July 2018 News

Summer is in full swing here in Traverse City.  The weather has been incredible over the two months and we have several more weeks of fantastic weather and summer fun.  Clouds of tricos are on the river in the early mornings and warmer water temps have us chasing trout before lunchtime.  The forecast looks good for cooler nights to drop the water temps and allow us to chase trout with ants, beetles, and hoppers on the Boardman and Upper Manistee.  Bass and pike fishing has been picking up on the lower Manistee and some local lakes.  Popper fishing has been great on local lakes for bass and panfish.  Don't overlook warmwater opportunities to improve your casting and fishing techniques. More time on the water always helps makes your skills sharper and thus increases your success rate on the water.

It appears that the salmon fishing in Lake Michigan is going well again this summer.  Reports of large kings are prevalent and this bodes really well for our fall salmon and steelhead runs in the local rivers. This is always a favorite time of year for all anglers.  Fall is just around the corner, so make sure you book your fall guide dates as the calendar is starting to fill up.

The shop has been busy and we have been having a ton of fun at work this summer.  Why else would we be running a fly shop if it wasn't fun?  The staff has made it a point to do more fishing during the week, before and after work.  It is important to take time to get out on the water and try out some of the different gear and test out some of the new fly lines.  Besides, it really recharges your batteries and we have to do "product testing" so we can ensure you the best in service and product advice.  I just arrived back to TC from a trip to Montana and fishing the Madison River area around Cameron and Ennis.  What a great time!  Super fun to catch nice, healthy trout during the daylight hours.  That kind of fishing spoils an angler, but it still is never easy.  The cast and line control are always key to a greater success and it was a challenge but with the reward of nice trout. 

In the next month we will start to get some of the new rods and reels in from Sage and Redington which means we will have some close-outs on some of the discontinued merchandise at deep discounts.  Stay tuned to our website, Instagram and Facebook for in-store specials.  Matt and I are constantly looking for great new products to bring in the shop for your fishing pleasure.  Your time spent fishing is too valuable to not have the right equipment for the job.