It’s mid-August and it feels like it’s the end of a lot of seasons. This time of year the months of long days, prolonged fishing pressure and water temperatures that are often elevated, can make the fish hard to find and/or engage.
Trout fishing continues to be more challenging than normal on the local rivers. The Trico hatches of mid-morning have been inconsistent the past month not providing the reliability of fun surface activity we expect this time of year. Terrestrial fishing has been o.k. but most days have been bright and sunny that combined with low water tends to drive fish to deep and/or dark places and not looking up at our flies.
If you hit the water on a cloudy or overcast day – you have picked a good day as the fishing tends to be much better with fish out and looking to eat. The foam and rubber legged patterns have been working with various size and colors, but the real big ones haven’t been working; like streamer patterns, word is out that the big ones hurt. A few flying ants have been around and are always worth tossing whether alone or as a dropper behind a larger, easier to see pattern.
The smallmouth bass fishing on rivers has gotten a little slower, too. We are still finding fish, it’s just not as consistent. The full-moon could be the reason why they aren’t eating as much but in rivers like the lower Manistee, it could be the presence of some early running salmon that have them off the bite as the smallies are no longer feeling like they are the top of the food chain. Classic baitfish streamers in white/gray have been most consistent, but yellow is a good back-up color to have in your box.
The lake and pond fishing, too, has slowed some. More so than ever, seek out the structure of weed beds and drop offs for your best chance at both bluegill/sunnys and largemouth bass. A very small weighted streamer fished on a floating line with a slow retrieve has been productive when the surface bite isn’t happening.
Good luck.
Ted
Learn to Fly Fish – Book a half-day trip with the idea of learning the basics in how to cast and fly fish.
Trout and Terrestrials – Start your day on a cool river fishing for trout with dry flies into September.
Fall Steelhead – Finish the season with what started the season – Steelhead! Good dates available in November