Smallies in the Rain

When will it stop raining???

The rain didn't stop me from fishing or catching fish! The fishing wasn't real hot, but it was fun. The smallies continued to go for the Crappie Candy streamer. This fly has become a real go to fly on my home waters. I'll have to experiment with additional colors to see how that goes over.

Tonight I might head for big mouth waters.

Back in the North Woods

I was able to go back to the north woods of Michigan this past weekend! Man I love it up there!!!

My wife and I went up for a long weekend of shopping and one day of fishing.

We spent Saturday in Travers City going through antique shops aa well as other shops. Had fun, but the wind was cold!

Sunday, we spent the day on the South Branch of the Au Sable. I grew up fishing the Manistee, and I love it, but the South Branch sure is making it hard to keep it at the top of my list! We hit the river around 11am and shortly after, we had popcorn caddis all around us. A small hatch of BWOs also came off.

My fishing for bass during the spring had my sets off big time!

While I had trouble, my wife on her first ever fly fishing trip, was having little trouble. Jan had 4 fish on in the first hour. My wife also landed the fish of the day, a 14" brookie!!!! What a beauty!!! The next day she became a member of the Gates Au Sable Lodge Trophy Club!! Now she has a nice gold pin for her vest. I don't have one!

What a trip! I had always heard that May up north is great, and they weren't kidding. I'm already planning on a full week next year.

Hey TU where are you?

I just received my latest copy of Michigan Trout, the publication of TU Michigan. In the letters to the editor, I found a letter that asked the same question that I had.

Hey TU where are you?

For the past year and more, Anglers of the Au Sable(http://www.ausableanglers.org) has been working to keep our rivers and woods the way they should be. During that same period, we haven't heard boo in the publication for Michigan TU. The only news we hear, is news of TU backing away from the issues.

TU if you live by your motto, why aren't you following through on it? It looks good on the sticker in your window, but it sure doesn't seem to mean anything!

If you're looking for an organization that will follow through, contact the Anglers! Through thick and thin, they are ready to take a stand for the environment!

Time to Fish!

The days have warmed up, and so have the fish. The bass in my pond are up and hitting. Can't wait to hit some of my favorite spots!

Trout opener is just a few days away in my home state of Michigan. I can't wait to move back!!

Fly Fishing German Style!

I spent a large part of the month of July in Frankfurt, Germany on business. I wasn't able to fish, but I was able to visit a fly shop in Frankfurt. The owner was great to talk to, and let me in on the local fly fishing. Carp is king!! The trout are limited to mainly privately held streams.

As I said, the shop was great and I highly recommend a visit the next time you are in Germany!

http://angel-baer.de

Rod Building Time!

Well, I've taken the plunge into the world of rod building! I've purchased am inexpensive kit from Hook and Hackle (www.hookhack.com) to start off with.

If this works out, I plan to build a rod for each of my kids. It might be a neat way for them to remember me some day. Hopefully they will think about me while they are fishing with their kids!

I'll let you know how it goes.

Bass in November!

Largemouth in Novemeber! I don't remember ever having caught a largemouth in mid November. The weather has been warm and we gave it a try. Caught a couple on my a purple slupbuster. This may be the last trip of the year. Can't wait til spring!!

Time to Tie

It's time to prep for the winter tying season. I don't like walking on water, so I tie. Robert's Yellow Drakes, Yellow Sally Regulators, Borcher's etc...

We lost our local fly shop due to the death of the owner. Hopefully we'll see some of the workers and patrons get together to start up a new shop. It's a shame to have a city the size of Fort Wayne without a shop. Now I need to drive over an hour to get to a decent shop.

Farewell Jorgensens!

Stripers in Northern Indiana!!

I was invited to a private lake in Northern Indiana for some fishing. It turned out to be a lake full of HUGE gills and young stripers!!! The stripers were in the 13 to 15 inch range and already a handful! I can't wait to try them out next year or the year after. We helped out around the farm and received an invite for future fishing!!!!! I can't wait!

Canoe Trip on the Manistee

Time: 11:00am - 4:00pm (Indiana Time)
Type: -
Lengths: -
Amount: 0
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: None, that's the problem!!!!!!!
Location: Manistee Lower Sharon to Smithville
Weather: Absolutely Beautiful!!!

Comments: Every year during our church's Men's Advance, we go on a canoe trip. Even with 4 or more canoes going doen that river, I still usually catch 3 or 4 real nice trout in the 15" to 19" range. This year I was excited to get on the water. Actually I was too excited. I ended up leaving my fly box on my truck back at the canoe livery. I thought about making everyone wait while I went back and forth, but decided not too. The trip was awesome anyway, but I sure wish I hadn't left my box!!! We did see two Bald Eagles on the river!!!!

