Posts tagged "tricos"

August Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 9, 2020

With August here we usually think about the dog days of summer, but seeing how we have already had five weeks of them, the trend continues as does our current fishing conditions.

Trout anglers are finding the waters of the upper Manistee and Boardman in the low to mid-60s (depending on overnight temperatures) making for safe fishing. The Tricos have been reliable each morning, but some days they last longer than other days offering some fun match-the-hatch fishing for mostly smaller fish with the occasional bigger fish testing to make sure we are tying good knots in our 6 and 7x tippets.

Terrestrial fishing has been o.k. – it never seems to be great like most people think of when comparing it to out west or the reading they have done on the subject. Still, those larger patterns with rubber legs (“foam and rubber” hatch) will make for some surface/dry fly fishing with mostly smaller fish showing up, but like with the Tricos, we get caught off guard when that big one comes up and slowly eats the fly. In summary, it’s a good time to drop down to 3 and 4 wt rods, keep it simple and enjoy a morning float before the sun gets too high and the fish hide for the day.

Lake and pond fishing has been decent. With the heat came good weed growth and that’s the place to target the bass with those poppers and sliders. Lilly pads, docks, drop offs or places where all three come together makes for some good fishing. Bluegill/Panfish still come to the surface and entertain those learning how to fish as they develop their skills in a still water setting.

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.

Late July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 23, 2020

We find ourselves in the middle of summer headed to the trout rivers in the mornings for the best fishing for brook and brown trout. Water temps remain cool in the 60’s as their spring fed nature allows them cool off in the evenings after a hot day. Recent rains have the river in good shape with a little stain to them but at levels a little higher than normal for this time of year but by no means are they high.

Mid-mornings are presenting Trico spinner falls and have fish selectively feeding – it’s time for 6x or 7x tippet and a pair of cheaters to tie on the #20 fly. Being so small, consider tying them to another fly to serve as an indicator to help track it. Smaller Isonychias / rusty spinner patterns have been good too, both in the evening and morning.

If you aren’t into the small flies then start to fish terrestrials – and think a little smaller than the big grasshoppers mostly associated with terrestrial fishing and this time of year. A mix of wet flies and twitch flies can also bring some fish to hand if you the surface bite isn’t happening.

Largemouth bass fishing has been pretty good on the smaller lakes when focusing on the structure of drop-offs and weed beds. Of course docks are always a good place to lay a cast up against. The bigger panfish have moved deep but the smaller ones are still shallow helping to bend the rod for those learning how to fly fish. A third round of spawning will bring those bigger gills back to the surface for one more crack at the slabs.

Good luck,

Ted

bass fishing, bluegill, fly fishing july traverse city, isonychia, panfish, terrestrial fishing, tricos

Mid July Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 12, 2020

The recent deep heat the region experienced for the last 10 days has finally let up, at least for now. I am happy to report that some cooler evenings and cloud cover has helped the local rivers drop into the low to mid-60’s making trout fishing an option again. I don’t ever recall such hot weather for such a long time. Looks like warm weather is in the forecast, however the cooler overnight temps will allow the spring fed nature of the Upper Manistee and Boardman Rivers to remain cool enough to fish.

With the majority of our hatches beyond us, we find ourselves in the typical transition period of early July where fish are digesting the hex mayflies they have loaded into their guts the past three weeks (feeling like many of us do after the holiday season) as we wait for Tricos to start any day. As typical for this time of year, the morning is the ideal time to take advantage of shadows and fish looking up. Smaller terrestrials, wets and twitch flies are a good approach as we get deeper into summer.

More on fishing post Hex Hatch can be read here.

Unless you are “mouser”, it’s time to put away the head lamp, reduce half of the fly boxes in your gear bag and simply fish. River levels and temps are ideal for wet wading if not fishing from a boat

Bass and bluegill fishing has slowed down some with the heat, but like the trout fishing, lake temps will cool off a little with the cooler temps and some wind. Some big gills are still coming to the surface in their second post-spawn phase. Bass have been bass hiding in the weeds and slurping sliders, divers and the occasional popper.

