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Posts tagged "trout"

Seductive Streamer Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 9, 2012

Seductive Streamer Fishing Brown Trout Success IThe days of casting a large streamer to the bank and stripping it back aggressively with fish attacking in territorial response are diminishing.  Sure, fish still move into the shallows of low light and stained water, and even play our game some days. But years of angler conditioning has some of the larger fish a little smarter, or laying a little deeper, and often in more structure.

Always adaptive, we now fish with heavier lines and have developed even larger flies — heavily weighted and often accessorized like a Dallas Trophy Wife. While effective, this extension of trophy streamer fishing often goes beyond some anglers’ abilities and/or preference to fish. Considering there are more days when conditions include clear water and plenty of daylight, it pays to have an alternative approach — “Seductive Streamer Fishing.”

Tournament Bass Fishing and Trout Fly Fishers

There seems to be a dichotomy between the fly fisher and bass angler, but yet, the two have so much in common. The fly angler can learn a lot from the guys in the glitter boats, since they often have more at stake when fishing in large-purse tournaments and gathering sponsorships. They simply can’t afford not to catch fish.

Seductive Streamer Fishing - Bass Angler Crossover

Chris Sausman, sales rep for Shimano & G. Loomis,
applies his bass fishing skills to fly fishing trout.

If you have watched fishing shows on TV you have seen where large, flashy spinner baits (think big streamers) catch aggressive and often big fish. But if you have watched enough programs, specifically tournament coverage, it’s the plastic bait presentation (worms, tubes, grubs,  salamanders, etc.) that seems to be the bread-winner time and time again. Why? When conditions change or when fishing pressured water, having a kinder, gentler presentation is effective, especially when fish aren’t aggressively feeding.

How often do you get to the river after a cold-front moves in, when an east wind is present, water temperatures have dropped, or  when “sterile ditch syndrome”  sets in — when the fish are simply in an ornery mood, and you aren’t even sure there are any fish? Adapt your streamer presentation to get fish to eat despite these conditions.

Seductive  Presentation

Seductive Streamer - Target Rich

Pull fish from cover with subtle but seductive retrieves.

If you have ever watched a runway model move down the platform, you know they aren’t running, but rather walking and “working-it,” often seductively to garner attention and a desired reaction. The angler’s finesse of a twitch, the drop of the presentation, the erratic flutter and motion of plastics tends to seduce fish to eat, even when not in a feeding mood. Why?  Because it looks natural and is easy to pounce on without having to chase it.

This is where seductively presenting a streamer, slowly, thoroughly and with a lot of movement and action in and around structure or other likely holding water brings fish to the net – even when the heavy-handed approach of big flies can comes up short.

Presentation and Fly Tips For Seductive Streamer Fishing

Seductive Streamer Fishing - Lighter Lines II

Use lighter density & shorter sink-tips or floating lines.

Use lighter Line. Presenting these flies on lighter, shorter sink-tips helps keep they fly from going immediately to the bottom and allows you to dance, twitch and otherwise flutter the fly. Readjust and fish specific portions of the water rather than trying to cover as much water as possible.

Get jiggy with it.  When fishing shallower and/or log-infested water, I often fish a floating line with a bead-headed fly and longer leader (9-plus ft.). When accompanied by thoughtful mending of the line, this keeps the presentation vertical — moving up and down the water column (like a jig), as opposed to streaking across the river (fast moving spinner bait). The floating line option is also a great approach for anglers wading and switching back and forth between dry flies and streamers. Just remember to tie your streamer on with a little stronger tippet as the structure and size of the fish typically demand it.

Seductive Streamer - Flies with Weight

Fish flies of various weights and sizes
with lots of movement.

