STREAM REPORTS......................

February 4, 2012

ORVIS STREAMSIDE AND...
THE ORVIS MICHIGAN FLY FISHING SCHOOL
STREAM REPORTS FOR THE UPPER MANISTEE, AND BOARDMAN RIVERS

BOARDMAN RIVER OVERVIEW: The beautiful Boardman River, birthplace of the Adams fly, starts east and south of Traverse City and ends as it flows into the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay in Lake Michigan. Self-sustaining populations of rainbow, brown and brook trout inhabit all sections of the river, but have higher populations of brook trout in the uppermost sections. Favorite hatches include Hendricksons and black caddis in May, sulfurs, brown drakes and isonychia in June, with gray drakes and the famous hex hatch in late June and July. Late July and August terrestrial, trico, and baetis fishing rounds out the summer. Aggressive fall spawning browns chase large streamers and attracters in September as well. The upper Boardman River closes the end of September while the lower river below Sabin Dam remains open all year.

In September and October, the lower river fills with Lake Michigan Chinook and coho salmon. The salmon run culminates in late October with a fall run of steelhead. Steelhead fishing continues all winter and peaks in March and April. These enormous 8 to 15 pound lake-run rainbow trout draw anglers from around the world. The easy gradient and sand and gravel bottom makes wading comfortable with numerous public access points.

UPPER MANISTEE OVERVIEW: The Manistee is perhaps Michigan’s finest self-sustaining trout stream. More than 60 miles of wadable water from its headwaters to the “flies-only” section downstream, it truly represents Michigan’s colorful fly angling heritage. The river is approximately thirty to sixty feet across in most stretches with an easy gradient and sand and gravel bottom.

April and May offers good hatches of black caddis, Hendricksons and early black stoneflies. Self-sustaining populations of brook and brown trout feed on these early hatches once waters warm into the low 50’s. May brings good numbers of Hendricksons, caddis sulfur mayflies. June begins with sulfurs that hatch early evenings and ends with brown drakes and the famous "Hex" hatch that comes off at dark. These hatches can move fish as large as 30 inches! July begins with the "Hex" (hexagenia limbata) and finishes with the start of terrestrial season. Hoppers, beetles, ants, dominate the trout’s diet for the next month and a half. In September, we turn our attention to streamer fishing and tiny blue wing olive mayflies. October 1, the upper Manistee closes, yet the “Flies Only” section remains open all winter with “catch and release only” regulations. Guides are available daily for float trips.



GENERAL TROUT SEASON IS NOW CLOSED ON MICHIGAN TROUT STREAMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EXTENDED SEASON RIVERS AND THOSE LISTED BELOW:

BOARDMAN RIVER IS NOW CLOSED ABOVE SABIN DAM. RIVER IS OPEN FROM SABIN TO MOUTH

UPPER MANISTEE RIVER IS OPEN FROM CO612 DOWNSTREAM TO M115 — CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY. IT IS FLIES- ONLY FROM M72-CCC BRIDGE.

GENERAL REPORT:
LOCAL RIVERS ARE NOW STAINED FROM RUNOFF. TEMPS ARE IN THE UPPER 30'S TO LOW 40'S AND SNOW PACK IS DISAPPEARING RAPIDLY. THIS WILL CREATE FAIR STREAMER FISHING IN THE FLIES-ONLY SECTIONS OF THE MANISTEE. BOARDMAN HAS STEELHEAD DAILY DOWNTOWN. FAIR STEELHEAD FISHING ON THE LOWER MANISTEE FROM TIPPY TO HIGH BRIDGE AND AT BEAR CREEK. DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE ALL NEW ORVIS STREAM REPORTS ON ORVIS.COM

CHECK THE EVENTS ON HOME PAGE!


ORVIS MICHIGAN FLY FISHING SCHOOL
ORVIS' TOP RATED SCHOOL!
2012 ORVIS MICHIGAN FLY FISHING SCHOOL DATES ARE NOW ON LINE. JUST CLICK ON "SCHOOLS". CALL TO SIGN UP FOR 2012 DATES — (231)933-9300.

IF TRAVERSE CITY AND FLY FISHING ARE IN YOUR PLANS THIS SUMMER, ORVIS STREAMSIDE IS IN YOUR PLANS TOO!

MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR FLY ANGLING SUCCESS! EVEN EXPERIENCED ANGLERS BENEFIT FROM OUR GREAT INSTRUCTORS.

This is the same school as the original school in Manchester, Vermont. These all encompassing schools are taught by Orvis certified instructors. To book an Orvis Fly Fishing School at The Homestead call (231) 933-9300, or go to www.orvis.com/schools.


Winter on the Upper Manistee
Photo: Dick Courson

CURRENT: Manistee, and Boardman Rivers Stream Report
Unseasonably warm weather has dominated the area and streams are a little higher and slightly off color helping the fishing. Streamer fishing is still the preferred method, and it has been fairly successful in sections from Yellowtrees to Sharon. Riffle water above 3 Mile landing has fair nymphing activity with caddis pupa and Copper Johns. Extended season regs allows fishing (catch and release only) from CO612 downstream to M115. Boardman River below Sabin Dam remains productive. This means good streamer fishing while temps remain above normal and fish continue to be active. REMEMBER, THE SEASON IS CLOSED ON THE BOARDMAN ABOVE SABIN DAM.

Streamside Orvis is located at 223 E. Front Street in downtown Traverse City. Stop in and check out the "Hatch Match" cards for the week.

STEELHEAD ARE NOW COMING INTO THE BOARDMAN AND LOWER MANISTEE RIVERS DAILY,... FISH ARE TAKING STREAMERS, EGG SUCKING LEACHES, CADDIS, AND HEX NYMPH PATTERNS. CADDIS PUPA ARE EFFECTIVE BELOW INDICATORS.

HURRY! RESERVE YOUR GUIDE DATES FOR FALL STEELHEAD NOW. BOOK YOUR TRIP BEFORE THE LAUNCHES ARE FROZEN OUT.
Orvis Guides are available daily. To book a guide trip call (231) 933-9300.

Upper Manistee - Flies Only
Wading is a little tougher with rising levels and off color stained runoff water. Water temps are starting to rise a little into the upper-30's with 40+ temps. Streamers were finding some fish late mornings in the Yellowtrees water and Sharon Bridge area. Best patterns seem to be large streamers like Circus Peanuts and Zugglers in olive and yellow. Rubber-Legged Buggers are also getting some fish to move hard. Best is from Yellowtrees to Airport. Copper Johns, Zug Bugs and Prince nymphs below indicators can be effective as well this time of year.

Boardman River:
BOARDMAN RIVER ABOVE SABIN DAM IS NOW CLOSED ABOVE SABIN DAM. BELOW SABIN, FISHING IS OPEN TO THE MOUTH. STEELHEAD ARE ARRIVING AND WE WILL SEE FRESH ARRIVALS DAILY AS THEY STACK UP BELOW UNION STREET WHILE REPAIRS CONTINUE ON THE DAM. WE ALSO HAD SOME FAIR STREAMER ACTION BELOW SABIN AS BROWN TROUT UP FROM BOARDMAN LAKE HAVE BEEN AGGRESSIVE.

Trout Patterns:
Rubber-Legged Buggers and Zugglers in olive and yellow are fooling some of the spawners. Circus Peanuts in olive and natural.
Steelhead Patterns:
Green caddis, caddis pupa, head banger hex, black stonefly nymphs.

Betsie River:
SOME STEELHEAD ARE NOW IN AND WILL CONTINUE TO ENTER THE RIVER FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. FRANKFORT HAS GOOD NUMBERS OF STEELHEAD AT THE MOUTH. ABOVE HOMESTEAD DAM IS NOW SLOW.

IF TRAVERSE CITY AND FLY FISHING ARE IN YOUR PLANS THIS SUMMER, ORVIS STREAMSIDE IS IN YOUR PLANS TOO!
Traverse City is, as usual, the fly fishing center of the Great Lakes universe. Great trout and salmon angling, and... as Good Morning America recently decided, "THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN AMERICA!" IS THE SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL PARK... EXACTLY WHERE ORVIS MICHIGAN FLY FISHING SCHOOL IS LOCATED!

Forecast:
Warmer temps into the upper 30's and low 40's through next week. Check the weather box in the upper left hand corner of our home page (www.streamsideorvis.com) to get the exact local weather, or call directly (231) 933-9300.