Current Works Guide Service
  • (231) 883-8156
  • ted@current-works.com
  • Book a trip
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Home
  • Guide Trips & More
    • Guide Trips & Pricing
    • Casting Lessons
    • Gift Certificates
    • Book a Trip
  • Fishing Report
  • Fish & Seasons
    • Steelhead
    • Trout
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Salmon
    • Bluegill / Panfish / Bass
    • Golden Bones / Carp
  • Rivers & Hatches
    • Upper Manistee River
    • Lower Manistee River
    • Betsie River
    • Boardman River
    • Hatch Chart
  • Fly Tying
  • Articles
  • Gallery
  • About
    • About Your Guide
    • Testimonials
    • Newsletter
    • Area Information

Posts tagged "trout"

Traverse City Fly Fishing Report : Hex to Terrestrials

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 19, 2014

The trout fishing continues to improve on the upper Manistee as it seems more bugs are around than they were when they were supposed to. Or at least there are a few more fish looking up to eat.  Water temps are ideal as are the levels and the clarity is maybe a little too good right now making the lower light of morning and evening your best opportunity.

Some Hex bugs are still around in sections but are most likely unpredictable – have some with you if you are fishing into the evening and consider staying past dark. It seems the bugs are showing up just a little before dark rather than the typical after.

Other bugs to have include great Olives, Isonychias, Brown Drakes (yes – still one or two around) Cahills, little yellow sallies and golden stones. If fishing in the morning – tricos have been starting to congregate offering some fun fishing for some of the smaller fish.

Terrestrial fishing (foam and rubber leg) patterns have been starting to get some attention from the fish as summer progresses. Small streamers fished on light sink-tips or floating lines are a good way to tease out some fish this time of year. More on Terrestrial Fishing >>Click Here<<.

A few smallies are still around on the flats but they are hard to find because of the ever changing water temps. The same is kind of true with the carp – they have mostly returned to the deep. It was a decent year for these “golden bones” despite the water changing temps constantly.

Bass and bluegill fishing continues to be good on local lakes. Poppers and sliders are working well on the bass and the small terrestrials with rubber legs are doing a number on the gills/panfish. This is a fun way to spend a summer day – as either an experienced angler tricking bass out of the lily pads or a beginner learning the basics of fly fishing on the bluegill/panfish.

Smallmouth bass in the lower Manistee continues to be an option for the streamer angler or those that just like river smallmouth fishing.  This should only improve as the summer continues.

Good luck,

Ted

Terrestrials, Tricos and Trout – July and August  fly fishing for trout on the Upper Manistee River
Salmon– Fresh fish can enter rivers as early as mid-August and offer great fishing through September.
Fall Steelhead– From the end of September through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.

bass, bluegill, brown drakes, hex, isonychias, mi, smallmouth bass, terrestrail, travese city, trout, upper-manistee

Swinging Soft Hackle Flies

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 4, 2014

It’s been ingrained into our minds and angling modus operandi that when fishing trout in Michigan we should either fish dry flies dead drift to match-a-hatch, or cast a big streamer to entice either a big eater or territorial fish. And if those don’t work, maybe – just maybe – some might even try nymphing. Long forgotten is fishing wet flies – probably one of the oldest presentations and, at times, most effective in certain circumstances.

When:

Swinging Soft Hackles - Brown Trout

Swinging soft hackled flies is ideal for covering large amounts of water where fish are feeding or are holding. Morning, day or evening, have some soft hackles in your fly box for those situations.

Let’s face it – there are fewer times when the stars align and a hatch occurs while fish are looking up. If you aren’t prepared to fish a streamer, or even want to, then this approach is ideal and a fun way to fish. It’s also a way to score a fish when it seems the river might not give up much.

Can’t figure how to match the hatch? I learned the true value of swinging soft hackle flies a few years ago in Idaho. Four fishing guides were equipped with a number of over-stuffed fly boxes and keen eyes, but we couldn’t figure out what the fish were eating. Frustration set in, and the conversation turned to topics other than fishing when Andy refocused and suggested I try a soft hackle pattern. Problem solved, code cracked, and fly rod bent with a number of trout playing the game over the next hour.

