Posts tagged "manistee"

September Salmon Fly Fishing

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 9, 2013

It still feels like summer with the warm weather but temps more fall-like are forecast for later in the week.

Salmon fly fishing has taken most of the notice of anglers lately as the runs in the Betsie and Manistee Rivers have been good this year. Those of you that have been out know that the fish are running a few pounds bigger on average and have been tough to land. Being salmon, some days they respond to flies well, other days not so. Mix up your patterns, your presentation and even a slight angle change to the run/hole which can make the difference.

There hasn’t been a predominate or favorite fly pattern lately, just the usual nymph patterns like caddis, stones, hex fished in tandem with an egg pattern. Floating lines with indicators have been coming in handy when fishing the insides of runs where staging salmon often sit, but most of the time clients have been using the duck and chuck method with success. (Read more about rigging for salmon here.)

The trout fishing remains decent for those fishing terrestrials and small streamer patterns on rivers like the upper Manistee and Boardman rivers. Water levels are decent for this time of year and clarity is a little too good after a long season, but have the river to yourself while you catch brown and brook trout.

Good luck,

Ted

– Sorry, at this time all salmon dates are booked. Be sure to act early next year to reserve your dates –

The Fall 2013 Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or subscribe

Steelhead -Just a few fall steelhead dates remain and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.

Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing once the salmon leave.

2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

Betsie, boardman, fishing terrestrials, fly fishing, guide. client, manistee, salmon, trout fishing

The Unofficial Start of Fall

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 2, 2013

Now that Labor Day is behind us, the kids are in school and the salmon are in the rivers, it’s time to look forward to a long fall season of fly fishing.

While summer-like temps are usual throughout September, the cool summer brought the salmon closer to river mouths and into rivers much earlier this year. The Betsie, Mansitee, Bear and Pere Marquette all have fish in them and should throughout mid-October. The salmon – so far, have been on average a few pounds bigger than years past but the past week we have started to see some smaller fish swimming with the big ones. The big ones – while fresh, were hard to hold onto! We are a ways from spawning so look for fish to be in the deeper holes and eating nymphs and eggs and the occasional streamer fished on a sink-tip. Being salmon, some days they just don’t want to eat anything – mix up your fly patterns and put in your casts – it only takes a fish or two to make it a great day – more than that, even better.

There has been no shortage of anglers with this year’s early start and with the big fish come less than desirable anglers and their methods used to “catch” the salmon – program your cell phones with the DNR’s RAP Hot line (Report All Poaching) and report any violators you see: 1-800-292-7800. It only takes the word of a few tickets issued to curb some of the activity so your call can make a difference.

The warm weather over the past few weeks has warmed the trout waters but they will start to drop again with the cool down and cooler evenings. The Manistee and Boardman are running very clear right now but still have trout fishing going on. Terrestrials like hoppers, flying ants and beetles are a good bet as are some attractors. Sub-surface, try your bead head nymphs in the runs and slots and a small streamer twitched will keep you in the game. Look for the brook trout to get feistier as their spawning season approaches later this month and their colors become even more vibrant. You should have the trout rivers pretty much to yourself so enjoy the solitude and some technical fishing – there has been a decent BWO hatch on the upper Manistee in the early evenings and some remaining trico spinner falls in late morning.

Good luck,

Ted

– Sorry, at this time all salmon dates are booked. Be sure to act early next year to reserve your dates –

Steelhead -Just a few fall steelhead dates remain and it’s not too early to book your Spring 2014 Steelhead dates.

Trout – Late fall trout fishing can be some of the best streamer and nymph fishing once the salmon leave.

2014 Fishing – It’s not too early to start booking your 2014 dates – reserve you place in the boat today.

Betsie, DNR, fly fishing, guide, manistee, michigan, Pere Marquette, Rap Hotline, salmon, traverse city, trout

Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City Mid-August

Posted by Ted Kraimer - August 15, 2013

Trout fishing has been consistent these past weeks as water temps have been much cooler than normal for this time of year due to the mild air temperatures. The Trico hatch has been going a little later in the morning on the upper Manistee River once the sun gets higher and warms things up a bit, however the water is very clear and too much sun is a good thing. Not much else is on emerging on the Manistee and Boardman but attractors are working well for the brook trout and smaller browns where the larger terrestrials and foam and rubber patterns are bringing up some bigger fish. With the weather forecast calling for warmer conditions, look for the terrestrial fishing to get even better.

Bass and Bluegill on ponds and lakes has slowed a little with the cooler weather, but fish continue to play the game and eat flies – poppers, sliders, diving baitfish and baitfish streamers. The warmer weather should bring things back to where they should be for this time of year. Bluegill and panfish are taking smaller dry flies – small terrestrials like beetles, ants and small hoppers are great places to start. Smaller streamers fished just below the surface have been working, too.

