Some rain last week gave the rivers a nice little bump in water flow and some additional steelhead moving upstream from lake Michigan.
Clarity is still really good on the Manistee River below Tippy Dam, and is a little more stained on the Betsie River. Water temperatures have pretty much remained in the low 40-degree range as overnight temps and a lack of sunlight have kept things stable. With some significant rain in the forecast this week, water levels and clarity are likely to change.
The steelhead are mixed: from fresh fish moving upstream to spawning fish and drop-backs – all stages are within the river systems and be found in all kinds of water.
Smaller, natural color egg patterns and beads continue to be the first choice in the clear water. Shades and tones of yellow, gold nugget and steelhead orange have been productive. Fry patterns are starting to increase in effectiveness as salmon fry are starting to develop and swim making them prey to the steelhead as are the smaller stoneflies when the sun warms up that water just a bit and induces an emergence.
Good luck,
Ted
— PS: New, 2024 fishing licenses are required April 1 —
Trout Season – Mid-May into July offers some of the best match-the-hatch dry fly fishing of the season.
2024 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.