Work it. Often the flies fished on lighter sink-tips and floating lines are visible, so you can watch your fly and manipulate it by mends, rod-hops and short-strips. Work the fly as needed and pay attention to how the fish react. When you find something that works, continue that approach, and if a fish is following the fly but not eating, try small variances in your retrieve/strip to elicit the strike. This isn’t much different from the saltwater angler presenting to fish on the flats — “check” often results in “check-mate,” but it takes two to play that game. You want to be the one with the upper hand.

Don’t forget the middle. Depth and structure can be found in the center of the river, so be sure to swim a fly broadside and dance it through these overlooked  areas. Not only does the center of the river hold fish, but most anglers are programmed to only cast to the banks, leaving many of these fish unpressured and uneducated.

Seductive Streamer - Fish The Middle

This fish was caught in the middle of the river.

Go Slow in cold water. As water temperatures cool in the fall and remain cold throughout winter, fish are often lethargic and almost hibernating state. The slow moving fly that stays in their zone longer and looks inviting tends to be more successful than the quickly stripped streamer.  If you are going to serve them up something big to eat, make it easy for them.

Fish natural to flashy. Flies for this type of streamer fishing can vary from realistic patterns of a natural food sources, to suggestive patterns of multiple food sources, or to something bright and attractive that aggravates the fish. My go-to strategy is usually to imitate the natural food source first. Then, if not overly successful, go to something a little more provocative. lethargic and almost hibernating state. The slow moving fly that stays in their zone longer and looks inviting tends to be more successful than the quickly stripped streamer.  If you are going to serve them up something big to eat, make it easy for them.

Seductive Streamer - Motion Enhanced Streamer

Weighted flies with materials like rubber legs
or marabou help provide a lot of action.

Use flies with lots of action. Using a fly that incorporates materials with inherit action and motion is key.  Rubber legs, marabou, flashabou, soft hackle, bunny-bou strips, schlappen, wispy synthetics and countless other appropriate materials make fly tying limitless in design possibilities. Consider taking your favorite big-ass trophy streamer and down-sizing it. A well-stocked fly shop should offer non-tiers a variety of streamers to fit your needs.

Use weight.  Seek out the weighted patterns that incorporate cones, beads or dumbbell eyes. The jigging motion created by weight combined with the current’s force on action-packed materials is deadly. Having a few flies with tungsten weights incorporated can really help to get a fly down if necessary.

Seductive Streamer Brown Trout Success II

Add worm weights.  Take a page out of the bass fisherman’s playbook – add seductive lift and drop motion to the retrieve by using sinkers designed for fishing plastics. Slide on the line and let the sinker either rest above the fly (put a small plastic bead between it and the knot), or peg it to the line with a toothpick above the fly for even more action. The larger the weight, the more difficult the casting — seek the lighter 1/32 and 1/16 oz sizes.

Lighten up. You can still use the larger rods associated with streamer fishing, but the smaller flies don’t require power. The need to be more responsive and deliberate with the presentation often is easier with a lighter rod – 5 and 6 weights are ideal.

Change it up. Some days big streamers fished on heavy lines is really effective, but suddenly it can stop working. After your rotation of favorite patterns fails to turn the good fishing back on, adjust your tackle and implement the seductive streamer technique. You might find the fish are still on the bite, just not as aggressive as they were earlier.

Seductive Streamer Fishing Stillwater

Use these techniques for more fish than trout.

Fish stillwater. Use this approach when fishing stillwater – for more than just trout or even bass. Fish are fish, and the versatile, adaptive and observant angler is usually successful. Adding significant action near structure can result in takes for the same reason the plastics angler catches bass  — it stays close and looks tempting.

With streamer fishing really becoming more commonplace the past 10 years, it seems the fish have taken note of those big flies and have become less participatory. When faced with clear conditions and/or cold water, alter your approach. Adjust your tackle and target specific waters to work fish out of structure when they aren’t aggressively feeding. Slowly and seductively moving your fly in likely fish holding water can mean the difference between possibly catching an aggressive fish or just catching fish.

