Deep winter Selective Michigan Tail water Trout- an Underestimated Passion

( Michigan trout are not just for opening day Hendricksons- scuds/midges/caddis are bread and butter all winter)

I love January on our Muskegon River tailwater- today's afternoon indy nymphing . Our Eagle Lake California strain rainbows are so beautiful and avid scud, midge and caddis larvae eating predators- fat footballs that fight like Big Delaware bows even in 34F water temps. These bows took my 'Super Scud': ‪#‎Hareline‬ UV Ice Dub Shrimp Pink,# Kiley's Scud Skin- a killer in winter with great pulsing movement. Our Michigan rivers are all spring creeks cut from a different mold- highly alkaline even though they have freestone and conifer acidic influences. Scuds are everywhere, extreme high protein intake and 'way' too underutilized and fished...cheers!- great weather for winter nymphing and trout are on the hunt!

( a fat healthy Eagle Lake strain Rainbow from yesterday, January /2016)

(If you are trophy "truttasaurus" hunting with streamer meat, February on the Muskegon and Manistee has seen us catch the largest resident and lake-run post spawn browns that are ferocious and hungry!)

(

( Fat Bastard!...a Muskegon brown that was floating belly up in February, looked dead!!!- was netted by anglers next to me- was choking on a bluegill that spilled over from the reservoir- we removed the gill, performed CPR, and it swam away- it was this close to snuffing it!- the aggressive gluttony browns will subject themselves to is amazing- that's why streamer guys love their gig!)

TACTICS FOR ICE COLD WINTER TAILWATERS

*Much to your surprise, winter trout can be as selectivity driven even when the waters are 34-36F- even though metabolisms are way down. The excellent supply of scuds/midges/caddis larvae/stonefly nymphs and annelids etc., keep them on the constant move and constant hunt.Keep moving until you find fish and dont go back to the 'Proverbial well: hot spots" too often-FISH ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING WITH THE FOOD SUPPLY!

*Concentrate on slower sucker water back eddies/vegetation areas and inside/outside river bends- shallow spots that deliver bio drift and have upwelling currents and spring seeps.

* Indy or Euro nymphing very slowly and scraping the bottom are the key-winter "holes" are not always the deepest spots- they are the periphery/edges

*Though your hands are cold, keep switching tandem patterns as often as possible- have a Mr. Heater with you for the hands and a little bourbon/cognac

(Zago's meat wagon)

* Big Meaty Game Changers, D&D's , Double D's work well but keep them moving slow and crippled- swing/jerk-drift/strip/lift/stumble your streamers-ESPECIALLY WHEN WATER TEMPS ARE IN MIDDLE 30'F- southern tailwaters are much warmer-White/Holsten- let them rip fast and furious due to higher metabolisms and fast moving bait fish

Good Luck- enjoy winter!

*

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Posted in: caddis , gray drake lodge , michigan fly fishing , midges , muskegon river fly fishing , muskegon river hatches , scuds , streamer fishing , winter trout fishing on tail waters

EPIC HATCHES=BIG TROUT!

( The smaller creeks are running full and full of fat trout also...bring lots of  DEET!)

If our trout eat any more they are going to explode! - they already look like fat carp! The flood has brought us many blessings in disguise.
A deep tannin stain tea stain to the water from the near eradication of the zebra mussels have given the trout extreme security in surface feeding. Also plenty of deep shoreline ledges that created more gray drake emerging territory and moisture....the weather has been perfect cool 75-80 F days...cool nights. 
The hatches- particularly the gray drakes have been 24/7....morning to evening spinner falls with the waters so congested the fish are stuffed. Little windows of opportunity exsist if you catch them. The 12 inch fish are 14 inches in girth!. 

What remains for June is the onset of heavier Isonychia hatches, bwos, sulphur and large stoneflies. The caddis hatches have also been insane, not to mention the salmon and steelhead fry/parr, sucker spawn and YES1...I still guided for steelhead last weds/Thurs/Friday to anglers from all over the country that never seen a steelhead...had to do what I had to do!!!
Fish Cluster patterns when fish are giving you S/R refusals!!!

(Isos just started ...caddis thick...second brood coming August/September/October!)

NOW AVAILABLE AT YOUR STORE OR AMAZON

NOTE: If you are on Facebook, check out the three pages I consistently post information on..pages are

Selectivity TSS.....Gray Drake Lodge....Matthew Supinski

cheers!...na zdrowie !!!!!...hope to see you and check out my 'Hatch Matchers Special on my web site ticker tape...save a few $$$ in these strong economic times our scoundrel politicians are telling us we are having!)

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Posted in: caddis , gray drake lodge , isonychia , mayflies of Michigan , michigan fly fishing , muskegon river fly fishing , Selectivity book , selectivity dvd , siphlonurus gray drakes , sulphers , trout and eagle lodge

October steelhead....understanding transition time!

( top steel on a mini-me leech- also, considerable 'nose/lip bumping" of flies on the swing can result in outer mouth hook ups- happens often- let fish take the fly-don't hook set!)

