Now that summer is here with the warm daytime temps, the hex hatch has mostly caught up and is winding down on local rivers including the Manistee and Boardman. The upstream portions (think cooler water) of river systems are your better bets right now if you are still looking for those nocturnal bugs that bring out some really nice fish that are typically inaccessible the rest of the year with a dry fly.  Since we have had our share of cool periods the past few weeks along with some cold nights – look for there to be sporadic bugs for another week, so keep a few of those big flies in your box if you are headed out in the evenings – the spinner falls should occur just before dark through the first hour of dark should conditions be right.

Other bugs have been on the water but they too, have been light in numbers: Isonychias, BWO, Light Cahills, Little Yellow Sallies, and gray drakes have been more commonly present in the evenings, but on cloudy days there has been some daytime emergences. To learn more on fishing trout after the Hex, click here.

As we transition from the match-the-hatch dry fly fishing done the past 7 weeks, start to look to prospect and probe your favorite trout water with some smaller streamers on floating lines and consider bringing your terrestrial patterns with you for some fun surface activity – this will only get better in the weeks ahead.  The Tricos should start in another week or so and typically are on the water mid-morning before the sun gets too high. Now is also a good time to swing soft-hackles again through riffle water on your lighter weight rods if you are looking for some brookies and the occasional larger brown trout.

Bass fishing on local lakes continues to be good – be sure target the lily pads and drop offs for your best bet with surface poppers and diving bugs.  The bluegill fly angler will find some bigger gills at first light and evening moving to the shallows while there are plenty of smaller bluegill/panfish in the shallows for those just learning to fly fish.

Smallmouth bass fishing on the lower Manistee river is getting better with the added heat and should only continue to as summer progresses. Fishing streamer patterns on sink-tips is the norm and popper fishing can be just what the fish are looking for.

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.