Posts tagged "isonychia"

Late July Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 23, 2020

We find ourselves in the middle of summer headed to the trout rivers in the mornings for the best fishing for brook and brown trout. Water temps remain cool in the 60’s as their spring fed nature allows them cool off in the evenings after a hot day. Recent rains have the river in good shape with a little stain to them but at levels a little higher than normal for this time of year but by no means are they high.

Mid-mornings are presenting Trico spinner falls and have fish selectively feeding – it’s time for 6x or 7x tippet and a pair of cheaters to tie on the #20 fly. Being so small, consider tying them to another fly to serve as an indicator to help track it. Smaller Isonychias / rusty spinner patterns have been good too, both in the evening and morning.

If you aren’t into the small flies then start to fish terrestrials – and think a little smaller than the big grasshoppers mostly associated with terrestrial fishing and this time of year. A mix of wet flies and twitch flies can also bring some fish to hand if you the surface bite isn’t happening.

Largemouth bass fishing has been pretty good on the smaller lakes when focusing on the structure of drop-offs and weed beds. Of course docks are always a good place to lay a cast up against. The bigger panfish have moved deep but the smaller ones are still shallow helping to bend the rod for those learning how to fly fish. A third round of spawning will bring those bigger gills back to the surface for one more crack at the slabs.

Good luck,

Ted

New to the Sport? Bass and Bluegill fishing is the perfect way to learn to fish after a quick casting lesson.
Tricos & Terrestrials – A great way to start a summer day. Float and Trout fish the Manistee in July and August.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates are available in November – a great way to finish a fishing season.

bass fishing, bluegill, fly fishing july traverse city, isonychia, panfish, terrestrial fishing, tricos

Late June – Hex Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 24, 2016

The Hex bugs have taken the main stage for fly anglers right now as consistent and warm weather has made for good emergences and spinner falls on all the local rivers including the Au Sable, Manistee and Boardman Rivers. These nocturnal bugs get the attention of fish in that last half-hour of light and into the night, but they also have the attention of a lot of anglers – be prepared for a few more people fishing your favorite section of water.

Other bugs on the water have been sparse except when skies are cloudy or overcast. Have some isonychias, brown drakes, gray drakes, bat flies, little yellow sally stones, medium brown/yellow stones, light cahills, along with your hex fly patterns. Terrestrial/attractor fishing has been bringing some fish up to the surface while small streamers fished on a floating line working sub-surface for when fishing with a little more sunlight out. Check the batteries in your headlamp, make sure you have some bug spray and take a nap throughout the day – it’s time to fish a second-shift schedule.

Not in to night fishing or looking for something to do in the day? Carp and smallmouth bass fishing on the bay has been good. Some carp are starting to spawn but majority of them are in a pre-spawn mode and tend to eat better. This sight fishing pushes angler’s abilities and mettle but when the line comes tight after a good cast and presentation, it’s worth it. Hex nymphs, crayfish, leeches have been ideal for carp while the same and small baitfish and goby patterns have been working for the smallmouth bass.

Lakes are still fishing well for bluegill and bass. These affable fish are still a great way to spend some time on the water and/or teach and introduce someone to the sport of fly fishing. With more weed growth (think lily pads) target drop offs and other structure/transitions. Bigger bass are eating the bigger flies like divers and swimming frogs. Gills/sunnies/panfish continue to eat the surface flies – predominately smaller terrestrial patterns – they have a weak spot for rubber legs.

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 river, bluegill, boardman river, carp fishing, carp on the fly, hex fishing, isonychia, manistee flies only. traverse city fishing report, smallmouth bass fishing, traverse bay carp fishing, traverse city, trout ffly fishing

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

Tough Trout Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 15, 2015

Lots of rain has fallen over the past 10 days and the rivers look like it.

The Upper Manistee river continues to be challenging with high water, sporadic bug emergences and fish that are mostly uncooperative. Finding times when both the bugs and fish are active has been rare with the occasional good day to keep us coming back. Even the streamer fishing – under ideal conditions – has been off. Give the river 4 or 5 days to drop to normal levels and clear up and by then Isonychias should be emerging more steadily – typically in the evening and up to dark if temps stay warm. In the meantime if you are headed there you will want the following flies: mahoganies, sulphurs, little yellow stones, epeorus, brown drakes, isonychias, big golden stones, BWO’s, small black caddis and a lucky rabbit’s foot. I’ve often been accused of telling it like it is.

The Boardman has been tough to fish the past couple of weeks with the higher water, but Brown Drakes and Gray Drakes have been around with a few sulphurs and caddis in the evening. The AuSable, too, hasn’t been fishing up to its reputation with bugs and fish being off. Lots of water in that system also has had its impact on the river as the fish are able to eat well sub-surface with the higher water.

Carp fishing on the bay has improved as fish are starting to show up a little more in the shallow water as they near their spawn cycle. The water in the bay is still pretty cold so wind direction, intensity of sun light and overnight temps have a significant impact on the fishing the shallow flats. A few smallmouth bass have moved into the shallows but look for the smallmouth bass season to be spread-out and focus on cruisers and darker water for your best biting fish.

Bluegill fishing on the lakes has slowed down some for the large gills as they have abandoned their beds and moved back deep. Some lakes and ponds tend to run behind while others spawn over a protracted period and with some searching you should find those fish. By now the fish that spawn tend to really protect themselves in the structure with bigger predatory fish looking to eat them. On the up-side, the largemouth bass fishing has improved with more fish eating sliders/diving frogs and poppers. Same routine – look for fish in and around the lilly pads and drop offs for your best action.

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 fly fishing, carp on the fly, grand traverse bay, isonychia, michigan, smallmouth bass fishing, upper manistee river

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