Fishing Report

Full On Fall

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 9, 2014

With the trees in full color and our first frost behind us, there is no denying that fall is here. What isn’t here are the usual number of fish – both salmon and steelhead in the local rivers.

With a good wind on the Lake yesterday more fish should congregate near the river mouths and start heading upstream with the solid river flows. Water levels have come down close to normal again after last week’s deluge however there is still a slight stain to the water which is a good thing.

The Manistee has the highest concentration of salmon, steelhead, and anglers right below Tippy Dam. Fish are sparsely scattered in the lower river but with enough casts in enough water you should find some fish. A few fresh salmon have shown up in the past week and the steelhead continue to trickle in. Once hooked, you will know it as these fish continue to impress as they demonstrate their jumping qualities and sometimes the color of your backing. Egg flies in #4 and #6 have been working but as the water continues to clear up the smaller #8 and #10’s should start working better – at least near and around the spawning salmon. This is the time to fish a lot of eggs as you “Match the Hatch“.

The Betsie still has salmon in it and an errant steelhead or two. Like the Manistee, the water below the dam (Homestead) is popular with fish and fisherman. Cover water and fish the slots and runs near spawning fish for fresh fish and a possible steelhead.

With archery deer season going and the full moon deer activity to and from the river has increased so be careful when driving.

Good luck,

Ted

Open dates through Mid-November: November 11 and 13

Trout – With fall here have the Upper Manistee River and its trout all to yourself.
Fall Steelhead– From now through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.
2015 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get your dates booked for next year – now booking for all seasons.

bettsie, egg patterns, fly fishing report, manistee, river, steelhead, tippy

October Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 2, 2014

[ Addendum/Update – 10/3/14: A significant amount of rain overnight and much of the day has resulted in high and dirty water in the region. Use caution and consideration if fishing. For more on the region’s river’s flow rate, click here for the USGS website ]

Another nice week of weather made for some good fishing, but marginal catching. Some days the steelhead and salmon played along nicely, other days they were simply not playing.

The Manistee has salmon in it and they are mostly on spawning gravel near Tippy Dam. There seems to have been a lull in the run as far as fresh fish moving up through the system but after an inch of rain today we are hopeful that some fish in the lake pointed themselves upstream along with some additional steelhead. Numbers of both species are less than normal for this time of year as water temps at the lake are still too warm to have fish concentrated and looking to move upstream. A lack of northerly winds on the lake the past two months – I believe – is largely behind the run being stalled. Some more seasonal weather is in the forecast which should help things get closer to normal.

The Betsie also has salmon in it and are mostly on gravel although being a smaller river it is easier to see some fish moving through the system and easier to target them. After the rain look for the water level to be up a little along with a little more of the “Betsie Stain” to add some color to it. I suspect the run on the Betsie will continue through much of October. Please keep in mind that the Betsie is a natural reproducing river and catch and release is important to a long-term and sustainable fishery.

With October comes the end of trout season on a number of rivers and sections there within. The upper Manistee and lower Manistee remain open and the fall colors have been great on the upper. With the rain today and the cooler weather, look for the streamer fishing to improve as fish are in their pre-spawn mood. Most of the Boardman is closed -check the DNR’s regulations on the other rivers for what remains open.

Good luck,

Ted

Open dates through Mid-November: November 11 and 13

betsie river, boardman, fly fishing, manistee, tippy dam, traverse city, trout

It’s Officially Fall (but it feels like summer)

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 25, 2014

The weather the past week has been really nice making for good fishing but marginal catching. Rather than some finger-less gloves in the morning, anglers are finding that sunblock is more appropriate – and the forecast calls for more of the same.

The Betsie continues to have a trickle of fish moving up it and a mix of migratory salmon in holes and some spawning on gravel. The water is stained, is cool and as the leaves start to turn – it definitely seems like fall except it is warm out.