Water levels are perfect after the much needed rain we prayed for!. 1900 cfs and rising on the Muskegon...that's a flood compared to last week's 870 cfs. Tons of salmon are still coming in and so are the chrome silver poaching nomads of fall....Autumn steelhead!
 Since their olfactory sensors are on overdrive from the sexual spawning attraction of salmon eggs and milt, they still have the aggressive/active bait fish 'kill and eat' drive firmly implanted in them.
 They are lovers of the 2-4 feet deep slack/shallow run lies behind Salmon redds. You can easily swing or nymph this water with spey or switch rods with long belly Delta taper floating lines and more traditional spey casting methods.

("mini-me" leech and otter translucent egg dropper- 'hopper /dropper for fall steel swinging")

 At this time of year, you don't have to dredge with heavy sink T-14/t-11 heads and Skagits....not necessary till water temps drop in the 40's and fish lie deeper. Its "skinny water' time and easy pickings for the steelheader and the steels themselves. Its amazing how far and high up in the water column steels will take your fly at this time....all Great Lakes swingers tend to place too muchg empahsis on 'deep dredging"...no need.
Enjoy this time of year and get the 'drug tug' you've been waiting for!
Be patient and work confident holding lies thoroughly.....some people give me crap fro how long I work these holding areas...but!...they produce in the long run!.
 Fall steelhead are preoccupied by a lot of issues at this time;avoiding large king salmon with teeth ready to take a chunk out of them!, for getting too close.......trying to find the rtight comfort zone of a lie, avoiding anglers and boat traffic during heavy salmon periods and always on the look out for a meal.
Also, the power of "green caddis' larvae is deadly at this time since steels see good numbers of dislodged nymphs from female salmon digging.

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Posted in: caddis , gray drake , Great Lakes steelhead , Muskegon River steelhead , Otter eggs , spey fishing , string leech , swinging flies , trout and eagle lodge

H20=CHROME AND FRESH FISH..NO BRAINER

(swith rod and swinging floater)

"what doesn't kill ya makes you stronger"....that about sums up this year!. Worst drought in a hundred years, worst heat ...and FINALLY!....RAIN!...OMG , thought we would never see it!
 River bumped finally up to 1700 cfs from a dismal 860 cfs. And guess what happens....fresh salmon, chrome steelhead, aggressive browns and last night in the 70 degree evening, a dot winged caddis hatch!
 It only can get better!.....let the good times roll!

                                                                   ( matching the salmon egg hatch- Otter soft milking egg style-pegged bead system-switch rod and floating delta taper line)

( Jerry " venus" Demailo - from Cleveland - a brown trout magnet- every time he comes up he hits a nice egg poaching brownie!)

 

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Posted in: caddis , gray drake , great lakes king salmon , Great Lakes steelhead , Muskegon River steelhead , Otter eggs , Sage One switch , swinging flies , trout and eagle lodge

RAVENOUS BROWN TROUT......ISONYCHIAS, DRAKES AND MONSTER STONE FLIES THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT!

( Shawn with her third nice brown on the Isonychia hatch that evening)

It has been our best week of dry fly action this year....perhaps best in years! Hot weather started the week with Hexagenia hatches on the P.M.,,......then winter showed up! Air temperatures plummeted into the 40's,50's and 60's....lots of much needed rain and the bugs went crazy. It started Thursday chasing big brownies on the Pere Marquette with Mike Batcke- the Pteronarcys king-that's big stone flies, that look like dobson flies. June is their prime emergence and big browns lurk in the dark waiting for them to hatch all night.

( Steelie Ian- a trout bum comes home!)

Friday with air temps in the 40's, I guided Ian from Idaho, a true steelhead two hander junkie that fishes all over the west coast and used to work for Al Caucci on the Delaware...he is a true trout bum and bug guy- he loves Isonychia hatches. And whadda ya know...the night he shows up the Iso hatch goes crazy with the 45 degree air temps, overcast and drizzle.

( Swarms of gray drakes and Iso's early)

( isonychia)

(sulpher emerging from pheasant tail shuck nymph....a PT dropper or brown z-lon shuck is important)

( Giant Hexagenia and J:SON SWEDEN'S FLIES that are great large may fly imitations- float like a cork!)

Saturday saw the Murphys and Anton from Slovakia with Jeff Bacon. We witnessed more Isonychias, cahill stenos, olives, sulphers, caddis and yes....FINALLY GRAY DRAKES IN MASSIVE NUMBERS!

  Just when I thought 'ld never see drakes again, they showed up as river levels came up and temperatures dropped. Massive spinner flights and few couplings happened early cause of the cold temps.
NOTE: Increases in flow, a very cool front after a brief sunny heat spell and steady low barometric changes are preferred by mayflies,stoneflies and caddis hatches on tailwater and freestone rivers.

( My new ISO CRACK- I concocted on Saturday- a wiggle deadly affair)

( Nice P.M. brown with Mike on a giant Ken Morrish Ptyeronarcys stone on the surface)

( the awesome red dots of a true German wild brownie from the P.M.)

( Roman Moser from Austria and his 3-D Plush Sculpins- deadly on big trout!)

