Posts tagged "carp"

Mid-June Fly Fishing Report Northern Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 17, 2016

It’s mid-June – rods are rigged, anticipation brewing and bugs are popping. As we enter the “holy days” of trout dry fly fishing with big bugs make sure your box is full of a number of patterns if headed to the Manistee, AuSable or Boardman rivers. Grey Drakes, Brown Drakes, Mahoganies, Bat Flies, pseudocloeon (big BWOs), Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium brown/yellow Stones (“mattress thrashers”), Isonychias and maybe more make up a well-stocked fly box for this time of year. Having a few hex in your box wouldn’t be a bad idea as the forecast weather and heat should get those nocturnal bugs to pop on a river near you. Sections of the Au Sable already have seen some hex bugs.

Water levels are still low and clear so stealth and good first presentations are necessary to get those fish – even in low light. If it’s been a while since you fished – for some this is the only time of the year you get out on the water – consider practicing a little before heading out – it will pay off.

It’s time for some insect repellent, fresh batteries in your head lamp, perhaps a cigar and some patience – it is that time of year. And be sure to check for ticks when you get home; there is a noticeable increase in these little guys hiding in the vegetation on the bank as you wait for a hatch.

Carp fishing on the Grand Traverse Bay is going pretty good. Fish have entered the flats/shallow water, but as carp are – sometimes they are simply moving and not feeding. Cover water, cast to all fish within a reasonable distance and have fun. Wind direction and overnight temperatures are important to consider when looking for ideal water for these peculiar fish. Swimming Hex, Crayfish and simple bead headed black wooly buggers (leeches) are always a good bet this time of year. Keep your eyes out for smallmouth – both cruisers and spawning fish – Minnow and Goby imitations are hated by Smallies, so they eat them.

Lakes are still fishing good for the bluegill and bass. As the gills go into a second spawn on some lakes the shallow water is still the place to be. The bigger fish not spawning are moving into the shallows in the low light hours and around vegetation offering both surface and sub-surface action.

Good luck,

Ted

Carp and Bass – Look for these guys on the flats of Grand Traverse Bay through the month of June.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and Hex – dates available.
Salmon – Late August and September is when the King Salmon start to migrate upstream – get ’em while you can.
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.

au sable, boardman, brown drakes, carp, crayfish, hex, isonychias, manistee, smallmouth grand traverse bay, trout

June Fly Fishing Report – Northwest / Traverse City Michigan

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 8, 2016

Other than a change in the weather, not a whole lot has changed on the local waters since last week’s report.

After 10 days of warm days and nights, some cooler weather moved in the past week leaving the nights cooler than ideal for hatches and spinner falls on the Trout Rivers. Surface activity and hatches has been off a little on the Manistee, Au Sable and Boardman rivers, however covering water has found some isolated “hatch zones”. You can expect a smorgasbord of bugs right now: Sulphurs, March Browns, Mahoganies, Brown Drakes, Isonychias, Blue Winged Olives, Caddis, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Medium Brown/Yellow Stones, and more have been seen on the water and in the air.

Water levels are still o.k. but clarity is an issue – it is too clear. Stealth and long presentations are required for the larger, selective fish but a good drift with the right fly can make it all worthwhile. On the bright days, seek shade and structure where fish are still approachable rather than tucked deep in log jams or undercut banks. Streamer fishing has been challenging in the clear water however smaller streamers have taken some nice fish lately.

Grand Traverse Bay is still running cool and as such the carp and smallmouth bass have been slow to get going. Often when you do find the carp they are moving and not feeding. As the water warms up on the flats, look for the pre-spawn feed to take place with some of the better fishing of the year. The smallmouth bass, too, are plagued by the cooler water. As the Smallies are in pre-spawn mode also and nomadically cruising , they will eat a fly – baitfish imitations and Gobies area great patterns to start with

The smaller lakes and ponds are fishing better for bass than the big water of the bay. Small streamers and even some smaller poppers and larger dry flies are working. Bluegill fishing has been mixed – some lakes are better than others and require some time to find those larger fish looking to bend your 3 wt. rod. Look in any weeds/bulrush in a foot of water for spawning fish. They can be hard to get when they are hidden and tucked away, but it’s also a time to get some nice hand-sized panfish/gills/sunnies before they head deep again.

Good luck,

Ted

ausable, bluegill fishing, brown drakes, carp, isonychia, king salmon, little yellow sally stones, manistee river, smallmouth bass, trout fishing, trout rivers

Fly Hatches and Trout Fishing Improving

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 23, 2015

A week with little rain fall has left the local rivers in good shape. Clarity is ideal with a little stain, while temps are in the mid-60s and water levels are not too high and not too low. Hatch activity has been varied and inconsistent but has improved since my last report with more fish looking up. Look for Isonychias to be your best bet for the big bugs in the evening and up to dark. You will want some brown drakes and hex patterns also because you never know when the bigger bugs will be out in numbers right at dark. Some sections of most rivers – Au Sable, Manistee, Boardman has had limited hex activity but we are on the early side of things. Other flies you can expect to find on the water include Bat Flies, the last of the Sulphurs, Gray Drakes, Little Yellow Sally Stones, Lt. Cahills and Mahoganies. To read more about hatches preceding the Hex Hatch, click here.