The Manistee has had a few more fish move into it this past week and on the upper sections below the dam where gravel is most prevalent, salmon are starting their spawning ritual. And so are the usual suspects that like to fish this time of year. Both rivers have fish in the dark water staging and waiting for the optimum conditions before they spawn – these fish are the ones to target as they are more apt to take your fly. Look for the run to be a long pro-longed one this year with water temps at the lake still being off and the fish scattered throughout the big water.

The Upper Manistee trout fishing has been slower than it should be considering the warmer weather and the increase in terrestrial activity. Look for the high sun to make conditions tough but on those cloudy days – the fishing should be really good. Brook trout are approaching their spawning time and are downright vibrant in color – just like the trees that line the river bank; the colors in the CCC Bridge area are near peak right now.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout – With Labor Day behind us, have the Upper Manistee River and its trout all to yourself.
Fall Steelhead– From now through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.
2015 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get your dates booked for next year – now booking for all seasons.

Betsie, fall steelhead, manistee, salmon, traverse city, trout, upper-manistee

Trickle-In Effect

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 19, 2014

The nice weather is continuing to hang-on leaving us a little behind in weather and our run of migratory salmon. With the lack of consistent (or at least a few days) of North or Northwest winds to really drive the water up along the shoreline with the fish, the salmon will continue to trickle into the area rivers. It is looking to be a long run on the rivers this year.

The Betsie – with it’s cooler water (low 50s) – has fish in it but there are more to come. With the calendar advanced and the cool water temps, some fish are starting to begin their spawning while some fish remain in holes. For the bigger, brighter and fresher fish look for the deeper holes and pocket water to hold the aggressive fish – any consistent pattern this past week has been chartreuse with orange egg patterns and black stone flies but since they are salmon, sometimes you have to go through the fly box to find what might work on that particular day.

The Manistee also has some fish in it, but there are many more in the lake that need to point themselves upriver to improve the fishing. Looking at the forecast, I don’t necessarily see that happening but there are fish to be caught – just not as many as there should be for this time of year. A steelhead or two are within the river and like the salmon, these numbers will only increase with time.

Trout fishing reports have been mixed on the Upper Manistee. The higher water levels offered some good streamer fishing however it has slowed with the water dropping and getting closer to normal. Look for this weekend’s rain to change that. The nice weather in next week’s forecast should get the terrestrials back to the river’s edge and hopefully on the water to get the fish looking up – the late summer/early fall can be a great time with terrestrials on those days when the bugs are active in the warmth. This time of year you pretty much have the trout fishing to yourself – enjoy it.

Good luck,

Ted

The Fall 2014 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

Trout – With Labor Day behind us, have the Upper Manistee River and its trout all to yourself.
Salmon– A few great dates remain in mid-September for salmon fishing on the Betsie River.
Fall Steelhead– From the end of September through November – this is the time of year for Steelhead.

black stoneflies, egg patterns, fly fishing report, manistee salmon, salmon fishing, september

It’s Starting to Feel Like Fall Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 11, 2014

After last week’s heavy rain, conditions have improved but salmon numbers are still off. The water came up significantly but has also come down since and clarity has improved making it almost ideal conditions especially with bright skies. Today’s wind out of the north should help push fish closer to river mouths and get fish sniffing around looking for their native river and eventually head upstream. If anything it has been close to a month since we have had good north or north-west winds to get fish staged close which is why last week’s rain didn’t influence an abundant number of fish to migrate upstream. With today’s wind and rain it is starting to feel like fall and fall fishing.

There are some King/Chinook salmon in the Betsie and Manistee rivers but they have been hard to target as they have been on the move. Most years they stage very well but his year for some reason they haven’t been. There hasn’t been a predominate fly pattern that has been working better than another so mix it up and hold on tight when you do hook-up as they are still fresh and strong.

The trout fishing has been off a little on the upper Manistee thanks to the high volume of water. This can be a great time for the streamer angler as water temps continue to dip and the days get shorter. When the water is stained and the angling pressure is light some of those ornery browns slip out of their cover and can eat big.

Good luck,

Ted

The Fall 2014 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe.

betsie river, chinook, manistee river, salmon, trout

«‹52 53 54 55 56 ›»