The cool weather and water has brought some salmon closer to the river mouths and some fish have slipped up some of the local rivers but they are still low in numbers. It appears the fall run of salmon should be a good one this year.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout Fishing – Morning Trico s and fishing terrestrials is a great way to start a day in August
Bluegill & Bass – Fishing for both species is a great way to spend some time on the water over summer.
Salmon & Fall Steelhead –Salmon season is all booked and just a few dates remain for fall steelhead.

bass fishing, bluegill, boardman, fly fishing, manistee, salmon, tricos, trout

End of July Fly Fishing Report – Traverse City Region

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 25, 2013

As much as we appreciate the cooler weather this past week, it takes a little while for the fish to get use to the change in water temps. Cooler water temps are good for the fish and after a day or two off relative consistent weather they are happy and playing our game again.

The hatches on the upper Manistee and Boardman have been quite limited lately with just a few bugs around including Isos, Cahills, Big Olives, and Tricos. Fishing a bead head nymph in runs has produced some fish as they aren’t looking up too much with the bright sun. A very small streamer fished on a floating line has been a good approach, too. When those two presentations don’t work, try small terrestrials and the big rubber leg and foam creations – hoppers, Chernobyl Ants and other large profile bugs that have a little motion in them. The rivers are pretty quiet and a morning spent on the river this time of year is not only a great way to stay cool, but have it to yourself while catching brown and brook trout

Fishing on the lakes and ponds has been good for those looking to cash in on bass on large swimming diver bass bugs and large poppers. Weed beds and lilly pads have been the ideal place to target these fish especially when they are adjacent to cover like wood and drop offs. Keep in mind leader size is important when casting those big wind resistant flies. Bluegill have been playing along too and closer to the shallow water since the big fish in the deeper water tend to eat them – small dries like hoppers, ants, spiders and beetles have been working on top with small baitfish streamers working bellow.

The Smallmouth Bass fishing on the Lower Manistee continues to fish well. Medium to large streamers with lots of flash fished on both floating lines and short sink-tips have been the ticket. Crayfish bounced along the bottom and twitched are always good around rocks especially with the big moon that is out right now. While they aren’t as big as the fish we catch in the bay, the river smallmouth fight hard, get us on the river and make us better fly anglers.

Good luck,

Ted

Trout Fishing – Evening hatches should transition to morning trico s and terrestrial fishing as July sets in.
Bluegill & Bass – Lake fishing for both species is a great way to spend some time on the water over summer.
Fall Steelhead – Its not too early to start thinking about fall’s best fishing fish. Late Sept. – Nov.

bass and bluegill fishing in lakes, boardman river, fly fishing, fly fishing report traverse city, guide trips, manistee, smallmouth bass in rivers, tricos, trout

Transitional Trout Fishing, Bass and Gills on Local Lakes

Posted by Ted Kraimer - July 12, 2013

The trout fishing is in a traditional period right now – it is no longer matching the hatch in the evening and into darkness. There are some bugs emerging on the Manistee and Boardman rivers but sporadically – look for Isonychias, Light Cahills, Little Yellow Sallie Stones, BWOs, Gray Drakes (Boardman). The best hatches seem to be occurring in the evening and some in the morning. The cool evenings have been inspiring the bugs to do their thing long before darness. While the majority of bugs on the emergence schedule are beyond us, there are still plenty of flies to cast to fish that either imitate a natural mayfly or terrestrial. To read more about fishing in the weeks following the Hex Hatch, click here.

Look for terrestrial fishing (ants, beetles, grasshoppers, foam and rubber-legged creations) to only get better in the weeks ahead. Have a Hex pattern in your fly box for those late bloomers/radicals and if you’re going to be on the water in the morning bring your tricos as they should start bringing up fish any day now. Small and weighted streamer patterns fished on a floating line can be a good alternative to the heavy handed approach of sink-tips and large patterns this time of year.

Bass fishing has been really good this summer. Weed growth has been ideal on most local lakes and ponds with the fish taking residence under and nearby the vegetation. Poppers, sliders and diving baitfish are fun to fish on top with crayfish and small baitfish patterns working sub-surface. Bluegill, too, are playing along nicely with us when casting various patterns – both dries and subsurface. Spiders and beetles on top and small streamers and big nymphs fished sub-surface. A popper with a nymph dropper has been real effective in determining their daily preference.

The Carp and Smallmouth bass in the Grand Traverse Bays are mostly done, however the colder water of Lake Michigan and its flats have been providing some opportunity – cover lots of water and if unsuccessful, start thinking about next May already. On GT Bay, look for early and late in the day fishing near drop-offs to be a good place for the fly angler and smallmouth bass as they move into shallow water to eat under low-light conditions.

Smallmouth bass fishing in rivers is getting better as river temperatures warm up and they will only improve as the dog days of summer continue to warm up the lower sections of the Manistee.

Good luck,

Ted

The Summer Newsletter just went out – Click here to read and/or sign up for future delivery

bass fishing, boardman river fly fishing, carp fly fishing grand traverse bay, isonychias, manistee, terrestrial fishing in michigan, transitional trout fishing

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