As November comes to an end along with the Fall season, we find river and fishing conditions to be about what you’d expect for this time of year.
Water levels are running on the low and clear side of things which makes stealthy presentations a little more crucial. The unprecedented warm water temps we experienced this Fall have dropped significantly in the past week thanks to a snowstorm and cold temps; look for the thermometer to read around 40 degrees. When the water gets colder, the steelhead tend to shift and seek the slower water on the other (slower) side of the bubble line. Most of the snow is gone and stable temperatures are in the forecast so fishing should remain decent as we head into December.
Egg patterns continue to be an effective approach but egg and nymph combos become more common as the fish get off that egg bite with fewer salmon eggs drifting down river systems like the Manistee and Betsie. Steelhead buggers and medium sized black/brown stoneflies are always good choices this time of year.
Fish numbers have been o.k. the past few weeks. After the strong start to the season, we have had to work a little harder to bend the rod. This is the time of year that all three ways to present flies will work – duck and chuck, indicator/float, and swinging. And fish have been easier to land as the cooler temps take some of the near uncontrollable rambunctiousness out of them.
Good luck,
Ted
Fall Steelhead – Finish the season with what started the season – Steelhead! A few dates in late Nov. are open.
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