More tips for streamer fishing »

bass, current works guide service, fly fishing, fly pattern, manistee, presenting a streamer, streamer fishing, traverse city fly fishing guide, trophy streamer fishing, trout

Not Enough – Rain or Salmon

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 10, 2012

We received some rain however it wasn’t enough to really make a difference in the number of salmon in local rivers. Simply put: things are slow on the Betsie river and the Manistee isn’t much better. Summer weather remains problematic for changing things and the lack of significant amounts of rain and continuing drought is keeping our salmon migration on hold.  When we do get a heavy rain, look for fish to swim upstream in biblical proportions. Until then, cover lots of water and look for cloudy days to be better as the few fish in the  river systems are hiding in the wood  when its sunny and the water clear.

Trout fishing is o.k.  right now on the upper Manistee with terrestrial fishing remaining one’s best bet as the summer conditions are making for happy grasshoppers. All things rubber -legged and attractor-like should receive priority in your fly choice. Streamer fishing has been o.k. on those rare days when the clouds are out and when fishing streamers in the low water conditions, fish your smaller patterns for your best success.  Few natural bugs are on the water including: beetles, some flying ants, BWOs and small Isonychias.

Good luck,

Ted

 The latest newsletter recently went out – click here to read and/or sign up for delivery

Salmon: Salmon fishing season extends through September. Limited dates available.
Steelhead: The end of September means it’s time to focus on fall steelhead through November.
Fall Trout:  Fish the Upper Manistee  throughout fall or Lower Manistee in late October and through November.
Booking for all 2013 Seasons and through August – reserve your place in the boat.

betsie river, manistee river, salmon, terrestrial fishing, trout

Summer Continues, Fall Approaching

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 27, 2012

As kids prepare to return to school, salmon have their annual fall migration in mind as they  return to rivers. Numbers of fish are light due to the return of warm weather and the lack of rain with some fish in the Manistee and Betsie Rivers. Look for things to really change after a significant rainfall as good numbers of fish are staged at river mouths. Early season king salmon offer some exciting streamer fishing for those willing to put in the time casting large streamers with heavy sink-tips. As the days continue to get shorter, the fish will build in numbers and nymph fishing becomes our go-to method.

Trout fishing has been o.k. the past week with the fish feeling better with the cooler water temps. It has been a long season and the fish are getting smarter, naturally, so think about mixing up your approach and presentation. Small streamers fished on floating line is a good alternative to try. Terrestrial fishing has slowed but some good fish are still coming up from time to time to eat that rubber-legged hopper pattern or attractor. Very few bugs have been on the water however you will want some isonychias, cleons/bwos, flying ants, beetles and Lt. Cahills in your fly box.

The bass fishing in lakes remains good. Both top-water and sub-surface presentations have been working;  I usually start off with top-water. Swimming frog/baitfish patterns do a good job of fishing both the surface and subsurface. With the warm-up, look for fish to concentrate near weed beds and drop-offs.

Good Luck,

Ted

The latest newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or sign up for delivery

Salmon: Salmon season extends through September. Limited dates available.
Steelhead: The end of September means it’s time to focus on fall steelhead through November.
Fall Trout:  Fish the Upper Manistee  throughout fall or Lower Manistee in late October and through November.
Booking for all 2013 Seasons and through August – reserve your place in the boat.

Betsie, isonychias, manistee, salmon, trout

Cooler Days, Cooler Nights and Cooler Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 16, 2012

After a long, warm summer, some cooler weather has settled over the region and changed the fishing up a bit.

Some recent rain has improved the streamer fishing for trout on the Upper Manistee. Water levels are still low and clear so adjust and use a smaller streamer pattern than what is often used in the high, dirty water in the spring and early summer.  Dry fly action has improved since the last report and cold-front with the fish looking up for terrestrials: hoppers, beetles and flying ants. If the pattern has foam and rubber legs, use them and try putting a lot of action into the fly to conjure up a rise.  The morning Trico hatch is winding down but you will still want some of those flies with you if you are heading to the river in the mornings. BWO’s, Cahills and Isonychias have been about the only thing hatching and by no means are they prolific, but the fish do notice them more some days than others.