What:

Swinging Soft Hackles - FliesA soft hackle fly is a type of wet fly – it is not a nymph, streamer or dry. The idea is to present a pattern that looks like an aquatic insect below the surface – perhaps a diving caddis, a spent mayfly spinner, a mayfly emerger or even an attractor – which the fish can better see under the surface.  The soft hackle typically has a longer, spidery-like construction that when fished under the surface and across the river, moves and undulates, looking like natural food.

Have you ever let your dry fly straighten out downstream below you and swing back and forth below the surface as you talked with a friend, looked at some wildlife or fumbled through your vest, only to have a fish eat? That is essentially swinging a wet fly. In those situations we often laugh that the only way to catch fish is by not trying, but think about it – your fly at that moment is presented in a specific way and it conjured up a strike. Why not focus on presenting a fly in that manner?

Where:

Swinging Soft Hackles - RiffleThis method needs the current to help swing the fly across likely holding water. Riffle sections are ideal, especially when a caddis hatch has either occurred recently or is occurring.  Fishing above likely fish- holding water, or even where you know fish are, is ideal.

Ever witness fish barely breaking the surface or even just “bulging” the water upward? That is indicative of a fish focused on eating emergers;  swinging a soft hackle when you don’t have an emerger pattern can be the ticket.

How:

Swinging Soft Hackles - Step Down Hang DownOne of the reasons this presentation often works so well is because when done right, it covers the water very systematically and thoroughly.  In a typical situation, the angler casts at about 45 degrees downstream. A powerful stop of the rod, keeping your rod tip high, will ensure that the line, leader and ultimately the fly will straighten. If fishing where the current is uniform, the water pushes the line, swinging the fly downstream and across the river.  Lower your tip and track the fly as it swims across the river.

When your line has straightened out downstream – known as the “Hang Down” – don’t be so eager to recast. Let the water weave, bob and undulate the fly in the current for a few seconds. Often fish will follow the fly around and eat it at this point. Try lifting your rod tip up and down or even taking a few short strips upstream to entice some action – this is basically the presentation of Tenkara fishing – presenting a pattern straight down stream.

After a cast or two, take a step or move the boat downstream to make sure the water is being fished by your presentation. When fishing an expansive riffle, the strike can come anywhere, but if fishing mixed water with varying structure (submerged logs, a large rock, deeper run, hole, etc.) you will want to make sure you fish it effectively and controlled.

Swinging Soft Hackles - Controlled SpeedWhen multiple current speeds and seams make up the run, we may need to mend the line to control the speed of the fly and make sure the fly is downstream of the leader and line. If the fly moves significantly fast, it appears unnatural and might seem to the fish like too much work to chase. Rather than add additional line to the mend, we more or less want to steer the line by placing it either upstream or downstream depending on the situation to slow or speed the swing.

Because we are fishing a “tight” line – that is with virtually no slack in it – there is no mistaking when a fish takes. The jolt is part of the fun, but it can be frustrating if you don’t expect it and react with a heavy hook set, pulling the fly from the fish or even launching smaller fish skyward. Instead, anticipate the strike and raise the rod tip smoothly when you feel the bite- it’s as easy as that, but difficult to do at the same time.

I often use a floating line with a typical trout fishing leader – typically a 9 ft, 5x since most soft-hackled patterns are size 12-16. If fishing fast and/or deep water, sometimes a sinking leader can be used to bring that fly just a little deeper in the water column – still with a 5x tippet. Rod size is your preference – typically longer 8’6″ or 9 ft. rods are better because they allow you to control the presentation better, but if fishing smaller water, a shorter rod works, too.

Swinging for Steelhead

Swinging Soft Hackles - Spey CastingEver think about learning how to swing flies for steelhead, possibly using a two-handed or spey rod?

Well, this essentially is the same concept and approach – presenting a fly, sub-surface, through likely fish-holding water and doing so controlled in regards to speed and leading with the fly. In fact, learning how to fish for trout by swinging soft hackles will help you improve your technique when going after steelhead with intentions of swinging a fly.

