Steelhead fishing on the Manistee and Betsie Rivers has been slower than normal for this time of year.
While we have received some rain events over the past two weeks, the fish haven’t showed up in significant numbers, but rather just a trickle of fresh fish. Because the land is dry (lack of snow pack, swamps half-filled, dry ground) the river levels only come up briefly before returning to low and clear conditions. Migratory steelhead like to ascend rivers when the water is up and dirty. I asked a customer who has fished with me each Spring the past 16 years when the last time he saw the river this clear, this time of year and he replied, “never”.
The lack of rain in the forecast likely means the low water and low fish numbers will continue until more water comes. The absence of other species in the river that also migrate upstream this time of year haven’t shown up in numbers either and that gives us faith that there are still more steelhead to come.
With the clear conditions, the same flies from previous weeks seem to be working better than others – small, natural egg patterns, small black stones, small green caddis and fry patterns.
Good luck.
Ted
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