Back on the Manistee!

Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm (Indiana Time)
Type: Brown Trout
Lengths: 6"-10"
Amount: 3
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Michigan Skunk #10
Jeff's Double Back Hopper #6
Location: Manistee US
Weather: Partly Cloudy and Warm

Comments: Well after spending most of July in Germany or preparing for the business I had in Germany, I'm finally back on the water! Only a little bit of time to fish this evening. Hopefully I will find more time in the week.

My Own Hex Hatch!

Time: 8:30pm - 10:00pm (Indiana Time)
Type: Largemouth Bass
Lengths: 12" - 15"
Amount: 2
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Hex Dun #4
Location: My Pond
Weather: Partly Cloudy and Warm

Comments: The first few years that the bass were in the pond, they didn't seem to notice the Hex hatch. They sure do now! Fish in every corner hammering away at the bugs.

Gurgle, Gurgle, Splash!

Time: 8:00pm - 9:30pm (Indiana Time)
Type: Largemouth Bass
Lengths: 12" - 14"
Amount: 4
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Gartside Gurgler #4
Location: My Pond
Weather: Partly Cloudy and Warm

Comments: Once again the Gurgler comes through. I caught 4 and missed a few others. I need to take this out on the Tri-Lakes (Round, Big and Little Cedar) sometime.

The Gurgler!

Time: 8:30pm - 9:00pm
Type: Largemouth Bass
Lengths: 12" - 18"
Amount: 2
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Gartside Gurgler #4
Location: My Pond
Weather: Fantastic!!!!

Comments: Tried out the latest fly in my collection. I tied up a handful of Gartside Gurglers. Wow...A pond with dogs swimming and people playing couldn't keep the bass from exploding on this fly!!!

Too Hot!!!! - Time to tie!

Time: -
Type: -
Lengths: -
Amount: -
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: -
Location: -
Weather: HOT!!!!

Comments: Just too hot to fish. Tying up a selection of hopper and beetle patterns for the annual August trip!!

The Bones are tough!

Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Type: Golden Bonefish / Green Sunfish
Lengths: 12" - 14"
Amount: 2
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Cotton Seed / Beetle / AuSable Wulff
Location: Hurshtown Resv.
Weather: Hot / Sunny

Comments: The Bones are busy doing something, but it's not feeding! I was able to tempt a couple of smaller fish to take an AuSable Wulff, but the big guys weren't interested.

The Golden Bones are On!

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Type: Golden Bonefish / Green Sunfish
Lengths: 3" - 14"
Amount: 30+
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Cotton Seed / Beetle
Location: Hurshtown Resv.
Weather: Cool / Cloudy

Comments: The Bones are starting to congregate! Faith had her fly rod out and really had a blast catching the Sunfish. Mike, Roo and I are concentrating on the Bones. Further tweaks to the Cotton Seed are required, but we're catching a few.

Faith and the Sunfish

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Type: Green Sunfish
Lengths: 3" - 6"
Amount: 14
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Beetle
Location: Hurshtown Resv.
Weather: Cool / Cloudy

Comments: Faith went after the Sunfish tonight. For a 9 year old, she's pretty good with a fly rod! 14 fish caught, and many more just missed.

June 2005 - Day 6

Time: 5:00pm - 1:00am (Indiana Time)
Type: Brown
Lengths: 11"
Amount: 1
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Robert's Yellow Drake #12
Brown Drake #12
Location: South Branch Au Sable
Weather: Hot and Once again STORMY

Comments: We went back to Upper High Banks. We got there early so we could explore and see what other holes were around. We found what looked to be a fantastic stretch and settled in for the night. The Drake hatch was VERY light. We had a massive Sulphur spinner fall and a few Golden Stones on the water. Fishing was very slow.

Before I tell you what else happened, I need to point out the fact that my friend Mike caught his first 10" plus brown! He not only caught it, but he did it in the dark!

That's where the fun stopped and the Hillbillies started. About two hours after we had settled on the spot to fish, a group of "fishermen" showed up with beer and women. The guys told us that we were in "their spot". I explained that we had been in the spot waiting for the evening hatch, and we intended to stay in that spot. We did, but they did their best to ruin a good night. All through the day light hours cigarette butts and other garbage floated past us. Once darkness hit, they began to sneak through the woods in an attempt to scare us. We've been in the woods for too many years (almost 40 now) to let a bunch of billies scare us. All in all, they did what they hoped to do and that was ruin a good night. Fortunately I was at the head of our group, and I was the one dealing with them. My sons and my friend didn't have to deal with them. Just something to think about when you are on the water and meet someone else. Be kind and let them have the spot if they are there first.

