Posts tagged "fly fishing traverse city"

Late September Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 29, 2024

With Fall officially starting last week and September coming to an end, it still kind of feels like summer with temperatures in the 80s. I guess, the summer of 2024 continues.

With salmon being a migratory species looking to get upstream to spawn, they have a biological clock that sometimes can’t wait for conditions to be perfect before they run upstream. The water is warm and the lack of any significant rain the past 7 weeks has rivers running low and clear.

There has been a steady trickle of fish in rivers like the Manistee and Betsie with many of the slower moving pools and holes holding pre-spawn fish as they look for water temperatures to drop before hitting the spawning gravel in earnest. Some spawning has taken place as has the migration of salmon fisherman and all that comes with it.

There is a mix of size classes – some small and some that are big. Seems that when you find big fish, they are just that – well over 20 lbs and become a real slug fest on the end of the line.

With the extension of this warm weather, trout fishing has continued to be decent for this time of year. Terrestrial fishing is still bringing fish to the surface but as heat stressed tress drop their leaves early and pine needs fall to the water’s surface on breezy days, it can be difficult for the trout to see a dry fly with all the debris on the water.

It’s a great time to fish a small to mid-sized streamer on either a floating line or clear sink-tip line for pre-spawn browns and even the aggressive brook trout that are all marked up with vibrant colors. With the trees changing colors and most anglers occupied elsewhere, you’ll pretty much have the river to yourself.

Keep in mind that a lot of the smaller trout rivers and streams in the region close to fishing on October 1.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Finish the season with steelhead on the lower Manistee. Good dates in November remain.
2025 Fishing Season – It’s not too early to look ahead to the next year and get your dates planned and secured.

Betsie, fly fishing traverse city, grayling, guided fishing, manistee river, salmon fishing, terrestrial fishing, trout fishing traverse city

Mid July Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 13, 2024

Trout fishing on the local rivers continues but with a more casual approach as we aren’t matching hatches in low light to finicky fish. Instead head to the river with a mix of general dry flies that imitate mayflies since they have been eating them regularly for the past 10 weeks. Beyond fishing those natural dry flies, tie on attractors and some terrestrials.

Larger flying ants have been more noticeable lately than any other, but the deer fly and beetle imitations have been fooling fish reliably. Look for Tricos to start emerging and falling in the mid-mornings any day now. It’s also a great time to fish a swung wet fly as is a “micro streamer” – those subsurface flies that look more like a nymph, but fished with twitches and strips.

The smallmouth bass fishing on the lower Manistee has been varied – some days they play our game, other days it seems like they take their ball and go home. The softer streamer approach is the most productive most days fished on clear sink-tip lines. The popper and dry fly fishing hasn’t been as productive but I suspect with the dog-days of summer coming, that should change as it usually does this time of year.

Bass and bluegill fishing on the local lakes continues to be our favorite venue for those trying / learning to fly fish with all their eagerness to come to the fly and provide action as the skills are developing. Those more experienced can fish a streamer or diving bug near the weed beds and drop offs for those bigger largemouth bass.

Good luck!

Ted

Trout, Tricos & Terrestrials – July & August offer fun dry fly fishing on the upper Manistee river.
Smallmouth Bass – Fish the lower Manistee with streamers & poppers this summer for fish that can pull.
Learn To Fly Fish – 1/2 Day trips are perfect for beginners! Learn how to cast before hitting the water to fish.

bass and bluegill fishing, fly fishing guide, fly fishing traverse city, guide trip, manistee river, manistee river guide, smallmouth bass fly fishing, streamer fishing, terrestrial fishing, upper manistee fly fishing

Late July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 21, 2023

As July starts to wind down, fly anglers find themselves in the middle of summer and summer fishing conditions.

The Upper Manistee is running low and clear – which isn’t unusual for this time of year. The lack of rain has been offset by the cooler evening temps to keep the water temps in the mid-60s and safe for the trout. Most of the hatches are done with the exception of the Tricos. Theses little flies make dry fly fishing fun as the brookies and browns provide rising targets. Every once in a while we are surprised by a bigger fish that eats the little fly and test’s the strength of the 6x tippet. Mostly, it’s simply a fun time to use that lighter dry fly rod.

Without hatches or latter in the day, we find ourselves fishing terrestrials and attractors or what I refer to as the “foam and rubber hatch”. Foam bodied flies with rubber legs – drifting, skittering or twitched on the surface makes it fun. It’s not overly technical fishing, just fun covering some water and fooling some fish.

