Late April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 24, 2022

Finally, some warm weather is helping us forget about the cold spring we have had so far. With temps in the 70s this weekend the water temperatures should climb a little and get things to where they should be for this time of year.

Steelhead fishing is winding down on local rivers (Manistee, Betsie and Platte) with most fish hitting the gravel fast and getting back to the lake. Drop-back fish and a few fresh ones that are a little late to the game can be found in the runs and holes while most anglers focus on the shallow water. Smaller egg patterns and beads in natural colors have been best while fry and caddis are taking a respectable number of fish, too. With practically no suckers in the river yet, I suspect we will have a trickle of steelhead for a bit longer.

Water temps on the upper Manistee reached mid-50s this weekend and some of the first Hendricksons have shown up. Not many, but some. Water temps usually need to be in the upper 50s before the surface activity goes to the next level and one can expect to cast to a rising fish. In the meantime, cover the water with streamers. The next 4 to 5 weeks is a great time to have a dry fly rod rigged in the boat while you cover the water with subsurface patterns. When a hatch or rising fish presents itself, switch rods/presentations.

Good luck.

Ted

May Days – The month that offers so much variety for a number of species. <<More info>>
Match the Hatch – Late May and June offer dry fly anglers some of the best trout fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain available in October, November and into December.

betsie fishing, caddis, dry fly fishing, eggs, hendricksons, manistee river, steelhead, streamer fishing, tippy dam

Early November Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 31, 2018

As we flip the calendar to November it is full-on steelhead season. Almost all of the salmon are gone in rivers like the Manistee, Betsie and Platte but there are a few remaining chinook and coho salmon around providing an egg drop to help keep the steelhead focused on eggs. Northwest Michigan hasn’t received significant rainfall in weeks leaving the rivers with fewer fish than we are used to for this time of year and the water low and extremely clear. Thankfully the sun hasn’t been out much giving us a chance at these hot fish.

With the clear water, water temps in the upper 40’s and well-informed anglers, the fish have scattered throughout the systems and where they are holding. Runs and holes directly below any last spawning salmon are a great places to focus on, but when those don’t produce, it might be time to look for fish hunkered in structure but still in position to collect the drifting eggs. Bottom bouncing rigs, fishing indicators and fishing flies on the swing are all ideal right now. Natural sized eggs and beads continue to take their fair share of fish but a nymph bite is starting to build. The leaves are at a minimum, the days are getting shorter, the sun is at a lower angle – it’s all about the deep-bodied steelhead of 2018.

Trout fishing on the upper Manistee is pretty much a streamer game as the brown trout are mostly in a post spawn pattern. As the salmon continue to drop off below Tippy Dam, look for the trout to not only look for eggs, but start to chase streamers as they have an appetite after gorging on a steady diet of eggs the past 5 weeks.

Good luck

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Fall colors include chrome Steelhead until Winter gets here.
Fall Trout Combo – Target both steelhead and trout (streamers) on the lower Manistee
2019 Fishing – It isn’t too early to get next year’s fishing dates secured – booking through October

Betsie, egg patterns, eggs, fall steelhead, manistee river, Platte River, salmon, steelhead, streamer, tippy dam

Early December Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 3, 2015

It’s December, but the rivers are acting like it’s still November thanks to a mild fall. After some significant rainfall last week (it would have been a lot of snow!) and a bit more since, the rivers came up but have since dropped to just above normal for this time of year.

With the rain came a “shuffling of the deck” – that is, the steelhead moved around throughout the river systems. Steelhead are scattered throughout the Manistee system and can be found in a mix of water types as they begin to transition into a late fall/early winter pattern. Fresh fish that are migrating up with the water will remain in the bubble lines and cross-overs where fish that have been in the system are starting to make the deeper water of holes their preferred residence. Look for fish to move towards structure as they get into a winter pattern as water temps drop. Thankfully the majority of the rain that fell last Thursday was warm leaving the water in the low 40s.

This is a good time of year to target the steelhead with a number of different techniques including floats/indicators, bottom bouncing/Duck-and-Chuck, and swung flies as you can target a variety of water. Eggs still are working but a nymph bite has become stronger. As for swung flies: brown with copper and Olive with gold have been working.

Trout fishing remains an option for those looking to extend their season especially with the mild temperatures. Conditions below Tippy Dam remain good for those looking to fish streamers for some chunky browns and the occasional steelhead. White baitfish patterns like Dirty Hippies – Rainbow, CF Minnows – Rainbow, and Half and Halfs in gray/white/grizzly have been producing.

Good luck,

Ted

Late Trout – Brown trout fishing into late December can be some of the best streamer fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Look for fishing to continue through December for steelhead on the Manistee River.
Gift Certificates – With the holidays just around the corner consider giving or asking for some time on the water.

eggs, fall steelhead, guide, nymphs, steelhead fishing, streamer, swinging flies for steelhead, tippy dam, trout

Posts tagged "eggs"

Late April Fishing Report

Early November Fishing Report

Early December Fly Fishing Report

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