Mid June’s trout fishing has been decent considering the bugs have been fickle.
The days of reliable hatches in the evenings and spinner falls at dusk seem to be something of the past. I can’t help but think it’s weather related and in the past couple of weeks its been bright sunny and hot days and cool evenings. This week, it’s a cold front. I’d say the best time to hit the trout rivers is any time you can, especially early or later in the day when the sun is lower and shadows offer the fish some security and anglers, hope. Or, take advantage of cloudy days.
On the Manistee the Brown Drakes are wrapping up, as are the Mahoganies and an errant Sulphur can be seen if you look closely. Medium Brown Stones are bopping around along with some Little Yellow Sally Stones. A Borcher’s Drake will cover you through various mayflies as will Robert’s Yellow Drakes – both in size 10-14. The bug savvy anglers are anticipating the most this time of year are the Isonychias. These once prolific mayflies have been hard to find the past few years but when you do, the fish only want them so have them in your box.
<<You can read more on fishing hatches prior to the Hex Hatch here.>>
Smaller streamers have been fished on floating lines or intermediate tip lines to cover water between hatches and have been reliable for those that can fish them effectively.
Bass and bluegill on local lakes are still fishing well with a number of the bigger gills still up shallow. The bass are in a post-spawn feed which seems to be different from the smallmouth bass that tend to go on a post-spawn diet. As such, the smallmouth fishing hasn’t been as good as it had been since mid-May. Look for the river fishing for smallmouth to start up again after another week – these fish like to eat and they don’t stay on the diet too long.
Good luck.
Ted
Trout – It’s Match-the-Hatch time on the trout rivers through June. Tricos and Terrestrials in July and August.
Smallmouth Bass– Spend a half or full-day on the lower Manistee fishing smallies – June through Late August.
Fall Steelhead – November still has some dates available in 2023 – finish the fishing season strong.