Posts tagged "trout fishing"

December Steelhead and Trout Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 1, 2016

With December here, it’s time to think of transitional fishing as water temps cool and the days get shorter.

Our extended Fall Season was enjoyed by most being able to hit the water without the typical number of insulating layers that’s common for this time of year. The lack of cold has kept water temps on the local Steelhead Rivers in the mid to lower 40s which is still an ideal window for good steelhead fishing. But as we approach cooler water temps with colder nights, look for the fish to transition from the seams to the inside edges of runs, in structure and the deeper holes. You will still want to target the proven fall water, but don’t hesitate to fish “off to the side” a little should you not find the fish. In other words, the fish should be scattered and a mix of fresh fish and some that have been in for a few weeks.

After a pretty dry fall, we finally received some rain fall and the water levels bumped up a little. While levels aren’t high, the rains were needed to increase and inspire more fish to move in from the lake as well as redistribute some of the fish already in the systems. Smaller rivers like the Betsie, Boardman and PM should get their first significant push of fish into the systems. The Manistee with its volume off flow has had fish in it all fall, but now the gin-clear water has finally picked up a little stain which is more than welcome.

This time of year fly choice and technique can include just about any with considerable expectations on their effectiveness. Drift/Duck and Chuck, Indicator/Floats, and Swung Streamers are all worthy of exploration for good steelhead fishing. Big egg patterns fished with a nymph (hex or bugger) is great on fresh migratory fish but more realistic egg color and size and smaller nymphs are a good choice for those fish that have already settled into a river environment. Swung flies include black with chartreuse, Olive with Copper and natural sculpin schemes/colors have all been good choices.

Trout fishing on the upper Manistee and below Tippy Dam has been decent as they begin to transition a bit, too. Smaller sink-tips and mid-sized streamers fished slower than normal and with lots of twitches is a good approach. Colors, shape, size and retrieve is often different each day so mix it up until you find success.

Good luck!

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Warmer than normal water and air temps will keep us chasing chrome fish for a while yet.
Late Fall Trout – After gorging on salmon eggs, streamer fishing below Tippy Dam can be outstanding.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays upon us, ask for or give the gift of a guided fishing trip – Half or Full-Days.

Betsie, boardman river, egg patterns, manistee, migratory fish, steelhead rivers, tippy dam fishing, trout fishing

June Fly Fishing Report – Northwest / Traverse City Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 8, 2016

Other than a change in the weather, not a whole lot has changed on the local waters since last week’s report.

After 10 days of warm days and nights, some cooler weather moved in the past week leaving the nights cooler than ideal for hatches and spinner falls on the Trout Rivers. Surface activity and hatches has been off a little on the Manistee, Au Sable and Boardman rivers, however covering water has found some isolated “hatch zones”. You can expect a smorgasbord of bugs right now: Sulphurs, March Browns, Mahoganies, Brown Drakes, Isonychias, Blue Winged Olives, Caddis, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown/Yellow Stones, and more have been seen on the water and in the air.

Water levels are still o.k. but clarity is an issue – it is too clear. Stealth and long presentations are required for the larger, selective fish but a good drift with the right fly can make it all worthwhile. On the bright days, seek shade and structure where fish are still approachable rather than tucked deep in log jams or undercut banks. Streamer fishing has been challenging in the clear water however smaller streamers have taken some nice fish lately.

Grand Traverse Bay is still running cool and as such the carp and smallmouth bass have been slow to get going. Often when you do find the carp they are moving and not feeding. As the water warms up on the flats, look for the pre-spawn feed to take place with some of the better fishing of the year. The smallmouth bass, too, are plagued by the cooler water. As the Smallies are in pre-spawn mode also and nomadically cruising , they will eat a fly – baitfish imitations and Gobies area great patterns to start with

The smaller lakes and ponds are fishing better for bass than the big water of the bay. Small streamers and even some smaller poppers and larger dry flies are working. Bluegill fishing has been mixed – some lakes are better than others and require some time to find those larger fish looking to bend your 3 wt. rod. Look in any weeds/bulrush in a foot of water for spawning fish. They can be hard to get when they are hidden and tucked away, but it’s also a time to get some nice hand-sized panfish/gills/sunnies before they head deep again.

