Mid-September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 16, 2018

At the mid-point of September, it has felt more like the middle of summer.

After a lot of rain the first part of the month the rivers came up and have since come down. The Betsie still has the “Betsie Stain” to it but reveals that there just aren’t as many salmon around as we are accustomed to this time of year. Temps in the 80s, bright skies and no wind has put the run of fish on hold while the fish already in the system are spread out. After a drop in temps, some wind and rain, look for things to change – there are more fish to migrate upstream based on the reports from the big lake. The Manistee has fish spread throughout it, too, with most of the fish holding in pools and waiting for water temps to drop.

Trout fishing continues and offers solitude not typically found on the salmon rivers. The upper Manistee is in good shape with clarity and temperatures making for decent terrestrial and small streamer fishing. The brook trout are vibrant in their colors and they will remain that way for another month until their spawning is complete later in fall. The bigger browns are starting to feel a little more comfortable and show themselves with the decrease in angling pressure. This time of year BWOs can give you a shot at some dry fly activity, but until then, go with the bigger “foam and rubber” bugs that not only suggest terrestrials but also serve as attractors.

Good luck.

Ted

betsie river, manistee river, salmon fishing, streamer fishing, terrestrrial fishing, trout fishing, upper-manistee

Late April Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 23, 2018

Boy what a difference a week makes. While last week had us thinking we were stuck in winter, the past few days have us thinking spring. Sunny skies and warmer temperatures has the water warming up just a bit after all that run-off from the snow increased water levels but kept the temp near 40 degrees on the Manistee below Tippy Dam with smaller rivers like the Betsie warming up into the mid-40s.

Water levels are ideal and have a nice stain to them making black flies stick out a little bit in the conditions. With stoneflies flying around it’s a good time to pull those out of the fly box again and tie them on. Caddis and fry patterns have taken some fish also. Egg patterns that have been working include smaller clown patterns and natural looking patterns like nuke eggs.

With the warmer water on the smaller rivers increasing so did a nice number of fish. The Manistee didn’t get as many fresh fish but there are still pre-spawn, spawning and post spawn fish around to play the game. Focus on migratory slots and the pocket water near spawning gravel for your best fishing.

This Saturday is the official start of Trout season throughout the state – for those headed out for “Opener” to keep with traditions, good luck and think streamers more than dry flies until the water warms up a bit more. With the warmer weather some of the smaller rivers could reach the critical low 50’s in time to trigger some Hendricksons but I would guess we are a good 10 days behind.

Good luck!

Ted

Steelhead & Trout Combo – The first two weeks in May can offer steelhead in the morning and trout after noon.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity. It’s also a great time to fish streamers for bigger trout.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betsie river, caddis, fly fishing steelhead michigan, fry patterns, hendricksons, manistee, steelhead fishing, stoneflies, streamers, tippy dam steelhead fishing, trout season

Mid-April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 16, 2018

It’s hard to believe that it’s the middle of April when looking at the snow, freezing rain and ice. Old man winter is being a little ornery and just won’t leave and allow what we expect weather wise this time of year. Late last week – before the winter storm – brought some expected April showers and we sure needed a boost in river flows as the Betsie and Manistee were running exceptionally low and clear.

The increased water has the rivers looking completely different – they are higher and dirty but still fishable. With the snow pack, I am guessing that the high and dirty will be around for a few weeks. Since we have been dealing with low water we still had not received a big push of steelhead on the Manistee and I suspect with the cooler water we should get a decent run of fish spread out over the next couple of weeks. I would expect to see the last of the steelhead move through on the Betsie over the next week or so. The Platte should fish good, too, with the extra flow of water.

Last week’s effective flies no longer apply with the new water conditions. Fill your fly box with big and bold egg patterns and nymphs that have a large profile including – steelhead/ice buggers, egg sucking leeches and sparkle stones.

Fish are a mixed bag right now – fresh fish, spawning fish, and drop back/post spawn fish. Fishing the holes around the gravel and migratory slots should be your best bet in targeting fish in the stained water.

Good luck.

