Heat Wave – NO TROUT FISHING

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 1, 2020

Northern Michigan is experiencing unusually high temperatures without cool nights resulting in water temps well into the 70s. While this not only makes the fishing tough as the trout become lethargic, any hooked fish is pretty much assured mortality after bringing them to the net. As a result, trout fishing trips are being suspended until water temps drop. The forecast does not look good but time will tell – it’s northern Michigan and we have a reputation of inaccurate forecasts.

If you are fishing on your own, please consider giving the fish and the fishery a chance by staying off the water – the future of our fisheries depend on it. So many of our trout rivers are not stocked and depend on mature adults to spawn tomorrow’s class of fish and they can’t do it if they are dead.

Other options for fishing include lake fishing in the mornings or evening for bass and bluegill which is also a great fishery for those beginners and those learning/getting better. Bass fishing with a big popper/sliders thrown by better casters to the edge of the lily pads can get some of those bigger fish to play.

Not only is July here, but so it seems is the heat of summer.

Good luck.

Ted

New to the Sport? Bass and Bluegill fishing is the perfect way to learn to fish after a quick casting lesson.
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 are available in November – a great way to finish a fishing season.

heat wave, not trout fishing, traverse city, trout

Mid-April Ramblings

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 16, 2020

The Michigan Stay Home/Stay Safe order has been extended through the month of April, so guide trips will become available again starting May 1, 2020.

<<Click here to read an overview/options for May fishing>>

Anglers can still fish on their own if they maintain social distancing (6’) and will find steelhead in all the local rivers. You will find steelhead anglers, too, as there are a lot of folks with extra time on their hands and spending some of it on the water.

The forecast is calling for milder temps to return after some recent dustings of snow and sub-freezing overnight temperatures. It’s still mid-April, don’t let the mild month of March have you getting your swimsuit out just yet. Besides, most public beaches are closed anyway.

With so many of us anglers finding ourselves with extra time, there are a few things we can do related to fly fishing while sheltering in place. Here are just some ideas:

Organize your fly boxes. Either by species (steelhead, salmon, bass, carp), style (streamers, nymphs, dries) or hatches (Sulphurs/March Browns/Isos, Terrestrials/Tricos, Hex/Drakes), there are a number of ways to keep your flies in order and easy to access on the water. It also helps you find some vacancies in your line-up. Sharpen some hooks, throw away the rusty hooks and get some of the new style fly boxes.

Tie or buy flies. Fly tying materials are in high demand industry wide as folks are sitting down and wrapping some fur and bending some feathers at rates not quite experienced before. Locally, The Northern Angler is shipping out orders of materials available on their website. Whoever your local fly shop is, consider giving them your business as these are difficult times for independent retailers nationwide.

Gear Bags. Every year I go through mine a few times to clean out what needs to be, sort through some things, inventory what’s missing or doesn’t belong, replace some leaders and tippet and refill the first-aid kit. If you don’t have a gear bag, consider getting one – they are awesome for organizing, keeping you ready for fishing opportunities and helps keep you from being unprepared.

Clean your fly lines. Send your broken rod back to the manufacturer. Click here to read an article on equipment care and maintenance.

Cast. On the nicer days, head outside and practice your fly casting in the yard or in the local park. We can all get better at casting. Yes, even you.

Read that old pile of fishing magazines or pull that dusty book off the shelf. Sometimes we can re-read something we forgot about that still works on the water today or simply enjoy a good story/novel with fly fishing intertwined throughout it.

Lastly, you could get to that list your spouse has created for you, which (speaking from personal experience) I am guessing doesn’t have anything to do with fishing.

Lastly, here is an old article I wrote with ideas for off-season activities for the fly fisher.

Good luck, do your part to be safe, and stay healthy.

Ted

Trout – May and June aren’t far away and offer ideal conditions for both streamer and 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 Oct. and Nov. remain available but they are starting to become limited.

fighing, local rivers, May fishing, stay home, stay safe, steelhead, tie flies, traverse city

Early July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 9, 2019

July is here, the big hex bugs finally showed up – albeit about 10 days late – and they are still around some on the local rivers. The nocturnal hex are showing up at strange times due to the cool evenings so look for spinner falls to occur just about any time in the day. Water levels, temps and clarity are pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year – mid 60s, clear, and average flows allowing for wading in they typical sections.

