Carp Fever!

Carp on the fly in Grand Traverse Bay is HOT! It has been a lot of fun in the shop the last couple of weeks, especially the last few days, chatting with people that have been out on the flats fly fishing for carp. This week, Steve from Florida (Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing) went out after a quick strategy session in the shop on Saturday and came back to tell me "I have never seen anything like that!" after catching 9 carp on Sunday morning. Now this is coming from a guy that guides in FL for snook, tarpon, redfish, and whatever else swims down there and he couldn't believe what a great fishery this is. He went back out the next day and landed 15 carp, including one that, based on the picture, easily topped 30 pounds! We also have a guy in town this week from Scotland that came over after reading about our carp fishing and wanted to give it a try, all the way from across the pond to try carp on the fly. I saw a few pictures of him fishing and based on the smile and our conversations, it sounds like it's been worth the trip. Pictured above is a bruiser taken by Jeff who went out on the bay with a group of college buddies on Sunday. Numerous fish were hooked and a good time was definitely had by the gang. The guys came back to give me the report and then went to hit the evening hatch for trout. That's one of the great things about the carp fishing, the best of it is from 8:00am-4:00pm and then it's pretty much done, just in time to go hit the river for the prime evening hatch for trout. I would have to say based on weather and the recent reports that we are really peaking right now for the carp but there should be at least 3 good weeks left to get out there. The smallmouth are moving in shallow too, I know of one guy that hit an 18" and a monster 23" smallie last Friday at Old Mission (of course no pictures, but personally I believe the guy). If you haven't tried it yet, stop in and we'll point you in the right direction, hook you up with the right flies and leader, and eagerly await your report and pictures!

The Northern Angler

Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report June 11, 2009

A bunch of rain earlier this week brought up our rivers but its on the way down again. Some areas received as much as two inches, bringing levels up and adding some needed color. Streamer fishing has been mixed – some days being better than others, but it sure is nice having color rather than clear water – it gives you confidence that the next streamer cast is the one. Levels are up, but not bad and they should return to “normal” levels for this time of year by the end of the weekend. It might take the Boardman a extra day or two to drain.

While this is a great time of the year for dry fly fishing, the cooler weather has kept the fishing from being hot. It won’t take much sun to change things – however, know that our hatches are running 7 to 10 days late this year. There is something seriously wrong wearing fleece and long underwear in June.

What’s been hatching on the Upper Manistee: a number of bugs, but not in great numbers have included: March Browns Spinners/Rusty Spinners, Little Yellow Sallies, Sulphurs, BWOs, Size 10 Brown/Yellow Stoneflies, some Mahoganies, and size14-16 Tan Caddis. I have been seeing the first of the Isonycias, but not any significant number. Look for hatch densities to increase and Iso numbers to build and Brown Drakes to start with rise in water temperatures. The fish will look for them too as they are the first good-sized bugs to emerge bringing some great fish to the surface.

Fishing below Tippy Dam is still fishing well despite getting some color from this week’s rain. A mixed bag of smaller, stocked fish to larger fish past the teens can be had by those fishing both streamers and nymphs. Look for this water to change into a technical dry fly fishery over the next few weeks as temperatures stabilize and the tail water hatches increase.

The Boardman is running high, but Sulphurs and Grey Drakes have been emerging along with the caddis. Look for Brown Drakes to start any day after some heat and the fishing to get really improve. Now is not a bad time to cast some large streamers imitating leeches/lampreys as the fish are taking advantage of the dirty water and what food it is washing downstream with it in the seams.

Carp are fishing well in the bay despite the cooler water and air temperatures. In some areas the spawning is taking place heavily and others, just starting. Regardless, not all of the fish are spawning right now and they are the ones to target, as they don’t have their minds set on one thing. Some smallmouth bass have been seen, a few caught and look for them to come shallower cruising for a crustacean snack. The best flies for carp and smallmouth have been crayfish patterns, clouser minnows and leeches/woolly buggers.

Good Luck

The Northern Angler

Northern Michigan Fly Fishing Report June 9th, 2009

Well, rain returned over the weekend and brought river levels back up quite a bit but they are on the decrease now and things should be in good shape within the next couple of days. Those that were/are throwing streamers have had some success and should continue. The hatches seem to (surprisingly) be close to on track to only slightly behind for this time of year, brown drakes are out on the AuSable system, sulphurs, mahoganies, Borchers, March Browns, olive and tan caddis, and olives are all present on area rivers. The weather is due to warm up this weekend a bit, although I feel like I've been using that line for 3-4 weeks now, that should get things going a little better. The cooler weather hasn't held the carp off, they are in the flats and feeding. I have seen many pictures form the last two weeks of fish from Old Mission and all along M-22, still have not heard much from East Bay but my guess is that with the higher water levels in the bay, some of the "old" spots should be fishing well again.

On the lakes, bluegill continue to provide good action and the bass are finally moving up in the shallows in good numbers. Numerous reports of good pike fishing along the weedbeds near and bordering dropoffs as well as some fish still hanging in the shallows.

Bottom lne, don't wait for the 75 degree slightly overcast day to get out there and fish, the fishing is good now and the way it's going, you may not get that warm day for at least a week or two.

Good Luck!
The Northern Angler