UPDATE – April 1: After significant rains on Thursday river levels have increased significantly and are still on the rise making wading difficult in most places and the water stained. Use caution if heading out. One positive, the warmer rain should bring a nice of fish into the rivers over the next couple off weeks.
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Not a lot has changed since the last fishing report. Steelhead remain the focus of anglers looking to get into the Spring spirit with longer days and warmer(?) temps.
After the warm-up a few weeks ago, the fish that wintered over joined some fresh fish and moved upstream in both the Manistee and Betsie rivers making for some good days of fishing. Since then, the weather has been up and down for us with some cold nights, sunny days, snow, rain, etc. – just like March is supposed to be like – and leaving the water up but not too high. While stained, the water is still more than fishable with temperatures hovering in the low 40s.
While some new fish continue to trickle into the rivers, majority of the fish have a little color to them and are staging and getting ready to spawn. After a warm rain look for things to change. But with the forecast, look for conditions to be similar which looks like it will remain a nice prolonged spring steelhead season.
Look for fish in the pocket water near spawning gravel, secondary bubble lines and deep holes. My preferred set-up has been a decent sized egg (#6 ) in orange variations and clown (heavy chartreuse), with a nymph dropper –steelhead caddis, early stoneflies and fry patterns working best.
Don’t forget new fishing licenses are required beginning Friday April 1, 2016
Good luck!
Ted
The Spring Newsletter just went out – click here to read and/or sign up for delivery.
May Fishing – It’s not far away and it’s a great month for streamer and dry fly fishing for Trout.
Big Bugs – The month of June is the month of Big Bugs – Isonychias, Brown Drakes and the Hex – got dates?
2016 Dates – Now booking for the entire fishing season: trout, carp, bass, salmon and fall Steelhead.