With March comes the longer days, a bit more sunshine, warmer weather and steelhead. Overnight temps are still well below freezing, but air temps have been inching up during the day and are forecast to continue – in step with the time of the year getting us closer to Spring conditions and more spring steelhead.
Water temperatures are still in the low 30’s and a majority of the fish in the Manistee and Betsie are winter fish along with the spirited skippers which are a harbinger of other chrome things to come. Some fresh fish are moving through the system as we approach the spring spawning season, but a sustained increase in temperature will really have an impact as snow will melt and rivers will rise bring with it a push of fresh steelhead.
Currently you will find o.k. numbers of fish, primarily in the deeper holes but in some slots and runs as well. A number of different flies are worth tying on: caddis, stones, steelhead buggers, alevin and fry patterns and tied in tandem with an egg fly. The water clarity on the Manistee has a slight green tinge to it while the Betsie a brown one – both rivers are running low. Take advantage of the sun and fish afternoons as water temps bump up and fish get a little more active.
Good Luck,
Ted
Spring Steelhead: Mid- March through April is a great time to chase Steelhead. Some dates available.
Trout: May & June’s Streamer and Dry Fly fishing is getting close – get in on some of the years best trout fishing.
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