In addition to the hex, have some Bat Flies, Isonychias, Stones – Golden and Medium Brown, Cahills and some caddis. Smaller streamers fished on light sink-tips or floating lines can be a good way to cover some water but a lot of the fish are still looking up and are only interested in those mayflies that are like floating porterhouse steaks to them.

Lake fishing remains good for those looking for bluegill and bass action on the local lakes and ponds. Target the weed growth near drop-offs as well as any other structure that might hold fish.

Smallmouth and Carp fishing continues on Grand Traverse Bay. The Carp are spawning in the northern sections where the water is cool and there are still some cruisers on the flats in the shallow ends.

Good luck.

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.

bluegill fishing, grand traverse bay fishing, hex, smallmouth bass, stoneflies, traverse city

Mid-March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 13, 2019

To say it was a long, cold winter would be to misrepresent that past few months and the multiple polar vortexes, hours of shoveling snow and time spent indoors thinking about fishing. With mid-March, thankfully, comes some sunshine, longer days, warmer temperatures, and opportunities to shake cabin fever by fishing for steelhead.

There is still a lot of snow on land, but warmer temps, sunshine and rain will help reduce things, hopefully gradually. As the melt hits the water, look for the water temps to actually remain or even get cooler. Sunshine really helps warm the water up and help to get fish active and feed. If wade fishing, be careful of icy paths and river banks.

We are in pre-spawn mode and anglers will find steelhead in most of the local rivers and throughout the watersheds including the Manistee below Tippy Dam and the Betsie River. There is a mix of winter fish and fresh fish with the hold-over fall (winter) fish mostly sitting in the deeper holes to avoid the stronger currents. Fresh fish encouraged by additional sunlight and an increase in water flow are trickling upstream and can be found in seams as they ascend upstream.

River levels are holding steady and have a slight stain to them – look for more color to the water as more run off occurs and levels rise. Water temps are in the mid-30s and the fish are favoring a drag-free presentation often on the slower side of the current seam.

This time of year larger eggs and beads are preferred over realistic sizes and colors since there are no natural eggs we are trying to imitate. Other flies that are proven winners this time of year include hex nymphs, caddis, black stonefly and alevin.

Good luck.

Ted

Spring Steelhead – Now through April. Start the fishing seasons with some chrome! Some dates still available.
Trout – May and June offers some of the best trout fishing of the year matching the hatch and fishing streamers.
Booking 2019 – Reserve your date(s) and schedule life around fishing rather than trying to fit fishing into life.

alevin, betsie river, black stonefly, caddis, egg patterns, fly fishing guide service, hex nymphs, manistee river, spring steelhead, steelhead fishing, tippy dam, traverse city

Mid-August Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 15, 2018

The long and hot summer remains with us making for some challenging trout fishing conditions on the local rivers. The water is low and clear and the fish are pretty well aware of what we are trying to do after fishing them hard for a few months. The best fishing tends to be whenever it isn’t too bright out – mornings, evenings and the rare, cloudy day.

Hatches of Tricos are winding down but continue to offer some match-the-hatch dry fly opportunities mid-morning followed up by some terrestrial fishing throughout the day. Small streamers fished on floating lines as well as “twitch flies” are working too when fished subsurface.

Lake fishing remains good for bluegill as beginners learn how to fly fish and are ideal for those with experience looking to catch some largemouth bass. Weed growth – including lily pads – are fully grown and when fished near drops the fishing can be a lot of fun. Poppers, divers, sliders – all top water and just sub-surface presentations brings back memories of dog-days of summer and fishing lakes as a kid.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout – Trico Hatches and Terrestrial fishing continues – it’s the perfect way to start the day on the river!
Stillwater- Bluegill and Bass fishing remains a favorite for beginners and experienced anglers through August.
Fall Steelhead – It’s Summer which means it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates. Oct. thru Dec.

bass fishing, streamers, traverse city, tricos, trout

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Posts tagged "traverse city"

Heat Wave – NO TROUT FISHING

Mid-April Ramblings

Early July Fly Fishing Report

Mid-March Fishing Report

Mid-August Fly Fishing Report

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