I love Fall in Northern Michigan. The only negative is that it's too short. I wish Fall lasted 6 months. It's the time of year that we work the most consecutive days but still feel the thrill of fishing everyday.
Fall fishing starts with early King Salmon, they are already in the rivers. Not really in fishable numbers yet but they will be soon. The thrill of a 15# King nailing a stripped streamer will make any day. As soon as the salmon run gets underway in earnest it's time to start looking for fall steelhead, maybe the finest fish that we pursue in Michigan. At the same time as the waters are cooling and steelhead and salmon are moving the resident trout fishing heats up, big-time. Fishing the flies only section of the Manistee or below Hodenpyl dam can produce some of the best, most exciting action of the year. You have the added bonus of greatly reduced angling pressure. The crowds are downstream chasing the big fish. As the King Salmon run starts to taper off in mid-October the fall steelhead and streamer fishing for browns really kicks into gear. Just imagine a day starting attached to a ten pound steelhead cartwheeling down the river followed by ripping streamers for resident browns looking for a five pounder. Now throw in bow hunting and bird hunting and you can see why those of us that love this time of year really strain our relationships with the ones we love.
My perfect fall schedule would include two days of salmon fishing in early September, two days in mid October looking for steelhead and ripping streamers for trout and at least two days (preferably four days in two different weeks) in the first three weeks of November hunting big fish (steelhead and browns) with streamers. Then I'd try to squeeze in a little bird hunting on my days off!
If all of this sounds like fun to you give us a call at 231.228.7135 or send an email to chuck@hawkinsflyfishing.com. We still have a few days left this year.
Tight Lines and Release all Wild Steelhead,
Chuck Hawkins
