Trout
Traditionally Trout season begins the last Saturday of April and runs through September but some rivers like the Upper Manistee remains open year round. Within an hour's drive of Traverse City we have a number of trout rivers/streams Good hatches, beautiful scenery and great fishing. Here is what you can expect throughout the year.
This is the month to throw big streamers for some trophy fish. Streamer fishing has become widely known the past few years as an effective way to "hang the hog". Not necessarily for beginners, we cast big flies on heavy sink-tips for big fish. There is nothing like watching a 20-plus inch fish come out of nowhere and pounce on your fly. Hatches get going pretty strong by mid-month which includes: Hendricksons, Little Black Stone Flies and Caddis offering some really good dry fly fishing. With water temperatures rising and angling Streamer Eating Brown
pressure low, this is a great time to be
on the water.
June 
The "bug month", June has so many different aquatic insects popping that it can be maddening trying to determine what the fish are eating. Sulphurs, March Browns, Mahoganies, Tan Caddis, Borchers Drakes, Isonycias, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Big Stones, Brown Drakes, Grey Drakes and of course, the Hex (Hexagenia Limbata). Looking for dry fly fishing? Then this is a great month for you.
Hex fishing is the time of the year that 2-1/2" + mayflies hatch in the last
minutes of light and often continues Hex Fishing
the first couple of dark hours. With the
dark comes those night-time roaming brown trout feeding on the surface often making a noise that is hard to accept from something that typically is such a recluse. While the West is known for its Salmonfly Hatch, we have the Hex as our claim to fame. (Dates book early)
July - August 
Coming off of a very busy month of hatches, we look for the small Trico hatches in the morning to bring fish up to the surface. Grasshoppers and other terrestrial patterns come out of the box and on the water making for some fun and exciting fishing. Evenings typically produce some bug activity including Isonycias and others like Light Cahills and Blue Wing Olives.
Terrestrial Fishing
Night Time 
"Mousing" - the casting of big surface flies resembling mice and other surface disruptions can bring up those nocturnal brown trout which are out in the shallow flats looking to eat big without much work. Not necessarily for beginners, mouse fishing is for anglers who are looking for a unique opportunity to fish at night with glow-in-the-dark fly lines and big flies for big fish. Find out what the allure is to this fishing and remember to set the hook on the feel, not the sound!
Fishing with Mouse Patterns
September 
With kids back in school, college football on TV and the salmon in some rivers, Trout Rivers in the Traverse City / Northern Michigan region are yours to claim. Water temps have dropped and streamer fishing gets going again with some good terrestrial fishing on top. Enjoy the river and the changing tree colors with an opportunity to catch some trout just as nice looking puts a smile on everyone's face
Fall Colors & Solitude
Off-Season 
"Off-season" is September-November and March-April. When most anglers are in pursuit of steelhead or salmon hit the extended season rivers and have the trout water to yourself. Both the Manistee and Boardman Rivers have sections which are open all year. Sometimes we experience some warm-ups throughout the winter and often a change of a couple of degrees is enough to get some fish feeding. It’s always good to get out and get some fresh air, sunshine and hopefully a fish. Streamer fishing during ideal conditions in April can bring out the hibernating Take Advantage of Winter Warm-Ups
browns that are looking to eat big -
some of the largest fish of the year are taken at this time - before the traditional
trout opener arrives.
Obviously, being a fly fishing guide for trout in Northern Michigan can be a year-round endeavor with each of our distinct four-weather seasons that offering unique conditions to all anglers who fish the rivers and seasons.
Rivers
Local trout waters that Current Works offers guided fly fishing trips on include both the Upper and Lower Manistee and the Boardman river located close to Traverse City. For more information on these rivers, check out the
Rivers / Hatches section of the website.
Check out the local
Hatch Chart for additional bug details.
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