Fishing has been decent as of late.  A week ago it was great, but since the cool down over the weekend and the two massive thunderstorms we have had, things have slowed a bit.  Unfortunately, the drakes are over (with just a few bouncing about).  This grey drake season was one of the best as far as I am concerned.  I will be posting another video of drake action as soon as I get internet that is fast enough to load it to YouTube.  The video itself is done, but it keeps "failing to load".

Last week Nate and I hit the some nice rising fish (that you will see when the video is posted).  After landing some beauties it shut down for a while...just long enough to get rigged up for a bit of mousing.  While we did roll plenty, the must have been all male fish, because they were not committing.

On Monday, Kirk and I dropped in for a late evening fish.  We opted to fish some water that we very rarely fish in the evenings.  We got into fish early and often using various rubber-legged hopper patterns.  Here are just a few of the fish that we managed to fool.

Over the years, Kirk and I have this uncanny ability to run into random people on the river and pick them up as hitchhikers.  For some reason, they all seem to have the same name:  Dave.  This evening, we picked up a Dave from somewhere north of Minneapolis.  He had never tried mousing before.  Needless to say, we have a new addict. 

When taking out of the river that night around 1:30, we ran into a couple of guys dropping a buddy off before they continued on until dawn.  I don't know if they were brave, dumb or crazy, because in the west there seemed to be a bunch of flash photography going off.  Around 4 a.m., I was awoken by straight line winds, pouring rain, thunder and lightning.  My first thought, I hope that they made it off before it hit, but I doubt it.   They would have to have rowed out to make it before the skies started raising havoc.

The big bugs should be coming soon.  Look at the spiderwebs along the streams to get a heads up.  Then take an afternoon nap and get ready for the hex hatch!

Hopefully this week and next, I will be venturing to the Big Sandy for some R & D.  

In case you forgot what they look like.  

I teach a class called Bigger Than You where students can choose to create their own nonprofit organization and pursue their ambitions to make the world a better place for all of us.  The group EHRSA chose to work with Trout Unlimited to plant trees along the Rogue River in Rockford, MI to stabilize the banks and offer some great trout habitat.  It was very cool to watch these guys raise the funds needed to buy the 105 trees and organize the volunteers that made it happen!!!  

Can't wait for the weekend!!!!  Swinging for steelhead on the PM...maybe the curse will be broken!

It had been a tough three days of fishing. We had arrived “Up North” in the Grayling area on Wednesday in advance of the Rodmaker’s at Grayrock gathering at the Lovell’s Museum property. Grayrock is an annual meeting of split bamboo rod makers and aficionados and is scheduled in the third week of June to hopefully coincide with the much-expected arrival of the Hexagenia Limbata mayfly (also known as simply “The Hex”, or previously known as the “Michigan Caddis”.) What a stroke of genius to schedule work and play together…….we love it. 

Reports around town were that the Hex were just starting, but they were quite low in the river systems yet, but anticipation was high and a hatch could “happen any day”  along either the Au Sable or Manistee River systems. Better reports of Hex were coming from the Au Sable, but good reports of holdover Brown Drakes, Isonychia, and sulphur mayflies on the Manistee water were being told with the possibility of being among the first to see Hex on that river. The good reports of “non-Hex” hatches on the Manistee, along with the inability to obtain a car spot on the Au Sable system (shuttling of cars and boat trailers between put in and take out) forced us to fish the Manistee river system for all three days. Our first two floats were repeats of the sections between “Hole in the Wall” to “Yellow Trees”, with our third being from “Burnt Cabin” to “Weber’s.” These sections of water are extremely beautiful and are what you come to expect from Northern Michigan Rivers as they are full of cedar sweepers, tag alders, undercut banks, lumber, and deep holes on the outside bends. Our game plan was to fish streamers and or hoppers during the daylight hours in an attempt to raise a bigger fish, prior to the evening and night hatches. Each night, our plans were to stick it out long past dark to hopefully hit the hatch and then sleep in a bit prior to attending meetings with our friends at Grayrock. 

