Early November Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - November 3, 2015

We finally received a decent amount of rain and ideal winds late last week and with it came some much needed color to the water including some chrome. A few new steelhead moved through the system and are scattered throughout the Manistee as well a few in the Betsie River. It had been a while since the weather cooperated so it was good to see things go as planned, albeit late.

The forecast is calling for some odd weather – this week which should make the fishing comfortable which isn’t always the case in November. 70 degrees? It looks like the run will be very prolonged as fall progresses and water temperatures remain higher than normal. As it has been all season, the steelhead have been hard to land with the water temps hovering in the low 50’s so hang on tight.

Successful fly patterns have been varied, always with an egg pattern (orange and chartreuse variations), and sometimes two when fishing near the last of the salmon spawning on gravel. With a nymph bite starting to come on strong – caddis, buggers and big black stones have been fished well in conjunction with an egg pattern, also – especially when fishing the larger runs and deeper holes. With less eggs in the water this year due to low salmon numbers, look for the swing and streamer bite to be a little stronger, earlier this year.

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 continuing in Nov. & into December for steelhead on the Manistee.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

Betsie, Betsie river salmon fishing, caddis, egg pattern, fly fishing, fly patterns, manistee, steelhead, traverse city

Late October Trout and Steelhead Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 21, 2015

Even though some white stuff fell from the sky over the weekend, the warm weather trend started right up again, but not without some much needed rain and winds. The salmon fishing on the Manistee peaked last week, however there are some fresh fish still moving in – more should come throughout the month since the run has been so prolonged. We have kind of been spoiled that last few years with runs of fish being more condensed and “on schedule” with the calendar.

Just as more salmon came in, more steelhead entered the Manistee, however numbers are still lower than what they should be for this time of year. Look for the water to be very clear requiring fluorocarbon leaders and realistic egg patterns when fishing around spawning salmon. The nymph bite has improved the past week with caddis and steelhead buggers working. Fishing should only improve as long as conditions – more precipitation and NNW winds – improve. The “leaf bite” has been relentless as peak colors are taking place in the river corridor right now and making their way to the water.

The trout fishing on the upper Manistee is mixed. There are a number of spawning brown trout doing their all too important duty right now to ensure future fish for that section of water that relies on natural reproduction – please leave them alone rather than target them. Not all browns are spawning – some are still in pre-spawn mode and are eating streamers – brook trout color patterns are working well when fished on either light sink-tips or floating lines. With the recent warm up, the last of the terrestrials are around the water – its a good time to fish beetles, bees/yellow jackets and other mid-sized rubber legged patterns on top providing there aren’t too many leaves and pine needles on the surface.

Good luck.

Ted

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.

brook trout, manistee, salmon, spawning brown trout, steelhead, streamer fishing, trout

Mid October Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 12, 2015

Even though we are approaching the mid-point of October, the weather feels far from it and the fish have been acting accordingly; migratory salmon continue to trickle into local rivers like the Manistee and Betsie. Most fish are moving in and hitting the spawning gravel immediately rather than staging in deep holes in the lower river systems so look for fish in the pocket water near gravel for your best salmon fishing right now. Color change on the trees is just starting in some areas – which is also later than normal, so look for color season to be prolonged also.

The water levels are low and clear and are running warm for this time of year – the Manistee is just below 60 degrees and when things change – that is, we receive some significant rainfall and water temps drop – a good push of fish should move in. Last week’s rain mostly went into the ground and didn’t increase levels much but the forecast is calling for more rain and favorable North and Northwest winds which should only help get more fish to move upstream. Some steelhead are around but like the salmon, not in the numbers we typically expect this time of year. Those who keep their flies moving and keep at it are typically the ones rewarded with chrome and a lot of fin-attitude. Then again, the steelhead have been hard to land with the temps beings so warm but that’s one of the reasons we like to fish for them so much.

The trout fishing has been a little slower than normal for this time of year – also because of the weather. The water is low and clear so stealth is paramount. Streamer fishing the bigger sections of rivers with some meaty looking fly patterns are getting some pre-spawn browns to play, but like anytime of the year – keep the flies moving and stay positive – you are only one cast away. Terrestrial fishing continues thanks to the warm weather but mix it up and when there are a lot of leaves and other debris floating down the river, the surface fishing really slows and it’s time to tie on a streamer.

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, manistee, rivers, salmon, steelhead, streamer

October Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 1, 2015

Fishing hasn’t improved a whole lot since the last report. There are salmon around in local rivers, but they are not as numerous as we have come to expect for this time of year – the first of October.

The Betsie has a few fresh fish moving through it but the majority of they are either spawning or getting real close to starting that process. Surely, the numbers of salmon are down in Lake Michigan, but I think we are really experiencing the effects of unprecedented warm weather the past month. Thankfully, after some low nightly temps in the 30’s lately, we are seeing things change as water temps in the Manistee drop (low 60s) and a few days of Northerly winds will help push water and fish near the river mouths. Look for salmon to move through the rivers over the next couple of weeks with some steelhead mixed in.

Trout fishing is about the same, too. With the cool nights, get a mid-day start to let the water warm a bit. It’s the last of the terrestrial fishing on the surface and some BWOs are showing up and some fish noticing. Brook trout are vibrant right now and the browns are in a pre-spawn behavior – it’s not a bad time to cast a streamer but with the clear water, try doing it with either a small sink-tip or floating line on the smaller sections of river and going big on the larger, deeper sections.

Keep in mind that Trout Season is now closed on a number of rivers and/or sections thereof. Click here for MI-DNR regulations.

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.

betssie, brook trout, bwo, manistee, salmon

“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