OUR HALLOWED WATERS JOURNAL-PASSION FOR TROUT/STEELHEAD/SALMON

 

In case you haven't seen it yet, Laurie and I have been launching a cool new magazine concept.The new issue just came out Jan 15th- our second issue, and the accolades and subscripotions we atre recieveing have been truly amazing!- we hope you can come to this passion and journeyt for all things trout/steelhead /salmon fly fishing.

The winter issue has amazing pieces on winter spring creeks, cold weather steelheading, how to fish winter tailwaters and the snowbound early black stonefly hatch...plus 12 departmental columns on evry facet of the sport! 175 pages, 450 color images, 40 fly patterns and recipes and even my gourmey food and spirits column!

Hope you can join us on the passion and journey for what we all love!...to subscribe come to our website...https://hallowedwaters.com/

Hope to see you in a better and brighter 2021 at the Gray Drake!

Matt & Laurie

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Posted in: Cumberland Valley Limestone spring creeks , early black stones , gray , Great Lakes steelhead , hallowed waters journal , muskegon fly fishing , salmon , steelhead , trout , winter trout fishing on tail waters

WINTER STEELHEAD AND TROUT SPECIAL-FISH PRIME TIME OF DAY!

As the the Great Lakes winter is upon us, our prime fishing times for steelhead and trout will be later into the day as temperatures warm and with a very strong dusk bite!
Each year we offer a "winter special".
So for 295.00- one or two, all tackle and flies provided , we do a 11 AM until dusk trip- prime time of day to catch a steelhead or two...nymph and midge fish for resident browns and rainbows, or throw big meaty streamers for the rivers elusive but always there big browns!
Call or email us to book a winter outing that can be very productive and a fun getaway from the cabin fever blues!

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Posted in: brown and rainbow trout , gray drake lodge , great lakes winter steelhead , muskegon browns , winter steelhead fly fishing , winter trout fishing on tail waters

EARLY MARCH UPDATE FOR MUSKEGON/MICHIGAN

It has been a very long week! Blizzard snow conditions Tuesday, near zero fahrenheit temps at night time, freezing up  rod guides all week on the river, finally sunny warm relief Saturday.

Like to thank our good friend and client Chris Vanover from Texas for enduring the week , but I got him into some gorgeous steelhead, trout and yes a nice walleye that did well for the Lenten fish fry!

(Some very nice steelhead)

( a delish Walleye...pan fried with a corn/pepper relish salsa YES!...we are 100% catch and release on all trout, steelhead and salmon-BUT!!!!- walleye are for the table, and btw- they eat all our trout and steelhead business partrners)

( a nice brownie)

( and one gorgeous eagle lake resident Muskegon  cutt/bow rainbow- biggest I have seen in years!...notice the orange belly and slits under the gill plates)

CONDITIONS: perfect!- water level 2790 CFS...water temp still needing to warm up- currently 35F- but very clear 

HATCHES: saw midges yesterday and a few black stone flies in biological drift- 

FORECAST: Warm week ahead. Walleye in the river signals run is ramping up

NOTE: We still have some excellent guide dates and lodging available for spring steelhead but they are going fast....email or call us!!!

Cheers!...Na zdrowie!

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Posted in: black stones , gray drake lodge , michigan fly fishing , michigan steelhead , midges , muskegon steelhead , winter trout fishing on tail waters

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