|
More Manistee River Info |
 |
| Chuck's
Favorites |
| This page is devoted to those things which I find to be especially good and noteworthy. From time to time I'll post different products, ideas, techniques, or destinations that I think are outstanding and worthy of your notice. Please understand that any topics that I bring up are my choosing and are here solely at my discretion. These are my opinions and don't reflect in any way on other manufacturers, guides, lodges or anything else. This is just my opinion.
Sincerely,
Hawk |
Manistee River trout fishing on Opening Day
I love to fish and if I have to commit to what type of fishing most gets my blood boiling I'd say that it is resident trout fishing and saltwater, I love to hunt big fish. The fish that are the most difficult to catch are the ones that I dream about. Right now having just returned from 16 days in Belize chasing permit and tarpon my thoughts and dreams have turned to opening day (and before on the flies-only stretches)of trout season. All of those big browns that haven't seen a fly since September are waiting for us to fool them with our offerings.
Manistee River trout fishing this winter has been awesome with good numbers of big trout hooked on the flies only water and below Tippy Dam. This light winter will give more big fish to catch because the lack of shelf ice helps the trout both survive winter and continue to grow. Without shelf ice the trout can stay in their normal holding areas rather than moving into deep pools where they have to compete with other trout for available food or fight the current in less than ideal locations. All this adds up to the potential of a really great trout season this year.
Trout season opens the last Saturday in April so usually the weather is still too cold for significant dry fly activity but not always. Streamers are the name of the game this time of year. A 7 weight rod like The Orvis T-3 saltwater loaded with a 200 grain sink tip is all the equipment you need. Tie 3 feet of 15-20 fluorocarbon on the end of the fly line and you're ready to go. Fly selection should include the staples that we always carry along with one of our secret patterns that Orvis recently added to the catalog. It's a fly I developed called the "Nutcracker" We've been using this pattern with great results for a couple of years. A natural colored one in size 4 took the trout pictured below on opening day last year.
When fishing on opening day you don't need to start at the break of day. Let the water warm up a little before getting out there. Be prepared with BWO's, Black Caddis, and Hendricksens along with your streamer patterns. If you don't have any surface activity fish streamers. You'll want to vary your retrieve to find out what works. Fish the fly slowly if the water temp is under 45 degrees. Try long (18") strips at about one each second. If you see a fish following don't change anything, wait until he eats it and closes his mouth before you set the hook. Set with a strip strike so the fly stays in the same area if the trout misses it.
Manistee River trout fishing on Opening Day is a great tradition. Get your fishing buddies or better yet your kids and get on the water. As always, Hawkins Outfitters is available to help you catch the fish of your dreams. Give us a call at 231.228.7135 or email me at chuck@hawkinsflyfishing.com.
|
|
|
|
|
