The past week of fishing for Atlantic Salmon on the St.Marys River here in the U.P. has been very monumental to say the least.  As a guide I am always trying to provide something new & different for my clients from the norm-there are proven techniques that will catch fish day in/day out.  There are also techniques that when you catch a fish doing the given technique it becomes etched in your memory forever.  Heavy Hex activity occurred this past week & many fish of the river system take advantage of this massive bug buffet.  One can fish a lifetime to encounter the perfect situation to take an Atlantic Salmon eating bugs off the surface.  Luckily I was joined by Chris Bouws this given day, Chris’s persistence & ability to cast an entire floating fly line into the backing provided for what I can say was the most exciting spectacle I have ever witnessed in fly fishing!  Congrats Chris on a truly remarkable feat-a 10 lb 3 yr old Atlantic Salmon on a dry fly!

Let the good times roll……

Warming water temps on the St.Marys river system have a plethora of different insects emerging-Caddis, Hex, Midges & other Mayflies have been active.  Currently the Atlantic Salmon are taking center stage as some good fly fishing opportunities have been available with some great fish here on the St.Marys river.  Smelt & other bait fish are still present in good numbers so nymphs are not the only thing on the menu for our finned friends!  Water temps are in the lower 60’s and a mix of nasty & nice weather has been present.  Sure seems to be no consistency in the weather dept this Summer-one day there are 25 mph winds & cold, then the next day 75 degrees with loads of sunshine.  Us locals of the Upper Peninsula say- if you don’t like the weather here, wait 5 minutes & it will probably be different! Congrats to 15 yr old Brent Major on a truly world class male Atlantic Salmon that weighed in at 15 1/2 lbs!  Holy waaaaaa!

Summer is half way over, or has it just half begun?