Fishing Report 8/30/24
Wow! For the end of August we are experiencing a heatwave. Hard to think that we are on the cusp of fall with the temperatures we have seen over the last 10 days. Great to have some nice beach weather for the end of summer, but it definitely does not make the fish happy overall. More rain and some cooler evening temperatures are in the forecast so that should help with trout fishing and for those trying for early kings.
Upper Manistee River Trout Report
The Upper Manistee has been fishing pretty decent in the morning hours, before it gets too hot or the sun hits the water directly. Some days are better than others Ants, smaller hoppers, beetles and attractor type patterns. Fly ants should really start getting going in the next two weeks. Twitch your rubber legged bugs and it can sometimes help convince the fish to strike. Try dropping a small ant off of a bigger hopper or chubby chernobyl and get out to have some fun. The night bite on mice and frogs has been productive for the big fish.
Boardman River Report
The Boardman just continues to amaze me as a fun and productive river to fish so close to town. Rubber legged attractor patterns, euro nymphing, swinging soft hackles and smaller streamers have all been producing fish. For dries, make sure you have some flying ants, small chubby chernobyls, and patriots. The water temps have been great and the fish are most happy on cloudy days. Caddis may be popping around in some of the riffles in the evening hours, so keep those handy when on the stream. Focus your attention to waters from the Forks down to Garfield and you should have a fun and productive time on the water. Get out and fish the Boardman before it closes to fishing the last Saturday in September.
Lower Manistee Fishing Report
Tippy Dam down has been still fishing well for smallmouth bass and there are some early kings that migrated in during the last rain and colder temperatures event we experienced during mid August. The salmon seem stale and not wanting to bite except around dawn and at dark. Smallies have been targeting smaller, natural looking streamers, but look for them to move out as more salmon arrive in the coming weeks. Reports from Lake Michigan seem like the coho run and king run should host really good numbers this year. More rain and cold temperatures will get some fish moving, but we need the river temps to come down and maybe a big north wind.
Betsie River Report
The lower Betsie has been producing salmon and looking for that river to really get going with the next rain and cold weather snap. They are getting the salmon in the harbor and close to shore. The fish will move up about the dam and stage in the deeper holes and runs. It is just around the corner and we expect this river to really take off in the next few weeks.