Good luck,

Ted

Carp and Bass – Look for these guys on the flats of Grand Traverse Bay through the month of June.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and Hex – dates available.
Salmon – Late August and September is when the King Salmon start to migrate upstream – get ’em while you can.
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

ausable, bluegill fishing, brown drakes, carp, isonychia, king salmon, little yellow sally stones, manistee river, smallmouth bass, trout fishing, trout rivers

Mid-December “Fall” Steelhead Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 15, 2015

The warm Fall season continues, even though we should be thinking Winter which is scheduled to start next week. Real unseasonable weather has been around for a few weeks as there is no snow on the ground, water temps are still around 40 degrees, and the air temps have been comfortable – especially when you consider it’s the middle of December.

With the warm temps came a lot of warm rain over the weekend. The rivers are running really high and there is significant color to them. Thankfully it was a warm rain and it should inspire more fresh fish to move upstream keeping a nice inventory of steelhead in the river over the winter. Look for the fish already in the system to be scattered throughout the lower and upper sections but also sliding into the inside and shallower seams in the cover of high water – this is a pretty unusual scenario for this time of year. Time to use big egg flies and attractor patterns – an approach similar to early Spring Steelhead fishing.

As the water drops, the trout fishing should turn on again with mid-sized streamers and attention paid to inside bends and softer water near structure rather than the deep and fast runs. If it weren’t for the high water, we would be experiencing some really good fishing – as it drops, it should fish well.

Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Ted

The December/Winter Newsletter just went out – click here to read or subscribe.

Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Steelhead – Look for fishing to continue through December and through a mild winter on the Manistee River.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

high water, river flow, steelhead fishing, streamer fishing, tippy dam, trout fishing

Mid November Trout and Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 11, 2015

The lack of rain and seasonal weather has frankly left the river with a lack of fish. The Manistee is running low and clear with less than normal steelhead numbers throughout the river system. It appears that the other local rivers are experiencing similar conditions as we wait for wind and rain. The unseasonable weather we have had the past two-plus months has had an impact on the fish migration and the fish that are in the system quickly get wise to our intentions. The past few days we finally had some cold nights and some rain is forecast a few times over the next 10 days which should only help send more fish upstream while improving conditions. Water temps have slipped into the upper 40s which is great and the forecast of a mild winter should only help make late fall fishing good.

Trout fishing has been good thanks to the lack of cold weather. Streamer fishing on the Manistee – above and below Tippy dam – has been a great approach with overcast days being much better. The clear water and bright sun has been a bad combo as the fish tend to hide in those conditions. Various streamers have been working with white/gray baitfish (think stocked 4-5 inch skamania steelhead) patterns tending to out produce the other colors. Mix up colors and as the water temps dip, mix up your retrieve.

Firearms deer season begins Sunday Nov. 15 – if you head out to the river, wear some bright orange for safety.

Good luck.

Ted

Late Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Look for the good fishing in Nov. & into December for steelhead on the Manistee after some rain.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

dear season, manistee, skamania steelhead, steelhead, streamer fishing, tippy dam, trout fishing

“Fall” Fly Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 23, 2015

It’s officially “Fall”, but it sure feels like summer with the past three weeks being unseasonably warm making things feel more like August rather than the end of September. As a result the migratory salmon fishing on Lake Michigan’s rivers is off. The lack of cool weather and north/northwest winds are keeping the water at the river mouths too warm and therefore not concentrating the fish in ideal numbers to encourage a trip upstream. There are some fish in the Betsie and Manistee rivers, but they are scattered and simply not in the density/numbers we are used to for this time of year. Look for this year’s migration of salmon to be prolonged well into October with steelhead mixed in. Until then, fish the water thoroughly for those few fish around.

With the weather being nicer than normal, water conditions are still ideal for some dry fly fishing on the upper Manistee and Boardman rivers. The terrestrial bite is still going and some mid-sized streamers fishing on floating lines are providing some action. Look for the dries with rubber legs twitched near and in the wood to get some of those vibrant colored brookies to play as well as the occasional nice brown trout. Keep in mind regular trout season ends Sept. 30th on certain rivers and sections of rivers – consult the MI-DNR regulations to determine what closes and what remains open.

Good luck.

Ted

The Fall 2015 Newsletter just went out – Click here to read.

Late Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Salmon/Steelhead Combo – Late September & early October offers a mixed bag of both species with fall colors.
Fall Steelhead – October, November & into December is the time for steelhead on the Manistee.

Betsie, Boarman, fishing, lake michigan, manistee, salmon, streamers, trout fishing

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