Summer School- Learn to Fly Fish On Two River Genres
I have many clients that fish for the amazing steelhead and salmon fishery that we have in our Great Lakes rivers. But when it comes to ‘true fly fishing” many are completely clueless!( along with two-hander spey, often deep weighted nymphing ‘chuck-and-duck” is used especially in the high spring waters) This summer I am doing teaching/introductory guide trips for learning to properly cast and present dries/nymphs /wets/streamers to trout in two environments. Most don’t realize how enjoyable it is and it can be done on any travel destination in the world when you go on vacations with the family.
When the temperatures are right we can do a morning ( temps are coldest then since they run the bubbler through the night) on the Muskegon tailwater for big water caddis/Trico/midge hatches and always rising trout. Presenting a dry fly is the pinnacle of fly fishing. Or… spend a day learning the subtle intricacies of the short game of a nearby small spring creek, with stunningly beautiful wild trout. Better yet!- do a two day event exploring each : big river casting on tailwaters- and small stream trout. It is a great way to introduce family members/sons/daughters etc. into fly fishing. Orvis fly rods and tackle included with lunch. Total novices or experts welcome! ( btw… If you are at the top of your game, I can elevate it as high as you want to go- both from casting and presentation)
Email me through the www.graydrake.com website or call / text 231-250-2846 for more details
Muskegon River Tailwater
As I write this report we are into a short hot spell with temperatures approaching 91F. Newaygo is right on the edge of the hot/cooler boundary, since temps are in the upper 90’s just a dozen miles south. As the Blue Ribbon Pere Marquette River just north is already signaling the “70F dont fish warning” our very cold spring is saving the water temperatures on the Muskegon due to the reservoirs retaining colder water. I have contacted Dana and Mark ( our DNR biologists) to ask Consumers Power Dam operators to turn on the cool water bottom bubbler earlier than the July 1 mandated date by FERC. Consumers have been wonderful in complying with all we have asked them to do to make the Muskegon cooler and more oxygenated in the summer.. Here is yesterday’s temperature graph and it shows’ how quickly the water temperatures go down when they use the bubbler- now praying how long they will last through the summer is the key.
As evident by the healthy 22 inch brown above, we had a very good spring with excellent holdover browns and rainbows throughout the entire river system in the 14-20 + range. Despite the hot summer and no water of last summer, the beauty of the Muskegon is all the numerous springs and deep pools that help shield the larger trout. The trout targeted salmon fry patterns and were nymphed /wet fly fished behind sucker beds, along with the wonderful hatches we have.
HATCHES
Despite another drought filled spring ( we are into our fourth year of droughts) our hatches were right on schedule with the first being the Early Black Stonefly. Then came our extremely prolific Hydropsyche Caddis that had good mating swarms all spring and still continuing. One relatively new hatch is a #16 Epeorus Blue Winged Olive pictured here.
Our Epem. inveria hatch- sulphers- continues to grow in strength each year and are now the mayfly hatch of choice for the trout. Unfortunately our gray drake hatch is almost gone due to the droughts- a hatch that was in blizzard epic proportions. There were a few sightings of small mating flights in the lower river- and” one “ pretty heavy flight in the upper river. So eventually they will repopulate the river but will need time. After the sulphers and continuing right now are the White Cahill hatch that the trout relish. Mostly rusty spinners and emergers are targeted by the bigger trout. This hatch will continue all summer into fall with Heptagenia hebe.
.One hatch that is a sleeper is the Isonychia hatch though their numbers are nowhere near what they were 20 years ago.- used to have blizzard spinner flights. Fishing Trout Crack patterns give up some very large brown trout.
Starting now are Tricos and 1st brood of Green Caddis and Zebra Caddis- also Golden Stoneflies ( primarily Little Green Cheum. Caddis will continue to pick up as the summer continues and will peak in Sept/October.
Small Spring Creek Update
In the summer months when the main river can get too warm from heat waves I spend a good amount of time on the small spring creeks all around the Muskegon River that stay ice cold all summer. If you are interested in learning the art of small creek trout fishing this is a great time when wild brown and brook trout are eager to take terrestrials off the surface like ants, beetles, hoppers and crickets that are loaded in the brush and meadows. Also the Trico and tiny BWO hatches can be prolific.
It is a great time to venture in the shaded , cool woods with light rods and experience the most gorgeous wild trout you will ever see!
Summer Steelhead
Summer steelhead have rolled into Indiana creeks and the St Joe River. They are an amazing species of steelhead that are as wild and crazy a steelhead you will ever find! We also get a run of summer steelhead on the Muskegon River comprised of stray fish from Indiana and Big Manistee planted fish. Especially when the Muskegon is running colder than other rivers on a hot summer. They tend to run straight up to the dam and in the upper mile like they were bred to do. Swinging west coast style purple/black/blue Thugmeister Intruders on light Scandi two hander lines is such an electrifying way to fish these fish that strike so hard on the swing that they take the rod out of your hands!
See you on the river! ( Don’t forget to catch my Hallowed Waters Podcasts on Spotify and Apple, or wherever you catch your podcasts- doing a cool “Trout Stalker” series now. Also, stay tuned for a colossal new book coming out this winter co-authored with Kirk Deeter-it will be a truly ‘must have’ for you and everyone one you know-promise!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hallowed-waters/id1606667042
Cheers!
Matthew Supinski