Early April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 5, 2023

Early April showers has our local rivers running high and dirty while promising May flowers. If fishing smaller rivers and wading, be advised of very high water.

Leading up until recent storms, the water had come up with rain late last week. And with it, some fresh fish. We have an assortment of steelhead in the local rivers – fresh, spawning, and drop-backs. Water temps are in the low 40s which gets the fish in and out relatively quick. Since there is a mix of fish in the various spawning stages – look for fish in an assortment of water, notably tail-outs for drop-backs, and soft seams for migrating fish.

Egg patterns and beads along with caddis and fry had been working but that was before the increase in water flow. Larger stones, buggers and bold egg patterns would be my first choice.

To learn more about your favorite river’s water levels and flows, check out the USGS website.

Good luck getting out.

Ted

2023 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons.
Trout – May’s streamer & dry fly fishing turns to the big bugs of June. Good dates to choose from.
Fall Steelhead – Just a few prime steelhead dates remain available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.

caddis, egg patterns, high water steelhead, manistee, steelhead, steelhead fishing

Mid October Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - October 19, 2022

It seems like it has been an old fashion fall with cooler weather, frosts kicking the fall colors into bold expressions, and maybe a little too much rain in our rivers. After over 3 inches the past couple days our local rivers are running more than full, they are high and have some color to them. Lots of leaves, too.

The salmon are past peak and the fish that are in the river are finishing up their spawning on the Manistee. Steelhead have moved through most rivers systems and are taking advantage of the eggs that the salmon are contributing. Like the salmon, they are running large and with the warmer water temperatures, they have been more than a handful once hooked. With water temps about to drop below 50, they should be a little more user friendly but don’t expect much change – upper 40s doesn’t curb their enthusiasm too much.

Since the natural food source has been eggs, egg patterns and beads have been the most productive. When a lot of leaves in the water consider using larger and bolder colors to help them stick out. Nymphs like buggers and hex have taken some fish as has a swung fly or two. With the high water, you might have to go a little bigger and bolder with all patterns.

Because fish were not stocked by MI-DNR in the spring of 2021 we have lost a year class of fish – PLEASE practice catch and release to help us absorb the missing population in the years ahead.

Good luck.

Ted

Fall Steelhead – Finish the season with what started the season – Steelhead! A few dates available in November
2023 Fishing – Get your dates secured to ensure your time on the water. Booking all seasons thru September.
Gift Certificates – Quick and easy gifts of a half-day, full-day or casting lesson for friends or family.

egg patterns, fly fishing, fly fishing guide, high water in michigan, manistee, steelhead fishing, swung fly

Late July Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 29, 2022

The trout fishing has been decent lately with a mix of Tricos hatching in the morning and mostly smaller trout rising; it’s a lot of fun with a lighter weight rod. Other times when bugs aren’t on the surface, terrestrials will bring some fish up and sometimes decent sized fish so, having a little bigger rod makes casting the larger flies and bringing in larger fish easier. Mornings are still the ideal time with the sun still low and the water temps still ideal from the cooler evening temperatures. Water levels are still low and clear but considering July is coming to an end, that’s typical. It’s just a nice way to start a nice summer day.

Anglers with an ability to fish a streamer are finding the smallmouth bass a lot of fun on the end of the line. Targeting these on the lower sections of rivers is a great way to hone a number of fly fishing techniques as we often are using lighter sink-tip lines and “selling” the fly to interested fish that come to look at it. And when they eat, they pull. Baitfish patterns have been most productive, but smaller crayfish patterns have taken their share of fish, too.

The smaller lakes and ponds still have bluegill and bass willing to eat your fly both on the surface and below. Perfect for those learning how to fly fish and a lot of fun for those who already do, especially when fishing diving bugs, small streamers and popping a popper. Mornings and evenings are best when it’s a sunny day, but overcast is always best and can offer good fishing throughout the day, especially around weed beds, drop offs and other structures.

Good luck.