The first two trips produced several smaller brook and brown trout on streamers, with a couple of nicer fish lost sometime between hookup and picture taking. We had a very thick hatch of Brown Drakes for a 150 yard section of this river right at dusk, but no feeding fish to speak of. We did hook and land a few 7 – 9 inchers, but not much else was feeding at the time. On the second day, after seeing several rises to the occasional Iso mayfly, we took some fish blind drifting an Iso emerger pattern over likely spots, whether we had seen a rise there or not. 

A highlight of the first evening was meeting Don and Donnie, a father and son duo who we celebrating Donnie’s skill at locating, choosing a fly (Iso emerger) casting to, and catching a 13” Manistee River Brown trout. Although we did not get a picture of the fish, we got a picture of the happy son, and proud father. Way to go gentlemen!




As for ourselves, we were happy and appreciative for another wonderful night on the river with each other as friends, but no real stories to tell. That was about to change……

The third day (June 21, 2013) really had us excited for the Hex as more and more reports were being told of Hex in the systems, but we were not the only ones who were after them. Due to the large number of fishermen, we once again had difficulties in getting a car spotted on the AuSable, which relegated us to the Manistee (never a bad thing in its own right) to hope for a brown drake or Iso hatch. We decided to float a lower section of the river to hope for a few early Hex mixed in with the Brown Drakes and Iso’s. We had heard reports that they had started low in the system on the Manistee as well. After a quick trip to the grocery store for dinner supplies (might I recommend Little Town Jerky brats…..of any flavor) we were ready to give it another try. To this point, we had an excellent time at Grayrock and our fishing experiences were memorable, but our catching was leaving a little to be desired. We needed a better night to turn this thing around. We needed that “one fish” to remember. 

The float was once again both beautiful and held extreme promise for a good night. The temperatures were certainly up from the previous two cool northern Michigan nights, and there were more bugs around. We were seeing a few more drakes and Iso’s coming off the water than we had the previous two nights. We were also seeing more fisherman sitting on their “spots” along the banks in anticipation of the Hex as word was obviously getting out. From guys with equipment from the large box stores, to guys with equipment from the specialty shops; to guys with beers in their hands to guys with books in their hands; everybody was getting ready for what hopefully was going to be an epic night……any day now. We were extremely jealous of the one gent who had “cleared his schedule for the week” as he was most certainly going to experience Hex 2013.

Once again we fished hard, changing flies and tactics as often as we deemed necessary with absolutely no success. We had floated, fished, and fed for approximately three hours with nothing to show for it. We knew that we were about a 45minute float from our take out and night was quickly approaching, so we decided to set up on a good looking stretch of water and wait to see if the bugs would come out to play. Ironically, the stretch of water we decided to set up on, was just upstream of a public access site and easily reached by foot, but who were we to pass up a good looking spot. We sat, talked, and took pictures of the Super Moon, which was orbiting the Earth closer that it would for another year.

The night was perfect as it was, but one thing would make it better……..if only the bugs would start. As we talked and told stories, frustrations, and dreams, I noticed relatively regular rising fish just over Jason’s left shoulder as I looked at him. Since I was in the bow of the boat, this fish was rising upstream of our holding spot and on the inside bend of our special spot. I watched this fish rise for probably 20 minutes or so, before I told Jason about it.  During a lull in our conversation, I said, “Hey, Jason……check out the little riser on the inside corner…..it is the only fish I see working, but I think it is a littler fish.” As we looked back upstream in the waning light of the night, we could only see an occasional dimple in the reflection of the moon on the water. The water showed some irregularity on its surface in this spot, as there was some structure around, but it was most definitely on the inside bend and not where you would expect bigger fish to be. Amongst the rippling surface of the water in this spot, you could occasionally see concentric rings rise from above where this fish was feeding, but they were very subtle and small…….not the big slurper that we were hoping for. Jason turned, looked, and saw what I had been looking at and said “Want to go for him? I will row us back up so you can cast for him”, to which I replied “Naw, don’t worry about it…..he seems little and not worth the trouble.” Jason in his infinite wisdom and common sense, replies with, in hind sight the most intelligent comment of the night, by stating  “Kirk, we have nothing else better to do”……….so we rowed back upstream 20 yards and waited for the rising to continue. 

