Posts tagged ‘Smallmouth Bass’
Hex on the Wing
Think the hex madness is over, eh? Well, that depends on where in the state you live, and also on whether you fish for smallies as well as trout. In this story from the Detroit News, Dave Spratt shares his notes on fly fishing Michigan’s “other” hex hatch — the one that takes place around Metro Detroit.
Depending on where you live and fish the hex are just getting warmed-up, particularly on the Huron river, just outside Ann Arbor. The Huron is probably Michigan’s finest smallmouth river fishery, though I think that the Kalamazoo and the Chippewa are close contenders for that title, too. Years ago I fished the Huron right in Ann Arbor one night with a friend and got hooked-up with one of the largest smallies in my fishing career. It all happened just after dark in a stretch of water right out in front of the medical school, and within sight of a bridge full of cars.
Spratt notes that for Detroit anglers who target trout, there is also Paint Creek (Oakland County) and the Clinton River (Macomb County), and both get a hex hatch this time of year as well.
The smallmouth is an underrated fish on a fly rod in so many ways. In addition to being an aggressive striker, and a hard-fighting fish, it is my favorite species on which to introduce a new angler to the art of fly fishing. If the time and river are right, the smallie will hit even a poorly-presented streamer aggressively, and the white fly (ephoron) hatch, particularly on mid-Michigan and southern Michigan rivers, can be phenomenal. It will give a novice angler the best possible shot at hooking a large fish after dark.
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Buzz
It seems that most of this year’s trout fishing has been affected by inconsistent weather. This past week and the days ahead are no different, but rather than negatively affecting the fishing, our water temps are a few key degrees cooler, making for not only good fishing, but good for the fish, too.
Summer Trees on the Manistee
The Upper Manistee is running about its normal height right now as it didn’t receive much rain and what did fall went right into the sandy soil. Tricos are a little fickle to find right now in the mornings. Look for warmer, sunnier mornings for the best hatches and fish responding. Afternoons are spent either casting smaller streamers on cloudy days or terrestrial patterns on the surface. Cinnamon/rust colored ants have been fishing very well (Turk’s Power Ant) where as most other terrestrials vary from Chernobyl Ants to Grasshoppers. Rubber legs and foam have been working, but look for the fish to have a daily preference on size and color – mix it up. Other bugs include Isonychias, Lt. Cahills, Small Caddis, Yellow Sallies, BWOs and midges. Try fishing small Griffith’s Gnat or Renegades when you see rising fish, but no real emergence or spinner fall.
The Lower Manistee below Tippy Dam is running cooler than normal and this can be a great destination for those looking to do some trout fishing. Good caddis activity in the afternoons and technical midge dry fly fishing can get you into fish of all sizes. Wet flies and streamers fished both dead drift and/or twitched. Small Clouser Minnows have been working for both trout and smallmouth bass alike. Look for your better smallmouth fishing to happen when water temps increase a bit more.
The Boardman is almost all done with the Gray Drakes, but have a few in your box if you are out there in the evening. Caddis, Yellow Sallies and BWOs can be expected most days. Since this river has a nice mix of grass banks and overhanging trees, it can be a fantastic river for terrestrial fishing. Small hoppers, ants and beetles fished dead drift, twitched or even sunk can really provide some good fishing close to town. Fishing a soft hackle in deep slots and riffles is also a proven technique on this river on a floating line with either a standard leader or a sinking leader.
The area’s lakes are still providing some good fishing especially with the darker, cloudy days. When/if the sun returns, look for mornings and evenings to be best and target structure (weed beds, docks, swim platforms and fallen trees). One can expect large and smallmouth bass and pike to play the game.
Ted Kraimer is a professional guide and fly tier, owner of Current Works Guide Service, and field editor for True|North|Trout. His fishing reports will continue to appear in T|N|T and on his website.
Trout fishing has pretty much moved passed the Hex hatch, although there is still a sporadic showing of bugs on certain rivers on certain days in certain sections. It’s proved difficult to predict when and where, but it’s always good to see those huge mayflies flying around. In all, it was a strange hatch this year thanks to the weather. On those days when good bugs were out, we had good fishing, but now it’s on to summer trout fishing.