Last week’s winds brought some cooler water near shore and with that comes salmon. Some fish have trickled into the Manistee and Betsie Rivers with more to come in September as their spawning urge kicks-in, the nights get cooler and the days get shorter. Early King salmon can provide some of the best streamer fishing we can experience in Michigan but this –like “trophy trout” streamer fishing is a quality thing, not a quantity thing. Of course there are exceptions to the rule. Look for fish to be in the lower sections of rivers “holed-up” wondering what to do now that they are in shallow water and not crashing bait.

Lake fishing continues to offer good fishing for those looking to get their still-water and bass fix. Largemouth bass continue to eat both surface and sub-surface flies  and on the cloudy days, they seem to be in shallower and feeding more aggressively.  Smaller poppers have been working better than the big, loud ones and the edges of lily pads are a great place to start. Bluegill and panfish are still eager to come to the fly on the surface for someone looking to catch a bunch of fish on top. The bigger gills have gone deep and are hard to get with fly gear – look for them to move in shallow in low-light conditions as the water’s cool.

Smallmouth bass are still an option for those looking to fish rivers.  The Manistee has been fishing best with baitfish patterns fished on a light sink-tip being the best fly lately. Half-and-halfs, murdich’s minnows, whistlers and circus peanuts in white are worth having in your box.

Good Luck,

Ted

The latest newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or sign up for delivery

Trout: Terrestrials & Trico hatches in  August – start your mornings off on a cool, quiet trout stream.
Salmon: The end of August begins our salmon season extending through September. Limited dates available.
Steelhead: The end of September means it’s time to focus on fall steelhead – extending though November
Booking for all 2012 Seasons and through June 2013 – reserve your place in the boat

bass fishing, betsie river, salmon, smallmouth bass, streamers, terrestrials, trout, upper manistee river

August Trout, Bluegill, Small and Largemouth Bass

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 5, 2012

With some cooler weather and intermittent rains, trout fishing conditions have improved and so has fishing. The upper-Manistee continues to fish well in the low-light of mornings with decent trico hatches. When no bugs are present, the foam and rubber leg terrestrial and attractor patterns like Chernobyl Ants and Grasshoppers have been catching fish. Beetles have been fishing better lately as have small flying ants. Dropper nymph rigs have been taking some fish in the deeper slots and holes. Focus on shade and structure. The Boardman has been running warm but early mornings on this local river are giving up some fish on the same flies listed above.

Largemouth bass and bluegill remain fun targets on local lakes for those looking to fish at all times of the day. More frogs, it seems, are around  and the bigger bass are taking note. Lily pads, weed beds  and other heavy cover/structure are great places to target with frog patterns and other poppers, sliders and divers.  Bluegill are pretty much throughout the lakes  with the bigger fish found deep where nymphs and small streamers like damsels and leeches are working when sunk on a long leader and slowly striped back.

Smallmouth bass fishing on the lower Manistee remains an option for those willing to cast streamers on sink-tips. Baitfish patterns have been working best and look for the crayfish bite to increase.  In low-light and shadows, try poppers for surface action, but look for the sub-surface presentation to be most effective. A few salmon have slipped into the river so should your baitfish streamer get slammed – hold on tight to that 6 or 7 weight rod.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout: Terrestrials & Trico hatches in  August – start your mornings off on a cool, quiet trout stream.
Salmon: The end of August begins our salmon season extending through September. Limited dates available.
Steelhead: The end of September means it’s time to focus on fall steelhead – extending though November
Booking for all 2012 Seasons and through June 2013 – reserve your place in the boat

bass, boardman, fly fishing the manistee river, grasshoppers, largemouth bass, salmon, smallmouth bass, terrestrial fishing, trout
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