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

February 8, 2010


Orvis Streamside and

THE ORVIS MICHIGAN FLY FISHING SCHOOL

GENERAL TROUT SEASON IS CLOSED NOW. CHECK REGULATIONS TO BE SURE THAT THE WATER YOU ARE FISHING IS OPEN AS AN EXTENDED SEASON RIVER. BOARDMAN BELOW SABIN DAM IS OPEN. FLIES-ONLY WATER OF THE MANISTEE FROM M72 DOWNSTREAM TO CCC BRIDGE IS OPEN CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY.

MORE STEELHEAD HAVE CONTINUED TO MOVE UPSTREAM FROM FRANKFORT, MANISTEE AND TRAVERSE CITY INTO THE BOARDMAN, BETSIE HAS SOME STEELHEAD, BUT ONLY A FEW. BOARDMAN IS MORE CONSISTANT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR EACH MORNING FOR NEW SKIPPERS AND SOME NICE RESIDENT BROWN TROUT. LOWER MANISTEE BELOW TIPPY IS SLOW. CENTERPIN SPIN FISHERMEN ARE DOING OK WITH SPAWN AND WAXWORMS AT BEAR CREEK. BETSIE IS STILL A SLOW ABOVE HOMESTEAD DAM.

Cold temps and light winds this week. Some skippers coming in mornings. Most are in the 5-6 pound range. Fair resident brown trout fishing in town from weir to Park Street. Green caddis, stonefly patterns and pheasant tails are working.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE ALL NEW ORVIS STREAM REPORTS ON ORVIS.COM




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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 (800) 239-2074 ext. 456, or go to www.orvis.com/schools. Book your 2010 date now to get the best hatch dates.



Manistee, Betsie and Boardman Rivers Stream Report
The flies-only water above CCC continues to offer decent streamer action. Bead-headed patterns are working best. Streamer anglers are having to cover lots of water to find agressive fish. Change color every 20 minutes to get best results. Then, stay with that color for at least 30 minutes.

RIVERS ARE NOW HOLDING SOME STEELHEAD. LAST WEEK BROUGHT SOME SKIPPERS UP FROM MANISTEE, FRANKFORT AND TRAVERSE CITY. MOST ANGLERS ARE FOCUSED ON BEAR CREEK. CENTERPIN SPIN FISHERMEN ARE DOING OK WITH SPAWN AND WAXWORMS. RIVERS ARE NOW AT SEASONABLE LEVELS CLEAR NOW, WADABLE.

BETSIE IS SLOW AND QUIET,... FEWER FISH. ONLY A HANDFUL OF FISH ABOVE HOMESTEAD DAM.


Streamside Orvis is located at 223 E. Front Street in downtown Traverse City. Stop in and say hello.


RESERVE YOUR GUIDE DATES NOW —
Orvis Endorsed Guides are available daily. To book a guide trip call (231) 933-9300.

Upper Manistee - Flies Only
Water levels are now wadable and clear. Slow presentations and patience will produce some nice fish. Streamers and soft hackles will move some fish from the Airport to the Burned Cabin. Some anglers are had good success last week streamer fishing during the warmer temps.

Boardman River:
River is closed above Sabin Dam now until April 24, 2010. Daily there are still a few skippers coming in from West Bay. Bait anglers are hooking fish on bobbers and bait, but the caddis pupa and pheasant tails will also move some fish in the 3-5 pound class. Some occasional coho still coming in and pooling between weir and Park Street. Best from Union Street Dam to Union Street Bridge for resident trout. West winds will curtail the push a little.

Hatches: Boardman and Upper Manistee Rivers
Bugs are finished save for some brave and semi-frozen midges over the last week with the sunshine. Colder temps this week will kill any chance of activity. Caddis pupa and soft-hackles are working with slow presentations.

Fresh steelhead (3-5 pounders) have arrive this past week in the downtown holding water.

Trout Patterns:
Best streamer patterns have been bead-head buggers, conehead Zugglers, and Circus Peanuts.

Nymphing with two nymphs is working well. Small Princes #16 and flashback pheasant tails #18 are best combinations. Successful streamers include buggers, Russ Madden's Circus Peanuts, in black, white and olive. Hard to beat a Zuggler in white, olive and black. On the other side of the spectrum, small buggers #8 and light spruce #6 are fooling fish.

Soft-hackles and a slow presentation offer something that the post-spawners and cold water prefer. Try a nice long presentation and slow pickup. Tandem nymphs with a small indicator will also bring a few to the net.

Forecast:
Colder temps and little wind will give way to some warmer temps later this week. Check in to find our current conditions. Then,... get out and hit the water. Check the weather box in the upper left hand corner of our web pages (www.streamsideorvis.com) to get the exact local weather, or call directly (231) 933-9300.