We hit some very nice browns...including some nice 16-18 ich fat plump Eagle Lake rainbows....some of the best fishing in years. June continues cool and seasonal....perfect for more hatch activity.

( The Murph Dog comes out slinging!)

The fish are very fat and extremely healthy from the massive food supply of the Muskegon:.....sucker and steelhead spawn hangover, chinook salmon parr and steelhead fry, the massive bug factory- including micro caddis by the  gazillions. The trout have it made!
 WATER: 2450 CFS-temp- 59-60F.......PERFECTO!

( The woods are alive- a great image taken by Melanie Morrett from Lexingtin, KY- her and her husband - both great casters and trout nuts- especially spring creeks- guided with me last Thursday- she is doing a a magnificent water color of the famed Letort for Selectivity- she is an artist with tons of talent!)

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Posted in: brown trout , caddis , cahills , Eagle Lake Rainbows , gray drake , isonychia , michigan fly fishing , trout and eagle

SULPHER CITY, SCULPINS....the "CEREBRAL GOURMET".....AND THE BROWN TROUT "TOAD" GALLERY!

( Guide Jeff Bacon with a "ginormous 'brown-it's good to know that gene pool contributor is still swimming for this fall if it can dodge the rapalas and worm dunkers. A perefect Ephemerella Invaria - sulpher- above by John Miller......you can click on images for clower detail )

Cold nights, cool nights, hot days, cool days, massive thunder storms....what a roll of the weather!.............BUT GOOD NEWS!....the trout are starting to look -up at the surface with a passion!

( Dr. Mike Davison with a pair of nice browns on the sulpher emerger Saturday)

 The suckers are pretty much all spawned out, so all the trout are cruising looking for chinook parr and steelhead fry that just hatched and the mayflies and caddis. Last 5 nights we had lots of sulphers, American March Browns, Blue wings, caddis and gray drakes trying to get going but the weather has been their detriment....early June like customary should be their peak along with Isonychias.

( The famed Roman Moser of Austria, who contributed to my "SELECTIVITY" book at the publishers Stackpole Books, here are his 3-D Plush Sculpins that are lethal on aggressive big trout!)

 Had the distinct pleasure of guiding Dr. Mike Davison, a trout'aholic, this weekend and Mike got some nice fat browns on the sulpher emergers. Jeff Bacon with clients hit an absolute "hog' brown like Jeff always does every May......he's a toad sniffer!

( another late night sulpher sipper and a rainbow parr chinook fry and Abel brown trout reel- below the river is loaded to the gills with chinook parr and an easy imitationn)

( The grouse hen is back terrorizing all that come- she builds her nest near our driveway and chases all the cars daily protecting her little ones)

( Boy did they stock the Muskegon this year.....just got the numbers from DNR Gary Whelan- head of hatcheries.........staggering #'s......90,000 Eagle Lake Rainbows, 60,000 Wild Rose Brown trout in Newaygo...........30,000 browns at Muskegon Harbor, and 66,000 steelhead at Pine St........plus all the natural reproduction we are having with the cold water bubbler....YIKES!....that's a ton of trout!)

( wild steelhead- 3-4 inchers Jeff and I picked up all spring....Bacon got one two days ago swinging wets...the stockers are 8-9 inches and silver-fin clipped some)

Swinging soft hackle wets and sculpins on sink-tips have been productive. Waiting for a good spinner fall of gray drakes with stable weather. Had a good spinner fall with Dr. Mike as we did split days on the water ....dawn to dusk , with break in the afternoon.
                                                             
CULINARY CORNER AND NEWS BITES!!!!

 Check out our NEW HATCH MATCHERS SPECIAL ON OUR MAIN PAGE TICKER TAPE!
Water at perfect dry fly level...1960 CFS and perfect hatch mayfly hatching temps......CHEERS!
So this week's cooking had to do with good old fashioned Polish cuisines, Spring Rack of Lamb, fresh clams and scallops and beef carpaccio.....raw beef with garlic and goat's cheese.....DELISH!

( BACK IN POLAND AGAIN!....Dr. Mike got fresh Frank's Market Polish sausage from Grand Rapids- grilled and basted in beer, Polish sweet and sour sauerkraut with caraway seeds and good old fashioned potato pancakes....add some hot Dusseldorf er mustard and you got a feast!

( don't forget all the great Michigan asparagus we have now....marinade them in olive oil, lightly crisp on grill, add balsamic vinegar and Swedish sea salt....awesome!

( and now.....an episode of the "CEREBRAL GOURMET".....lol. Last Wednesday I had the two big hitter Ford execs.- Ed and Randy. Ed is an aspiring chef and sometimes he would rather cook on the boat with the Weber than fish....he did an amazing Rack of Lamb chops on the grill.....Ed is not the most articulate guy or politically correct....excuse the crass use of a certain word....Ed did not know he was being filmed by my ever ready i phone which I'm having a blast with....GO ED!......you won't see the "Cerebral Gourmet" coming to the Cooking Channel anytime soon.....LOL!)

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Posted in: American March Browns , blue-winged-olive , caddis , gray drake , isonychia , michigan fly fishing , monster brown trout , muskegon river , sulphers , trout and eagle