After receiving a few days of rain, the salmon have taken notice and moved up the Betsie in better numbers than they had. Favorable winds pushed more fish closer to the shore and is exactly what we needed in both the Betsie and Manistee Rivers to improve fish numbers and the fishing.
Water levels came up a bit, but they are not high since levels were so low and the surrounding ground parched. Clarity is ideal and fish can be found in a mix of different types of water: holes, runs, and a few fish on gravel. With the rain, salmon were able to migrate over the shallow sandbar at Betsie lake near Frankfort which has done a pretty good job of keeping them in the lake so far this year. A little behind in schedule, the fish are moving through the system quickly making them hard to target as they are cruising upstream to prepare for their spawning ritual. Slots and funnels where fish need to swim are great places to target fish as are in the deeper holes near gravel as they stage and wait. Good flies lately have been: Caddis, Pheasant Tails, Buggers, Hex Nymphs and egg flies.
Good Luck,
Ted
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Salmon: Salmon fishing season extends through September. Limited dates available.
Steelhead: The end of September means it’s time to focus on fall steelhead through November.
Fall Trout: Fish the Upper Manistee throughout fall or Lower Manistee in late October and through November.
Booking for all 2013 Seasons and through August – reserve your place in the boat.