Carp fishing on the bay has been inconsistent as well with all of the weather changes. Like the hex emergence for trout, good carp fishing really relies on a few days of warm sunshine to warm up the water up. The cold water of the bay moving in and out with varying wind directions has made it challenging for those targeting both carp and smallmouth bass. Smaller crayfish patterns are working for both species as are minnow patterns for those specifically fishing for bass.

Fishing on the lakes and ponds for bass remains solid as the fish are in post-spawn mode and have the feed bag on. Streamers fished on intermediate lines have been most productive for the larger bass when the top water and divers aren’t working. It also might find you a pike along the way which tend to bite the fly off but leave you with a good story. Bluegill continue to bend the rod but mostly the smaller ones which still make for a great learning experience for beginners or someone looking to spend a few hours on the water with a fly rod in their hand.

Good luck.

Ted

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

Summer Trout Fishing – Terrestrial and Trico fishing in July and August on the Manistee.
Smallmouth Bass – Streamer fishing on the lower Manistee is a great way to spend a summer day.
Fall Steelhead – Late September through November is the time for sassy steelhead on the Lower Manistee.

ausable, carp, fishing guide, fishing report, hex, hex hatch, isonychia, manistee, river, smallmouth bass, traverse city, trout

Hatches and Dry Flies – More of the Same

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 8, 2015

The bugs continue to be mixed and varied on the Upper Manistee, Au Sable and Boardman rivers. March Browns, Sulphurs, Black Quills, BWOs, and Mahoganies have been around with some Brown Drakes on the Au Sable and a few Isonychias just starting on the Manistee. And some nights, no bugs – much depends on the weather. This is the time of year to have Borcher’s and Robert’s Yellow Drakes in your fly box in a number of sizes to match the many bugs that hatch this time of year in the evenings up until dark.

The trout fishing below Tippy Dam has improved with lots of the spawning carp leaving this past week. Soft hackle and caddis fishing in the evenings has been productive after streamer fishing and nymphing during the brighter times of the day.

Carp fishing on Grand Traverse Bays has also been inconsistent with weather being the biggest factor. The week of solid weather forecast with moderate night time temps should help bring those fish into the shallows in better numbers as they feed while in pre-spawn mode. The same with smallmouth bass – they are still deep however a few are cruising the flats looking to eat your crayfish and goby patterns – cover water and keep you eye’s out when not fishing blind to deeper water or other likely structure.

Bluegill and Bass fishing continues, however it appears that the really big gills have either slipped back deep or left on stringers. Some really good fishing remains for both species. Nothing new here….. small poppers and spiders for the gills and smaller bass where the small nymph suspended over fish will out fish just about most bluegill flies – consider using a small indicator to detect that delicate take before they spit it out. Bass have been responding more to streamers like natural sculpins and crayfish fished on a floating line and the occasional slider on the surface.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout Season – June is the month of the big bug dry fly fishing on the Upper Manistee & AuSable Rivers.
Summer Fishing – Terrestrial and Trico fishing in July and August on the Manistee, Bluegill and Bass on Lakes.
Fall Steelhead – Late September through November is the time for sassy steelhead on the Lower Manistee.

bluegill, brown drakes, carp, carp fishing grand traverse bay, goby patterns, isonychias, lower manistee, manistee, sulphurs, tippy dam, trout, trout fishing

Early June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 1, 2015

With June here, anglers will find that the rivers are running full after some much needed rain throughout the week. The weather has been up and down, but the forecast is calling for stable and, well, fish like stable.

On the upper Manistee there has been a smattering of bugs coming off – light Hendricksons, Sulphurs, Mahogany Drakes, March Browns and Medium Brown /Golden Stoneflies. With the increase in water flow the trout are focusing more on what’s below the surface eating worms, lamprey and their own making streamer fishing more effective than surface fishing right now. As the bugs build, the water level drops and clears, look for some of the year’s best dry fishing in the evenings. And don’t forget about the big bugs just around the corner – Isonychias and Brown Drakes – you should have some in your box just in case they show up while you are on the water. Learn more about early June Hatches here. The other bug that has emerged recently is the mosquito – make sure you have some repellent with you.

The bluegill fishing remains popular and a lot of fun for those looking to fish closer to home. With fish in shallow water on local lakes and ponds, the surface activity can be close to non-stop. It’s not always a slam-dunk so cover water and switch flies until you find fish that want to eat what you are presenting. With a lot of pollen and seeds on the surface when the wind isn’t blowing your best bet is going sub-surface so your fly isn’t gummed-up and the fish can actually see it. Have some mid-sized poppers with you if the small fish are beating the larger ones to the fly.

Carp fishing is just on the edge of kicking in. Some fish have slipped into the shallow water flats of Grand Traverse Bay but the consistent fishing is just around the corner. The carp are probably the best example of fish that like stable – not only the weather but water temps, so wind direction is imperative when deciding when and where to fish. A few smallmouth bass are cruising the flats too while in the pre-spawn stage so keep an eye and fly out for them when fishing.

Good luck.

Ted

bluegill, carp, fishing guide, fly fishing report, fly-fishing for carp, hendrickson, isonychia, mahogany drake, manistee, smallmouth bass, traverse city fishing guide, trout

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