RIVERS NORTH UPPER PENINSULA FISHING REPORT!

Inconsistent weather has made dry fly fishing a bit tough …

May 27th, 2008

Inconsistent weather has made dry fly fishing a bit tough as of lately-one day it can be 70 degrees & then the next day it is 40. Caddis, BWO’s, and Hendricksens make up the bug buffet while streamers & nymphs have been on the menu as well for the Trout of the U.P.. Rivers are running in the mid 50’s for the most part & on the warmer days they may reach 60. Some very nice Brook and Brown Trout were taken this past week even though conditions were challenging! The forecast for the next week is looking a bit more favorable to get some surface activity-daytime temps in the mid 60’s & night temps in the upper 40’s. C’mon summertime!

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This cold weather sure does not want to leave us…

May 22nd, 2008

Burr! This cold weather sure does not want to leave us this year-believe it or not we had snow flurries here in the U.P. this past week! Despite the cool weather resident Trout have been cooperative-streamers, nymphs and dry flies have all produced with good results as of lately. Depending upon the day some good Caddis & Hendricksen hatches have Trout really keyed in on eating up top. Days where the sun comes out form the clouds have been getting the bugs going-cold windy days have had trout looking subsurface for their next meal. Forecast is calling for a warm up this weekend & it should get a lot of bugs hatching. I would suspect to see Caddis, BWO’s, & a few Sulphurs over the weekend. Water temps are currently in the lower to mid 50’s & water clarity is ideal. There are a few Steelhead around-all fish are actively spawning or dropping back. It was a great Spring Steelhead run, but know our efforts are concentrated on Trout. Prime time for Trouting is upon us-Early Summer in the U.P.!

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This time of the fishing season is great…

May 14th, 2008

This time of the fishing season is great-start out the morning Steelhead fishing & then chase trout once the water temps warm in the afternoon. Currently water temps are in the upper 40’s to lower 50’s-this makes for many of options, all of which have been quite productive as of lately! Steelhead numbers are starting to thin as most fish are spawned out & dropping back to their respective Great Lake. A few Steelhead are still spawning, but with warmer water temps they are getting their business done quickly! Dropbacks are found in dark water areas, not necessarily by gravel or spawning fish. This years Spring run of Steelhead was fun, a slower trickle of fish provided for a longer drawn out run versus a short blast of fish once water temps warmed. Kind of reminded me of pre-global warming days! Trout fishing has been productive as of late as they have been getting more active with the warmer water temps. A few Stoneflies, Midges & Hendricksens have been hatching-being there @ the right time makes all the difference in catching fish or getting the skunk! After fishing Steelhead since last Fall it is refreshing to be on a U.P. Trout stream or lake-Trout season is upon us!

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Wet cool Spring weather has been on the menu here in the U.P. …

May 6th, 2008

Wet cool Spring weather has been on the menu here in the U.P. over the past few days. Rivers are currently running high, but cold & clear for the most part. Steelhead are still present in many rivers across upper Michigan with most fish either finishing up their spawning or spawned out. A few chrome Steelhead are still being caught since water temps are still only in the mid 40’s. If this cool weather keep up we should have Steelhead around in fishable #’s for a while. This past week Jeff from Ohio landed a very rare catch- a Springer Chinook that surprised us to say the least(see pic below). A few of these fish are caught every year on the Great Lakes tributaries, all are females for some reason. On the west coast (Pacific Ocean) a very reliable run of these fish enter the rivers every Spring. Quite the battle in heavy Spring runoff conditions! Resident Brook Trout and Brown Trout fishing has been steadily picking up as the water temps have been rising. Today I saw the first rising Brook Trout of the year, a pleasant sight after fishing subsurface for 6 months! As water temps warm the biggest Brook Trout of the season will be on the hunt for an easy meal-it’s time for Trout fishing in the U.P.!

Ethel Disterheft, June 9,1910- May 3,2008 Rest in Peace Friend & Grandmother

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Cold days & even colder nights has it feeling more like Winter…

May 1st, 2008

Cold days & even colder nights has it feeling more like Winter in the morning here in the U.P. lately! The cold weather has caused rivers to drop in level and temps here this past week. Currently water temps are in the low 40’s & rivers are running at a good level but are very clear. Steelhead and a few resident Trout have been grabbing well presented flies-eggs have been the main dish on the menu with a few fish interested in nymphs. There is quite a mix of Steelhead currently present- ranging from fresh chrome to dropbacks. The cold water conditions has slowed the spawning process down & fish are not so keyed in on finding gravel as soon as they get into the rivers. Forecast is calling for rain over the next few days so this should keep river levels at a favorable condition! Fly fishing in the U.P. for wild Steelhead-could life get any better?

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