June 2005 - Day 5

Time: 4:00pm - 1:00
Type: Brook / Brown
Lengths: 6" - 15"
Amount: 10
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Brown Drake Nymph #10
Iso Nymph
Roberts Yellow Drake #12 ***
Brown Drake #12
Location: South Branch Au Sable
Weather: Hot and Stormy

Comments: Our first trip to the South Branch!!!

While dodoging several severe thunderstorms, we explored many of the access points in the Mason Tract (See this link for more info on the drilling). Hail and downed trees couldn't keep us from exploring this gem in Northern Michigan.

We visited the Fishermen's Chapel for the first time. It's really buried in the woods, but well worth the trip. Just a nice place to relax.

Found a site near Upper High Banks that looked promising. We had to share the site with one of the biggest beavers I've ever seen, but he seemed to be in a good mode. During the early part of the day the fishing was slow with a few small trout taking our nymph. Once evening hit, the Drakes were on and the big boys came out to play! Though we didn't land any of the really big fish, a 15" brown is a nice fish any day! I filled my waders when I tripped over a rock while landing this beauty. Wow, was that a blast! We'll be back!

June 2005 - Day 4

Time: 3:00pm - 11:00pm (Indiana Time)
Type: Brookie / Brown
Lengths: 6" - 10"
Amount: 8
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Teeny BH #10 / Zug Bug #12 / Green Rock Worm #10 / Sulphur #16
Location: Manistee - U.S. (Two Track)
Weather: Sunny and HOT

Comments: Another one of my favorite places to fish. Again the numbers were OK, but the size was down. We dodged storms all afternoon. Andrew caught a beautiful Brookie!

The sulphurs came off in the evening and provided a fun time fishing for smaller trout.

June 2005 - Day 3

Time: 3:00pm - 11:30pm (Indiana Time)
Type: Brookie / Brown
Lengths: 6" - 10"
Amount: 9
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Brown Drake Wet #12 / Borcher's #14 / Sulphur Spinner #16
Location: AuSable - U.S. (Holy Waters - Guide's Rest)
Weather: Windy and Cooler

Comments: What else do you need to you say when you're on the Holy Waters! I love this place!!!! The wading can't be any easier, and fish everwhere. This is the spot that I first caught a trout in the 20" range.

The fishing was good, but the fish were on the small side. I missed just as many as I landed! Late in the evening, we were hoping for a Brown Drake hatch, but instead got a Sulphur spinner fall. A lot of fish feeding, but even more bugs on the water!

Still, I'm on the Holy Waters, and I love it!!!!!

June 2005 - Day 2

Time: 3:00pm - 10:30pm (Indiana Time)
Type: Brookie / Brown
Lengths: 6" - 9"
Amount: 2
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Borcher's #14 / Ginger Streamer
Location: Manistee - U.S. (DC218)
Weather: Sunny and Hot / Clouds and Wind late.

Comments: No hatch to speak of. Caught a real nice brookie on one of my favorite stretches of water.

We found Roger's Landing and Yellowtrees Landing. Wow, talk about the middle of nothing!

June 2005 - Day 1

Time: 6:00pm - 10:30pm
Type: Brookie / Brown
Lengths: 6" - 10"
Amount: 3
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Borcher's #14
Location: Manistee - U.S.
Weather: Sunny and Warm

Comments: A very small hatch of March Browns from 9:30pm - 9:45pm. A handful of Sulphurs. A few small fish rising. I doesn't matter, because were here!!!!

I caught a 21" Brown by hand! The fish was slowly swimming through the shallows when I grabbed it's tail. The fish was obviously hurt, and I soon found a large puncture in it's side. Later I found out that it was mostly speared by a Heron.

Annual June Fishing Trip!!!

Time: -
Type: Trout!!!
Lengths: -
Amount: -
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
St. Croix Pro Graphite 7.5 / 4wt
Fly: -
Location: "Holy Lands" (Manistee/Au Sable/Boardman)
Weather:

Comments: Off to the Holy Lands of Fly Fishing! 8 Days of fishing my favorite rivers that I grew fishing!

Skunk City

Date: 5/30/2005
Time: 1:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Type: Smallies / Carp / Crappie
Lengths: -
Amount: -
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft/5wt
Fly: Cottonseed 14 / Clouser 6 / Crappie Candy 10
Location: Hurshtown Reservoir
Level of difficulty: Easy - Low Wind
Weather: Sunny / front went through the day before.

Comments: Everything looked great, but no dice! A few mouthing Carp were seen, with 1 hit.