The smallmouth on the lower Manistee River has mostly been good. Once in a while we find the fish are in a mood where they just kind of look but aren’t eating. Classic “window shopping” behavior. Don’t give up, a slight change in the weather can get them eating your ever-changing streamer pattern again. The popper bite is just starting so make sure you have your favorite popper/big foam and rubber legged patterns on a floating line next to your clear sink-tip rod.

Bass and Bluegill remain our favorite target for beginners learning fly fishing. These fish keep it fun and action packed. Some bigger bluegill are in the shallows early in the day or on those rare cloudy days. The largemouth are loving small streamers fished near lily pads and drop offs. Or my personal favorite – diving frog patterns.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – July and August is time for Ticos and Terrestrials on the Upper Manistee – an ideal half-day on the river.
Smallmouth Bass– Spend a half or full-day on the lower Manistee fishing smallies – through Late August.
Fall Steelhead – November still has some dates available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.

bass fishing, bluegill fishing, fishing guide, fly fishing traverse city, july fly fishing, learn to fly fish, streamer fishing smallmouth bass, terrestrail fishing, trico fishing

End of December Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - December 21, 2021

The first day of winter kind of feels like it with below freezing temps and a threat of some snow in the forecast.

It’s mostly been a cold month with the exception of a few days as fish are settling into winter mode. Steelhead numbers increased on the Betsie and Manistee with the increase in water levels/flows from melting snow and rain. Water temps are in the upper 30’s so fish have mostly taken up residence in the slower and deeper water/holes, but not exclusively.

Steelhead tend to be pretty lethargic in these conditions so drag-free drifts are likely going to be rewarded more than other techniques. This should be the trend over the next couple of months unless we get a warm up or even just a couple days of sunshine to increase the water temps a few degrees which activates the fish again. A swung fly will still tease a fish into hammering something if so inclined to tease one up but even in warmer water conditions, this tends to be a less productive presentation but for some, more rewarding.

Good luck fishing if you’re getting away from the in-laws or taking advantage of some time off this Holiday season – for most this time of year it’s just about being on the water and having a chance.

Happy Holidays and all the best on and off the water in the New Year.

Ted

<<The Winter Newsletter just went out, click here to read>>

2022 Fishing – Booking all seasons and species for the New Year. It’s never too early to plan next years fishing.
Spring Steelhead – It’s not too early to think Spring! Get your dates secured for the first fishing of the year.
Gift Certificates – Ask or give the gift of a lesson, half or full-day trip on the water.

betsie river, fishing guide traverse city, fly fishing traverse city, guided fishing, manistee, steelhead, traverse city

Late June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 23, 2018

With summer Solstice occurring this past week it’s the time of year trout anglers stay out late and well after the sun goes down. The nocturnal Hex Hatch is off to a start on just about all local rivers in Northwest Michigan: The Au Sable, Boardman, Manistee, Pine, Platte, PM – it’s that time of year. As the “once a year angler” heads to the river, ardent anglers find there are more anglers to share the water with. And sharing is a good approach as is practicing the golden rule along with the golden rule of fly fishing – catch and release.

Before the big bugs come out you should find a smattering of other bugs on the water including Isonychias, little Yellow Sallies, BWOs, Golden Stones, Light Cahills, Bat Flies and maybe more. Hatches have been hard to predict this year and they have been almost as fickle as the fish that eat them but when the stars line up, it provides some pretty good fishing.

The fishing on the bay has been spotty – the carp are acting like carp making an appearance one day, gone the next. Water temps are ideal but the wrong winds can change that for a day or two factoring where to fish. Covering water is the best approach and hope for some sunlight to make seeing them easier. Bass continue to slip in and out of the shallows with some in post spawn and a prediction of a second round of spawning to occur shortly.

Lake fishing is good for those looking for bluegill and bass. Largemouth are mostly done protecting their beds and making up for some lost meals. The bigger gills seem to be around the drop offs and close to structure where dries work but a swum nymph can work better. Look for the lake fishing to remain good as more weed growth develops as summer proceeds. The smaller gills continue to be the ideal species for those who want to learn how to fish.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout – Terrestrials and Tricos are right around the corner – it’s the perfect way to start the day on the river.
Stillwater- Bluegill, Bass and Carp. With the best trout fishing in the evening, try fishing lakes during the day.
Fall Steelhead – With Summer just arriving, it’s time to think about getting your Fall dates – Oct. thru Dec.

bass on the fly, bluegill fly fishing, carp fishing, fishing, fly fishing traverse city, fly fishing trips, hex hatch, isonychias, tricos

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