Saturday morning, we started off on the Upper Manistee River While it was a great float, unfortunately, very few fish came to hand.
The largest was the first, a ten inch brook trout. It was too bright and the water was a freezing 41 degrees.
We did see a few bugs coming off throughout the day. Mostly stones, mixed in with a few BWO's and Henny's. The water was still pretty heavily stained from the downpour that we had been delivered the previous week
The largest was the first, a ten inch brook trout. It was too bright and the water was a freezing 41 degrees.
We did see a few bugs coming off throughout the day. Mostly stones, mixed in with a few BWO's and Henny's. The water was still pretty heavily stained from the downpour that we had been delivered the previous week
Todd with the average size fish that we were getting into on the PM.
Sunday- We moved downstate to the Pere Marquette River. The weather was warmer and so was the water compared to the Upper Man. We got off to a much later start which, actually, worked out. The water was still high,
but clearing nicely. Perfect overcast day with warming water. This
was the best day for fishing. We caught quite a few really nice trout
(biggest two were around 18"). Many more 11-13's were caught as well. The streamers on the day all had white. The most successful were white conehead wooly buggers and mad pups.
The highlights on the day may have been the fish, but the comedy of watching two newbies on the sticks had to be a close second. In the upper fly water, I did most of the rowing due to how tight the river is, but after a while, the itch to fish took over. After caroming off from trees, banks and anything else you can think of, they really started to get the hang of the whole drift boat thing. One of the two was quite a natural at it, while the other...not so much. (Practice makes perfect, Todd.)
The upper fly water was made even more difficult by two trees that blocked passage down the river, but we just found a way over it. Our friends at Baldwin Bait and Tackle (BBT) were going to clear both of them today, so it should be smooth sailing. Be careful if you go downriver, I heard that there was another tree down below Rainbow Rapids.
Later in the day, we did see a few Henny's and BWO's start to pop. There were even a few fish that decided to look up, but they seemed pretty small (at least that is what I keep telling myself).
After a great day on the river with some good friends, better drinks and the best fish (trout), it was time to head to our local watering hole Na-Tah-Ka Tavern (South). After some dinner, we awaited another piscine pursuer, who arrived in, lets just say that he was in less than a cheery mood. Understandable so, when we all venture outside to see that his Trailblazer was missing a grill and a headlight. The deer should have bobbed instead of weaved.
but clearing nicely. Perfect overcast day with warming water. This
was the best day for fishing. We caught quite a few really nice trout
(biggest two were around 18"). Many more 11-13's were caught as well. The streamers on the day all had white. The most successful were white conehead wooly buggers and mad pups.
The highlights on the day may have been the fish, but the comedy of watching two newbies on the sticks had to be a close second. In the upper fly water, I did most of the rowing due to how tight the river is, but after a while, the itch to fish took over. After caroming off from trees, banks and anything else you can think of, they really started to get the hang of the whole drift boat thing. One of the two was quite a natural at it, while the other...not so much. (Practice makes perfect, Todd.)
The upper fly water was made even more difficult by two trees that blocked passage down the river, but we just found a way over it. Our friends at Baldwin Bait and Tackle (BBT) were going to clear both of them today, so it should be smooth sailing. Be careful if you go downriver, I heard that there was another tree down below Rainbow Rapids.
Later in the day, we did see a few Henny's and BWO's start to pop. There were even a few fish that decided to look up, but they seemed pretty small (at least that is what I keep telling myself).
After a great day on the river with some good friends, better drinks and the best fish (trout), it was time to head to our local watering hole Na-Tah-Ka Tavern (South). After some dinner, we awaited another piscine pursuer, who arrived in, lets just say that he was in less than a cheery mood. Understandable so, when we all venture outside to see that his Trailblazer was missing a grill and a headlight. The deer should have bobbed instead of weaved.
If you can't tell, I was really happy to be back on the river without the neoprenes on.
The final day of our adventure produced fish, but not as well as the previous. We were on the water by 9 with one man down. After hitting Bambi, our friend was a less than eager to venture out into the bright sunshine due to the previous night's fiasco.
As for fishing, it started off really slow and only picked up. We did bring some good size fish, just not the numbers from the previous day. It was really
bright and sunny, which was nice for floating, but not so much the fishing. It was pretty telling that every time we had a few clouds, we turned fish. Again, the streamers were white coneheads and mad pups.
Towards the end of the day, the fishing started to pick up. Unfortunately, we all had to get home at a decent time.
That is all for now. I am planning on heading out again this weekend after putting in a couple of docks for family members. I will let you know how it goes. Hopefully, the Henny's will show and we can get the dry fly action working. I have a new 4/5 weight bamboo rod that needs to get broken in. In the meantime, enjoy a few more pics from the weekend
As for fishing, it started off really slow and only picked up. We did bring some good size fish, just not the numbers from the previous day. It was really
bright and sunny, which was nice for floating, but not so much the fishing. It was pretty telling that every time we had a few clouds, we turned fish. Again, the streamers were white coneheads and mad pups.
Towards the end of the day, the fishing started to pick up. Unfortunately, we all had to get home at a decent time.
That is all for now. I am planning on heading out again this weekend after putting in a couple of docks for family members. I will let you know how it goes. Hopefully, the Henny's will show and we can get the dry fly action working. I have a new 4/5 weight bamboo rod that needs to get broken in. In the meantime, enjoy a few more pics from the weekend