Ted

Steelhead & Trout Combo – The first two weeks in May can offer steelhead in the morning and trout after noon.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity. It’s also a great time to fish streamers for bigger trout.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betsie river, fishing tippy dam, ice buggers, manistee river, steelhead, steelhead and trout, steelhead fishing tippy dam, stone

Mid March Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 17, 2018

As the sun radiates off the water and the chirp of birds in the background is equally welcomed, it’s apparent that the longer days and increased sunshine has Spring Steelhead fishing on angler’s minds. The local rivers including the Manistee and Betsie have a mixed bag of winter and fresh fish in them with even a few fish that have started to spawn. Fish are spread throughout river systems and the deep holes near sections of rivers with spawning gravel are great places to target as the fish are holding and waiting for a bump in water temperatures.

Water levels are normal – some might even consider them low for this time of year – since we have had so many thaws throughout the past few months resulting in minimal run off. There is a little snow in the woods so barring any heavy rains, look for water conditions to remain this way for a while. With the lack of run off the water has good clarity leaving most river systems fish-able throughout them helping to spread out any pressure. On those sunny days, try dropping tippet size.

Effective flies have been mixed without any one pattern out performing the other: egg flies in orange or chartreuse are good choices when tied in tandem with a nymph like a fry/alevin, caddis and hex patterns. [I wrote an article a while back talking about the top 5 steelhead flies for our Lake Michigan Tributaries – click here to read.]

Bottom bouncing/Duck and Chuck still gets anglers down to where the fish are on the bigger rivers and deeper water, and nymphing with floating lines is ideal on smaller rivers like the Betsie. Fishing under floats is a great way to cover a bubble line when the sun is out and the fish are hiding, allowing you to target water where wood and other structure requires your flies be suspended off the bottom.

Good luck.

Ted

The Spring Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe

Spring Steelhead – Now through April, get on the water for Spring’s first opportunity to bend the rod.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity and it’s also a great time for fishing streamers.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betsie river, bottom bouncing, caddis patterns, drift fishing steelhead, duck and chuck, fly patterns for steelhead, manistee river steelhead fishing, spring steelhead

Early March Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 1, 2018

March is here and so is an early start to the spring steelhead fishing. The winter – at times – has been just that – winter, but there have been plenty of thaws along the way pretty much leaving us without any snow, ice-free rivers and a favorable forecast.

River levels on the Manistee and Betsie are up a bit with some stain but that is pretty much normal for this time of year as some run-off works its way through the river systems kick-starting things. With the rising water levels and increased water temps, combined with a few days of sunshine, the steelhead are a little restless. Fish that have wintered over are moving around throughout river systems and getting closer to gravel sections but are still hanging out in the nearby deeper holes with a little less current moving through them. Fresh fish will trickle through the systems offering a mix bag of fish – from colored up winter fish to bright chromers.

With water temps still in the upper 30s, drag-free/Indicator and bottom-bounce presentations are your best bet. As is normally the case for late winter and spring steelheading, an egg pattern fished with a nymph is a great one-two approach. Egg patterns in orange combinations along with chartreuse combinations are ideal in the stained conditions. For nymphs, look for black stoneflies, caddis and alevin to produce.

Don’t put your snow shovels away just yet, but definitely get your fishing equipment out.

Good luck.

Ted

Spring Steelhead – Now through April, get on the water for Spring’s first opportunity to bend the rod.
Trout – Reliable hatches begin in May for surface activity and it’s also a great time for fishing streamers.
Learn How – Take a 1/2 day trip with the goal of learning how to fly fish or improve, customized to your interests.

betsie river, black stone fly pattern, caddis, fishing report, fry patterns, manistee, march fly fishing, michigan, spring steelhead, steelhead, trout

Posts tagged "betsie river"

Mid-September Fishing Report

Late April Fly Fishing Report

Mid-April Fishing Report

Mid March Fly Fishing Report

The Spring Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe

Early March Fly Fishing Report

Ted Kraimer • Current Works, LLC • PO Box 333 • Traverse City, Michigan 49685 • (231) 883-8156