Upper Manistee River Trout Fishing Report

Nov 29th, 2011

Since the new fishing regulations were put in place and with all the newly acquired water to fish in our great state, I have been chomping at the bit to get out and try some water that I have never been able to fish during this time of year. For me this was a great change of pace from the busy fall season and to have a piece of water all to myself was just what the doctor ordered! The water looks great right now with a slight bump in flow and color from the recent rains and the best part of the day was that nobody else was fishing the section a friend and I were in. The fishing was not red hot, but I thought it was pretty good today considering the drop in temperature the night before and the fresh dusting of snow covering the landscape. Fishing this time of year can require some patience, especially in colder weather, but keeping the faith and sticking to your guns will eventually provide you with some opportunities that you would not see by sitting at home! The streamer bite definitely started out a little bland, but we did have a couple of hours of excitement along the way. Fishing this time of year isn’t always about putting the biggest offering on the table. Change your flies frequently and look at different size and color combinations until you find one that grabs some attention and then stick with it. Mix up your retrieve as well, in the colder weather today presenting the fly in a controlled slow retrieve kept the fish on the chase.

We now have tons of new water open year round, and although access may be limiting due to snow accumulation, the fish are there and will give those anglers willing to persevere the elements some great fishing opportunities even in the colder months of the year. Unlike peak times of fishing, the winter bite is all about finding a “player”. Some days lots of fish are hunting and sometimes only a few will give you a look. Watching the weather this time of year can pay big dividends in regards to timing and success. Look for warming trends in the forecast and just go for it! “You don’t know if you don’t go” is the old adage I would stick too. As we head into winter and early spring, look for those brief periods of warmer weather to put a jump start in the fish mood as they begin to recover from their winter slumber.

Winter fishing is a good way to rid yourself of “Cabin Fever” and the peace and tranquility one can find up here in “God’s Country” can be a powerful cure. As spring approaches and the days become longer the fish will begin to feed much more consistently and March and April can give you some great opportunities at the fish of a lifetime. If you are looking for a more relaxed experience this winter or spring then consider our trout streams to be the place for you. Most of the angling pressure will be on our tail water sections or smaller streams that receive steelhead from the Great Lakes leaving countless miles of trout water relatively untouched. There is nothing that can compare to having a river to yourself!

Tight Lines,

Ed

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