of July and the fish are in summer mode. Trout fishing seems best in the early and late portions of the day but if presented with an overcast day, the fishing can be good too. We have had a number of rains pretty much all spring and summer which have left the Manistee and Boardman River levels in good shape. The cool evenings have kept the water temperatures in check, too.

Most of the match-the-hatch fly fishing is beyond us with the exception of the Tricos which are just getting started and should be around for another month. Other bugs include BFOs, Isonychias, Light Cahills and the occasional Hex. With fewer bugs on the water it’s time to reach for the terrestrial box and fish ants, beetles, hoppers and other attractors as we approach the “foam and rubber” season. To read more on fishing trout rivers this time of year, click here to read: Fishing After the Hex Hatch.

The bluegill fishing on local lakes continues to be good with some bigger fish still in the shallows eager to eat your surface bug. Big bass are around too and typically prefer diving/sliding deer hair patterns and smaller poppers fished near weed beds and drop offs when not trying to eat the bluegill on the end of your line.

Good luck.

Ted

The Summer Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – Through July and August. A half-day trip on the river is a great way to start the day.
Fall Steelhead – From late Sept. through November, these fish will bend your rod like no other – get your dates.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

boardman river, manistee river, terrestrial fishing, traverse city fly fishing, trout fishing traverse city, upper-manistee

July Fly Fishing Traverse City/Northwest Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 7, 2017

July is here and fishing seasons are mostly caught up and in check after some cooler weather and more rain.

Trout fishing remains good for those looking to spend mornings or evenings on the water. The low-light hours and overcast days have offered significantly better fishing than when the sun is bright. Despite the rains, water levels and clarity are pretty much normal for this time of year on the Upper Manistee and Boardman Rivers.

The Hex hatch has is mostly over with but the truncated emergence and inconsistent weather will ensure there will be bugs around for a little longer, they will just be really hard to predict. Other mayflies seen around the water include Isonychias, Bat Flies, Yellow Sally Stones, but also some terrestrials including large flying ants, deer flies and beetles.

The bay is still offering some shots at carp on the flats as there is a mix of pre-spawn and spawning fish. While it can be frustrating trying to catch them while they are preoccupied, target the lead fish and the trailers as those are usually the ones most likely to eat the fly. Hex nymphs and crayfish patterns are your best bet with the emergence and full moon’s affect on crayfish.

Lake and pond fishing remains good on the local lakes with some gills/sunfish making a second round in the shallow water. Weed growth is catching up offering more cover for the larger bass as they sit in the shade ready to ambush your diving/slider fly pattern or eat the bluegill on the end of your line.

Good luck.

Ted

Lost and Found: I found a fly rod and reel at 4 Mile Bend Access on the Upper Manistee June 9th. If you are the owner, contact me to identify the make and model and I will see to it that it gets returned.

bass, carp, grand traverse bay, guides, hex hatch, smallmouth bass, steelhead, terrestrial fishing, traverse city fly fishing, upper manistee river

Late May Fly Fishing Report Traverse City

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 28, 2017

Trout fishing has been good for those looking to test their skills with matching the hatch and presenting dry flies and emergers to selective fish. Lots of bugs right now on the Manistee, Boardman and AuSable Rivers and this time of year it’s a pretty good idea to have them all in your box because there is no telling what the fish will want from one day to the next.

Sulphurs, March Browns, Blue Winged Olives, Mahoganies, Light Hendricksons, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium brown stones and caddis are the usual suspects and having some brown drakes with you might not be a bad idea either – just in case. To learn more on the hatches this time of year, click here.

Evenings have been best for emergences and spinner falls but with cloudy conditions and cooling temps, things can happen earlier rather than later. Surface activity with bugs can be isolated from one bend to the next so move if you aren’t seeing much happening. Until bug activity occurs, cast a streamer – especially after the rain that we received today. Brown and copper or Olive and copper seem to have been working well, but each day is different so mix it up until you find their daily preference.

Bluegill and bass fishing on local lakes/ponds continues to offer some great fishing as the fish have moved into the shallows. While spiders, beetles and small poppers have been working on top, slowly swimming damsel nymphs and small leeches tend to catch some bigger, more selective fish.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
Fall Steelhead – From late Sept. through November, these fish will bend your rod like no other – get your dates.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

bass fishing, bluegill, brown drakes, fly-fishing guide traverse city, hatches, hendricksons, manistee river, traverse city fly fishing

Late April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 22, 2017

With Spring-like weather, I’m thinking Spring is here to stay. It certainly seems like we are a few weeks ahead as I look at stream-side flora, however it appears the fish seasons are mostly in check with steelhead starting to wind down and trout beginning to get active.

Steelhead fishing is on the other side of peak. The recent rains have left local rivers high and stained and in some cases downright dirty. The Betsie is starting to clear up, but it offers limited visibility. The steelhead have been winding down on the Betsie, but fish continue to move into the system after the rains. The Big Manistee below Tippy Dam also has steelhead in it – a mix of fresh fish, spawning fish and drop-backs. The clarity had cleared up after last weekend’s rain, however the rain fall Thursday will dirty it up again by this weekend as the water in the pond changes over. With both rivers, the fresh fish are entering and leaving quickly with water temps in the low 50s.

Effective flies in the dirty water have included large bold egg patterns like Clowns, 4 Shades of Orange and John 3:16, with smaller natural egg patterns being ideal when the water is a bit clearer. Fry patterns, caddis and black stones all have all been solid choices in nymph patterns. Sunny days continue to be the curse of good fishing with overcast days offering better odds.

The trout fishing is getting going as some the first of the dry flies like Hendricksons have been hatching and at times, bringing fish to the surface. Before and after hatches, cover the water with a streamer for what is considered one of the best times to find a really nice brown trout.

Good luck.

Ted

May Fishing – Trout, late steelhead, hatches, streamer fishing, bluegill on lakes – don’t overlook fishing in May.
Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

betsie river, dry flies, egg patterns, hatches, hendricksons, steelhead, steelhead fishing, tippy dam, traverse city fly fishing, trout fishing

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