After 5 minutes or so the rising started again and I began fishing. The fish was on river left, working a 5 foot section parallel to the bank about 3 to 4 feet off from it. There were a couple of stumps tight against the bank but nothing to interfere with my casts. Casting upstream and throwing an upstream mend allowed the fly to drift over the entire feeding lane without drag and I put about 5 casts over the spot to no avail. I then saw that the fish had moved upstream another 2 feet, evidenced by a rise in a new spot and I took out more line on my back cast and dropped the Iso emerger ahead of the new riseform that we saw……..I was bound and determined to get this “nine inch fish” so that we would not be skunked for the night. I cast, I mended, the fly the fish took, I lifted up, FISH ON, and then the questions began. Jason, who did not see the take, but heard the tail slap, said…”whoa, how big it it?” to which I answered with boundless sagacity…..”not sure.” The fish certainly felt heavy, but I was not sure it was due to the size of the fish or due to the fact that the current was heavy, but I certainly was putting a bend in my Karma Kane Shelbyville 88 bamboo rod. 

We were not able to put a tape measure on the fish, but taking measurements of a picture of the fish inside of my net, tells us that this fish was at least a 22” Manistee brown, that I am extremely glad that Jason decided to “row back to.” Thanks Jason……….I owe you one. 

p.s. On the way out of town to return to family obligations, we needed to stop and fuel the truck for our return trip………..guess who we saw! 

Maybe next year!

Sunday evening seemed as if it were forecasted for a perfect night for a combo sulphur/grey drake hatch.  Unfortunately, much like the meteorologists, I was wrong.
While the fishing may have been lacking, the scenery was not.  On my hike in, this little guy was hiding in the wide open, while mother was about twenty yards into the cover.

On the night, there was only one solid riser that I saw.  One the first cast, he hammered a gray drake emerger.  Immediately after the take he shot up out of the water, at first indicating a nice bow, but instead he was just a really feisty brown.  He put a nice bend in the Karma Kane Para 14.  

This whole time, I just wanted to get a nice video of the take, leap and release...so now I am looking at the HD Go Pros.  Unfortunately, everything that I have read has said that the batteries have an extremely short capacity.  Alternatives

Heading out again the weekend.  Hopefully with better results.

May 31 - June 1, 2013

Trout Camp 2013 based out of Fuller's North Branch Outing Club

Four friends and I participated in Trout Camp 2013 this weekend hoping to catch the prolific brown drake hatch on the North Branch of the AuSable River. We traveled north and set up camp at Fuller's North Branch Outing Club, which is one of the great historical sporting clubs still in operation. (I highly recommend treating yourself to this club and join the historical figures who have slept, ate, drank, told stories, and developed friendships within its confines. Give Judy or Chris a call at (989) 348-7951 and plan your visit.......you won't regret it.

Our plan was to float the North Branch in traditional Au Sable River Boats on Friday evening with guides from the AuSable Fly Shop, and fish on our own during the day and evening on Saturday. Friday was warm and the conditions were right for the first large brown drake hatch of the year. A few flies had been seen coming off the local lakes, and all indications pointed to a big hatch on the river very soon. Well........we hit it just right. A few minutes before dark we started seeing a few brown drakes coming off the water and things only progressed from there. We had multiple opportunities on several really large fish only to have the box score inform the fans that the Trout Camp Anglers lost to the 20+ inch North Branch Brown Trout by a score of 2 to zero. However, we did happen to land several 13 to 17 inch fish with several of them taken on Karma Kane Rods. 

Classic Michigan Flies Author, Jon Osborn with 17" North Branch Brown taken on Karma Kane Rod.