More on fishing Soft Hackles and Wet Fly fishing:

Common Patterns:

Partridge and Orange, Partridge and Yellow, March Brown, Partridge and Peacock, Pheasant Tail, Crackleback, Galloup’s Rusty Sunk Spinner

Books:

“Wet Flies: Tying and Fishing Soft-Hackles, Winged and Wingless Wets, and Fuzzy Nymphs” By Dave Hughes

“The Soft-Hackled Fly” and “The Soft Hackled Fly Addict” by Sylvester Nemes

On-line article:

“The Soft Hackle Wet Fly – Back to Basics” By Jack Gartside

“When Nothing’s Rising” By John Gierach

soft hackled flies, swinging soft hackles, trout, trout in michigan, wet fly fishing

Spring Fishing Slowly Gets Here

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 13, 2014

The last few days have felt very spring-like with warmer temperatures, numerous rain showers and even a few mayflies. With rivers running full, trout anglers will find the streamer fishing to be ideal with slightly stained water and a tendency for the fish to be out feeding on all the food drifting downstream.  Trout can be in feeding lanes where a streamer can either entice or elicit one of those big brown trout to play – a worm/night crawler/lamprey looking pattern will do the former where a big articulated pattern designed to draw out a predatory response will do the latter. It can take a lot of casts between fish, but often the fish can be substantial when casting the big rods and the big flies. Patterns tied in either yellow or black are a good place to start.

Some Hendricksons have been coming off on the Manistee with some fish coming up to eat as the water temperatures increase. Bug density and surface activity will increase in the weeks ahead and look for a lot of the other bugs to overlap as emergence schedules condense as the late start to Spring rights itself. Other bugs to be prepared for right now include black caddis, blue wing olives and black quills.  Check out the Borcher’s Emerger if you haven’t already – it’s a good pattern that represents a number of different bugs when tied in various sizes.

Steelhead continue to come into local rivers, but we are well past peak as fish trickle in and leave fast with water temps in the 50s. Smaller rivers like the Platte, Boardman and Betsie have fewer fish in them while the big Manistee with a heavier flow of water has been a little more consistent. The steelhead are mostly on the spawning gravel and the drop-back fish are resting in the bigger holes and runs eating big before heading back to the lake. These drop-back fish are ideal for the two-handed caster looking to swing into fish.

The trout in the Manistee below Tippy are still close to the dam and the spawning steelhead taking advantage of their eggs as food. Look for the streamer fishing down there to pick up over the next week as fewer steelhead are around and the big sturgeon have them feeling uncomfortable in the gravel sections where they are spawning.

Lake fishing for bluegill and panfish is on the cusp of starting. Some local lakes with shallow depths and dark bottoms have just begun but most of the fishing is behind since it wasn’t that long ago that they were still covered with ice. Look for this fishing to kick off over the next week also.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout – May is a great time for mayfly emergences and streamer fishing before June’s Drakes, Isonychias & Hex.
Hatches and Big Bugs – Few dates remain in June for the big bugs – Isos, Drakes and the Hex.
Steelhead and Salmon 
– While Spring is late getting here, it’s not too early to reserve your Fall Dates.

Betsie, bluegill, boardman, borchers emerger, hendricksons, manistee river, platte, steelhead, streamer fishing, trout

Early May Fishing – Steelhead and Trout

Posted by Ted Kraimer - May 7, 2014

Things are starting to feel and look a little more like Spring lately. The grass is greener, buds are popping and the thermometer has been north of 50 degrees a few times.  There is no doubt that we are a couple weeks behind on Spring getting here in earnest as the skim ice that formed on the Bay the other night demonstrated the reality. But there is hope.

The forecast calls for a continuation of warmer temps and some rain which will improve fishing. Trout fishing has been tough on the Manistee as the fish continue to stay sub-surface eating free-drifting worms and waiting for the water temps to increase and more mayflies on the surface. It is really the time for the streamer fisherman as the fish are hungry, predatory and not looking up too much. I suspect that with the warmer days predicted ahead conditions will align and we will start seeing some more bugs on top – most notably the anticipated Hendricksons. This can be a favorite time of year for anglers – covering the water with streamers then switching over to dry fly rods when the bugs stat coming off.  Have some ‘Henies”  in your box along with black stones, black caddis, and blue wing olives. In the month ahead look for a number of bugs/emergences to overlap and be condensed as conditions and calendars synchronize.