Good luck and thank you to the sportsman that held off on fishing during the recent hot weather to help the fish population.

Ted

boardman river, fly fishing guide traverse city, hatches, hex, manistee river, river fishing, terrestrial fishing, traverse city fly fishing, tricos

Mid-August Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 20, 2019

Not a whole lot has changed since the last fishing report.

A long period of virtually no rain has the rivers running low and clear which tends to be the case for this time of year. Cool nights have kept the water temps on the upper Manistee and Boardman rivers in the low 60’s making them ideal for the brown and brook trout that reside in them.

Some mid-morning trico hatches have been providing decent surface activity making it suitable for the 4 wt. rod. It seems that the bug density is starting to wane but it’s hard to say as the season and its hatches are still a bit fragmented (I saw a hex last week, mid-morning). A few caddis are starting to show up but it is pretty much full-on terrestrial season on the local rivers – grass hoppers, ants, beetles and foam bodied/rubber legged patterns – that have been teasing the fish. Attractors and Isonychia patterns are worth tying on as well when not fishing sub-surface with some twitch flies.

The bass and bluegill fishing remains decent for those looking to either learn the sport or experienced anglers bringing a largemouth to the surface to crush a popper or slider. With the warmer weather, weed growth has continued and makes it a great place to target both species. Lakes with drop offs have been out fishing the shallow waters because of water temps. With the big moon in the sky right now, look for some of those overachieving gills in the shallows spawning one last time but also eager to eat your fly.

Good luck.

Ted

Salmon/September – No salmon or trout dates are available this September, sorry.
Trout– Terrestrial & Trico fishing for Brooks and Browns through August and into September.
Fall Steelhead – October through December – a fall favorite for many. A few dates remain open.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through August of 2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

boardman river, fly fishing, glen arbor, guided fly fishing traverse city, homestead, learn how to fly fish, manistee river, salmon, terrestrial fishing in michigan, tricos, trout fishing traverse city

Summer Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 29, 2019

As August comes around, we find that the seasons are becoming a bit more aligned with where they should be for this time of year.

Trout fishing has eased up with less hatches to match, but with fish still looking to come up to eat a dry fly. The Tricos are like most mayflies this season and are running late and are just now beginning to emerge which should make for a few weeks of good August fishing.

Isonychias, Cahills, Great BWOs, and Little Yellow Sallies can be seen on the water when not fishing with terrestrial patterns like ants and hopper-ish looking flies that are always important this time of year. Some days they want movement, other’s they want dead-drift. On the overcast days, look for fish to be anywhere there is a darker bottom indicating depth/structure/current. Small streamers fished on a floating line is a nice addition to the presentation this time of year as they are twitched through likely seams.

Water levels are fine for the wading angler. They are a little higher than normal for this time of year due to rains but by no means are they considered high. Clarity is fine, too. Water temps fluctuate daily this time of year on the Boardman and Upper Manistee so factor that into your plans as fishing late in the day after a few hot days can be slow and stressful to the fish.

Lake and pond fishing for bass and bluegill remain great options for those who have spent enough time chasing trout and trying to please them. Some bigger gills are still in the shallows in part because of the late start to the season spared them from anglers keeping a lot of them. Bass fishing on top with poppers, deer hair bugs and sliders is a lot of fun this time of year when they come from the weeds or depths to chomp on your fly.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout– Terrestrial & Trico fishing for Brooks and Browns through August and into September.
Salmon – The Kings of September are running big this year – a limited number of dates available.
Fall Steelhead – October through December – a fall favorite for many. A few ideal dates remain open.
2020 Fishing Season – We are booking dates through August of2020 – don’t miss the prime times.

bass bugs, bass fishing, bluegill fishing on the fly, glen arbor, glen lake, isonychias, manistee, terrestrial fishing, tricos, trout fishing, water temps

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