Ted

Learn to Fly Fish – Book a half-day trip with the idea of learning the basics in how to cast and fly fish.
Tricos and Terrestrials – Start your day on a cool river fishing for trout with dry flies from July into September.
Fall Steelhead – Although the Spring Season just ended, think fall steelhead. Good dates available in November

bass fishing, bluegill fly fishing, blugill fishing, guided fishing trip, learn to fly fish, manistee, manistee river, smallmouth bass fishing, terrestrial fly fishing, the northern angler, traverse city fly fishing, trout fishing

Late June Fly Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 28, 2022

As June winds down, the Hex Hatch winds up. It has been sporadic with the fluctuations in the weather for both the emergences and spinner falls so there is no telling when you will have good bugs on the local rivers including the upper Manistee. Water levels are low and clear since it has been a while since our last rain.

Water temperatures also have been fluctuating making fishing inconsistent and having us stay home or shift to bass fishing when they approach 70 degrees. Other bugs on the water include a few brown drakes, Isonychias, bat flies and medium brown stones so you will want more than a few hex patterns in your fly box. Of course, you’ll want your headlamp and bug spray too.

For some, this is the only time of year some folks get out and fish who might not have heard of new invasive species in our local waters which include Didymo, aka Rock Snot (Manistee) and New Zeeland Mud Snails (Boardman, Manistee, PM, Au Sable). Michigan Trout Unlimited has produced a guidebook to identification and decontamination that I strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with and practice. Otherwise, these invasives will likely show up on other watersheds you fish (rivers and lakes) before you know it. It’s also upon anglers to spread the message to other anglers to get the word out. You can read the Guidebook here.

Largemouth bass and bluegill fishing in lakes continues to offer both new and experienced anglers a lot of opportunities to bend the rod and enjoy a non-technical day of fishing on the water. Dry flies, poppers, swimming nymphs and the occasional streamer near and around structure and drop offs has been the approach. Smallmouth bass fishing has slowed down in the lakes but has been getting better in the rivers for those that like to lazily fish a streamer and feel a fish pull much harder than any trout.

Good luck,

Ted

bass fishing, brown drakes, casting lessons, fishing at night, hex hatch, invasive species, learn to fly fish, manistee, panfish, smallmouth bass

Early June Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - June 6, 2022

Sorry for the lapse in fishing reports.

Fishing has been mixed, especially on the trout rivers like the upper Manistee. Bug emergences and spinner falls have been fickle and spotty as the weather has been bouncing around. Some days there are some bugs with the fish looking up and eating, other days leave you wondering if there are any bugs or fish in the river because the water clarity is too good allowing us to see everything below surface. Today’s rain should help cool off the water into the low 60s and recharge the system including putting in a little stain/tannin which should also help fishing.

It’s headlamp season on the water as many of the bugs can be on the water up until dark and this will likely be the case for the next month. On days with cloud cover, bugs can surprise you with emergences and spinner falls and show up just about any time throughout the day. You can expect to see Mahoganies, Sulphurs, Isonychias, Medium Brown Stones and maybe a Brown Drake. Other bugs can show up this time of year also, and a good way to cover your bases is to have a handful of Borcher’s Drakes and Robert’s Yellow Drakes in sizes 10 to 16.

If looking for an alternative to the trout fishing and their discriminating ways, fishing ponds and lakes has been really good for a mix of fish: smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegill, rock bass and the occasional pike. Fishing the surface with poppers scratches the trout angler’s surface action itch, while a smaller streamer fished on a floating line near structure results in a few more fish that are often bigger.

Good luck.

Ted

Match the Hatch – Late May and June offer dry fly anglers some of the best trout fishing of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Book a half-day trip with the idea of learning the basics in how to cast and fly fish.
Fall Steelhead – Although the Spring Season just ended, think fall steelhead good dates available in November.

bass, fly fishing report, mahogany dun, manistee, smallmouth bass, sulphus, traverse city fly fishing guide, trout fishing alternatives

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Posts tagged "manistee"

Early April Fishing Report

Mid October Fishing Report

Late July Fishing Report

Late June Fly Fishing Report

Early June Fishing Report

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