Ted's Fly Fishing report for Northern Michigan Dec. 2, 2011

Fishing Report December 2, 2010 It’s December – Time for Fleece and Winter Steelhead With a flip of that calendar came a flip of the weather – snow is falling as I type and the temps have dropped past the freezing mark. Its no surprise that winter was coming, it's just sometimes difficult to accept when it first gets here. While it’s white outside, it isn’t time to put your fishing gear away just yet. We still have some warmer than normal water temps for this time of year (upper 30’s) and given some warmer daytime temps, anglers should expect to catch some fish. Tuesday’s “warmish” rain was really needed although we could have used more to bring levels up, add a little stain to the water and bring in fish. Look for a few steelhead to enter the local rivers and join the fish already in the system. When the sun is out they can often be seen in shallow tail-outs sunning themselves – approach these runs with stealth. Since the sun rarely shows itself this time of year, spend the other times working the deeper, slower water near and around structure like wood. This is a good time to get your floats and indicators out and make that drag-free drift. Good flies include lots of eggs and nymph patterns with good motion like hex nymphs, big stone flies and small baitfish/fry. While temps hold on, don’t abandon your swing approach either – it has been a good fall for those putting the time with the long rod. The streamer fishing for trout has remained decent on the Manistee River for those looking to catch sizeable fish eating big before the long winter ahead. Olive, white and tans have been working but as you know this can change by the day let alone the hour. Mix it up and slow down the pace of your retrieve; a little jig/suspended action has been working lately as the fish aren’t attacking flies out of territorial aggression rather, simply looking for calories and don’t want to chase fast moving flies. Again, be prepared to mix it up. The nymph angler is also finding trout to catch when working the seams. Small, pale egg patterns as well as sow bugs/scuds, hares ears and BWO nymphs are great candidates to tie on. The December Newsletter just went out. In this edition learn more about Spey/Two Handed fishing, how to tie a tube fly pattern for swinging, a winter special and way to help out our fisheries. If you don’t already receive it, click here to read and be sure to sign up for future delivery. Good Luck! Ted Now That Winter is Here Get Out & Fish for Steelhead and Trout in Solitude. Winter Special - 5 Hours of Guided Fishing & Lunch for One or Two Anglers - $250 Call or e-mail: ted@current-works.com 231.883.8156