It's summer ... take a kid fishing.
On the Upper Manistee the Isonycia hatch has been good in the evenings. With the clouds, BWOs have been giving the fish a steady diet. Other bugs you can expect to see include: Light Cahills, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, and small black caddis. Tricos are just staring for those of you on the water before noon and look for the numbers to increase as warmer weather settles in for a period of time in the region.
The Boardman – Still some hex, but look for tricos to be the primary staple for fish feeding on the surface right now throughout the mornings with caddis in the afternoons and Lt. Cahills and Grey Drakes just before dark.
Both the Upper Manistee and Boardman are just coming into their “terrestrial “ season – that is, where grasshoppers are getting blown into the river and the fish grabbing them. Beatles, ants and rubber-legged foam creations can bring up some of the larger fish of the year. Experiment with size and action – some days they like dead-drift, other days twitched. Catch a trophy fish without a headlamp on! Like headlamps? Stay out after dark and throw the mouse/surface pattern.
The Lower Manistee River below Tippy Dam is still providing some good trout fishing since water temps have remained cool for this time of year. There is a mix of both trout and smallmouth bass in the river and look for the bass to continue to build in numbers with more heat and warmer water temperatures. Natural baitfish patterns ranging from 2 to 4 inches have been the most consistent producers of trout and smallies for the streamer fisherman, where wet flies and bead-head nymphs have been catching trout in the seams. Tricos should get going soon.
Regardless of where you choose to fish, the crowds are non-existent at this time of year and you can pretty much have a section of river all to yourself.
There are still some smallmouth bass in the bay with the early angler on a flat piece of water catching the fish. A carp here or there are around, but for the most part the carp fishing is done. Those who enjoy largemouth bass fishing are finding the weed beds in most lakes at the perfect height – that is providing cover, but minimal surface rafts getting in the way. Sliders, deer hair bugs and poppers are not only effective, but a fun way to catch fish – make sure your tippets are strong enough to pull a fish through the weeds.
Ted Kraimer is a professional guide and fly tier, owner of Current Works Guide Service, and field editor for True|North|Trout. His fishing reports will continue to appear in T|N|T and on his website.
Two-Hearted and Hex
Finally after a cool spring, summer just came, and so did the hot weather. This week’s pressure-cooker and sunlight were just what we needed to get the bugs going on local rivers.
The Manistee has hex bugs, but it’s just the first couple of nights, and the numbers are decent, and it will only build over the next week or so. The heat has an effect on the bugs – they are emerging at odd times as well as traditional hours. The hatch can be short-lived and sporadic and even isolated; if you don’t find bugs, go around the corner and you might find some. In addition to the hexes, there are still some brown drakes around and Isonycias. Some more of the big stoneflies can be seen bouncing on the water and that can be a great way to get a fish to leave their lair while waiting for the night’s mayflies. Look for the smallmouth bass to continue improve on the Lower Manistee.
The Boardman, too, has Hex in some sections. A lot of the bugs are coming from the ponds, and there can be prolific spinner falls as well as emergences. Make sure you have some brown drakes in your box and also be stocked up on gray drakes – a must for this time of year on the Boardman.
Grand Traverse Bay is still fishing well for carp and smallmouth bass. The recent heat has pushed many of the fish beyond the spawn and they are looking to eat some flies after their spawning ritual. Hex nymphs, gobies and leeches are best. There seem to be fewer crayfish around for some reason and therefore crayfish patterns haven’t been as effective as in past years, but if you see some bouncing around, tie one on. The Smallmouth are continuing to build in numbers, too, cruising in the shallow water looking to eat. They can move fast so be on them quickly, with a good presentation, and hold on as they jump a few times during the fight.
Ted Kraimer is a professional guide and fly tier, owner of Current Works Guide Service, and field editor for True|North|Trout. His fishing reports will continue to appear in T|N|T and on his website.