On Saturday afternoon we fished Big Creek in hopes of finding some 10 to 14 inch brook trout. We found them, but had difficulty landing them in the heavy wooded stream. It was a neat little stream and fun to get them to take. 

Saturday evening found us back on the North Branch hoping for a spinner fall from the hatch the night before. We were not disappointed as we not only had a spinner fall, but another heavy hatch. We had approximately 45 minutes of great rises with several fish taken among the group. I personally was able to entice two fish to take a low riding brown drake comparadun pattern. The fish were tight to cover as it was dusk and they had not moved out into the middle of the river. The first fish (15”) was up tight to log that ran parallel to the bank, with the second fish tight to a grassy undercut with a tamarack branch serving as a roof to its home. This fish was larger and full of spunk.

 It was a great culmination to a wonderful weekend of fun, food, and fishing. 
Fishing with bamboo only made it better............

Sorry that I haven't been updating this as much as I should. Since the last post I have gotten out a few times for some decent streamer fishing (when it was hot, it was on fire...unfortunately, the reciprocal held true as well.  Kirk and I made it out for a quick float as well there were a million bugs, unfortunately 999K of those were mosquitos.  We did catch a few and try to get some pics to share, however we had some technical difficulties.  

With family obligations and life in general, I haven't been out in over a week.  This is a problem that I hope to remedy this weekend.  I will bring the camera along this time for some pics to share

In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures of Jon Osborn, author of  16 Classic Michigan Flies,  with a Karma Kane rod after a day pursuing bull bluegill at an undisclosed western Michigan lake. Osborn "loved" the rod and has subsequently thrown away most of his graphite rods......a common occurrence after fishing with a Karma Kane Rod.

Until next time friends.

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.

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 

So I have gone steelhead fishing several times since the last post, but to no avail.  Still looking for that chromer to grab it while swinging.  The next time out, it seems that the nymphs and eggs will have to be on the menu in order feel that pull.  As much as I hate to say it, they win.  I understand that this time of year isn't exactly the most conducive to the swing, but hey it was worth a try.  To be perfectly honest, my obsession is as much about my laziness and comfort as it is about hooking up in this manner.  Have you ever watched an indicator go down with the knowledge that the stats say that it was more likely a log than a fish, only to snap off the two flies and have to rerig!!! Not just rerig, but do so when the wind is blowing a million tiny needles into any opening carelessly overlooked in preparation for a day in search of a single fish.  Rerig when your hands are so numb that you can't feel the #10 wiggle hex that you just embedded into the meat of your thumb.  Can you tell that I hate rerigging.  

So...Have you ever had an itch that you can't quite reach?  No matter how hard you try; the door, corner of a wall, etc. it just doesn't cut it.  Well this is very much the issue I have been having with catching a steelhead on the swing.  I know.  I KNOW!  I just haven't put in my time!  

This past week, I made it out a couple of times to keep trying, but to no avail.  Some browns and a small rainbow, but no chrome.

I have landed quite on the indy rig. I have to admit that I really dislike looking at that bobber.  More than my dislike of staring at the bobber is rerigging when it 25 degrees out and blowing 20 mph.

 One has come on a mouse pattern.  (Not intentionally, but while showing a friend of mine how to mouse while it was still light, a nice buck came up and slammed my gurgler.  Better luck than good.  Did I mention that this was with a bamboo PY Boat Rod? Great streamer rod too!)

At this point, I don't even bring the eggs and nymphs with me anymore. Two have been hooked, just not landed.  I just want to land one on the swing.  

Karma...So I have come to the conclusion that the reason that I haven't landed one is because I am using plastic instead of bamboo.  To remedy that, the (very,very slow) development of a hollowed and spliced spey rod is underway.  With a ton of help from Jerry Drake (what a great last name for a fisherman), it is now drying with it's first coat of spar varnish.  

Wish me luck, going to try tomorrow and Sunday to find a way to scratch that itch.  
Go, go, gadget arms!!!