Steelhead fishing has declined a little as the warmer water temps pretty much encouraged a lot of the fish to do their deed and leave.  With the absence of a significant rain there doesn’t seem to be a push of fresh fish entering the system, but rather a trickle of chromers. The warmer weather has made fishing pleasant and a few steelhead to hand makes it that much better. The Betsie and Manistee have cleared up nicely leaving a slight stain to the water – temps are around 50 degrees.  Now is a good time for the two-hand casters to get out and focus on drop-back steelhead as they tend to put the feed bag back on before returning to the lake. Trout fishing below Tippy dam is starting up but majority of the trout are still behind the spawning steelhead eating eggs.

Good luck,

Ted

Steelhead -While it is currently Spring Steelhead time, it’s also time to book your fall steelhead dates.
Trout – May is a great time for mayfly emergences and streamer fishing before June’s Drakes, Isonychias & Hex.
2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

Betsie, black caddis, blue wing olives, chromers, drop back, hatches, manistee, steelhead, streamer, trout, two hand casters

Lower, High Water Steelhead Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 21, 2014

After a long week of really high water and a bunch of cancelled trips the river levels have returned to just “high water” conditions on the Manistee, Betsie and Boardman Rivers.  All that rain last week really brought a lot of run-off when combined with the snow that had been lingering around and in some cases, reaching new or close-to new stream-flow records.  While the water level has decreased, you will find the water to be highly stained with limited visibility as well as a few collapsed river banks, new trees in the water and a new look to some of your favorite sections of water.

Steelhead – both fresh run and spawning fish are in the Manistee below Tippy dam, but you better know where they are since visibility is so poor. Providing we don’t get more rain, it should continue to improve in the days ahead.  In the high water, really big egg patterns and big stones worked, and as clarity improves average sized eggs (6 & 8, Oregon cheese/orange), caddis and fry patterns have been working. We are still fighting the fish as much as we are the high water so try some heavier leader and hold on. I suspect the steelhead will offer us good angling opportunity through the first half of May.

This Saturday marks the beginning of Trout season in Michigan. After a number of average and sub-average winters and good opening days, anglers will find conditions to be behind a few weeks this year thanks to a long brutal Winter and a slow start to Spring. The water is up a bit and cooler than we would like.

Water temperatures are warming up into the upper 40’s on the upper sections of rivers with virtually no bug activity/emergences. Some warmer weather over the next couple of weeks will help get things on track. In the meantime, if headed to your favorite trout river/stream, make sure you have some streamers – always a great bet in the early season to feed unpressured and hungry fish. Pike, Walleye, early Bass and Musky season also opens, but be aware, most of the local lakes are still covered in ice.

Please practice catch and release.

Good luck,

Ted

The Spring 2014 Newsletter just went out – click here to read or subscribe.

Steelhead -While it is currently Spring Steelhead time, it’s also time to book your fall steelhead dates.
Trout – May is a great time for mayfly emergences and streamer fishing before June’s Drakes, Isonychias & Hex.
2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

Betsie, caddis, egg patterns, Manistee below Tippy Dam, oregon cheese, steelhead, stones, trout, trout season in Michigan
«‹910111213›»
Lessons - Learn to Fly Cast or Improve

Casting Lessons

About Ted Kraimer Fishing Guide

About Your Guide, Ted Kraimer

Testimonials

Guide Trips - Fly Fishing Float Trips

Guide Trips & Pricing

Fish & Seasons

Bluegill, Panfish and Bass Fly Fishing on Local Lakes Near Traverse City

Bluegill / Panfish / Bass

King Salmon Fly Fishing - Betsie River Near Traverse City

Salmon

Carp Fishing West Grand Traverse Bay

Golden Bones / Carp

Fall Steelhead Manistee River

Steelhead

Fly fishing for smallmouth bass Manistee River and Northern Michigan Lakes

Smallmouth Bass

Trout Fishing Manistee River near Traverse City Michigan

Trout

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

© 2024 Current Works, LLC — All rights reserved
  • Home
  • Guide Trips & Pricing
  • Fishing Report
  • Fish & Seasons
  • Rivers & Hatches
  • Fly Tying
  • Articles
  • Gallery
  • About
  • Sitemap