Steelhead Outing PDF

FlyMasters of Indianapolis will be hosting a summer carp outing at Beaver Island on July 10th-14th and 14th-18th.  Ian Anderson will be running the event for FlyMasters.  For the last couple years Ian has hosted a number of outings at Barothy Lodge and Beaver Island with Indigo and they are always a success.  Ian has a great attention to detail and puts together a great outing.

Ian has put together a nice page about this outing on the FlyMastyers site, click here for more…

FlyMasters of Indianapolis will be hosting a spring steelhead outing at Barothy Lodge on April 26th-27th.  Ian Anderson will be running the event for FlyMasters.  For the last couple years Ian has hosted a number of outings at Barothy Lodge and Beaver Island with Indigo and they are always a success.  Ian has a great attention to detail and puts together a great outing.

Ian has put together a nice page about this outing on the FlyMastyers site, click here for more…

Many guides used to work as much, or more in March as in April, with March being the time of peak steelhead numbers.  Most of the PM steelhead do not spawn and leave the river until April, with fish numbers naturally building from summer, fall, winter and early spring… reaching a peak in March.  This is almost entirely pre-spawn fishing in holes and runs, pre-spawn steelhead are great, they are silver hot rockets.

We are so excited about having our great March fishing back that we are offering a special to show everyone how great March can be.  There is also no other time that our guides would rather be on the water.

Special for any remaining March dates (two options):
– take 2 days and get the second for half price.
– or take 3 days and get the third for free. 

Visit our West Michigan Fly Index page for a quick look at our collection.

Steelhead Fly… Steve’s Steelhead Stone by Steve Martinez

This stonefly pattern was a steady evolution over the years, it is easy enough to tie and has a nice look.  I like the bead head to give a segmented look and a little weight to fish heavy, like a stonefly.  I found that some of the stones had a slightly lighter underside than their back and I think the high contrast on this pattern is good at getting noticed.

Best For… steelhead and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad R70, size 8

Head… medium tungsten in black

Tail… black rubber legs

Body… *medium sized, tan rubber band

Hackle… brown grouse

Back… oil can foil

*Use a black Sharpie marker to darken the back.

Visit our West Michigan Fly Index page for a quick look at our collection.

Steelhead Fly… Morlock’s Spring Stone by Kevin Morlock

Our first hatch of the year in west Michigan that is important to steelhead anglers are a couple species of black or dark stoneflies, they range from size 10-20, but most are in the 12-14 range.  The steelhead are not critical on size and many feel that a bit larger stonefly pattern will produce more action, stonefly patterns tied on size 6-8 egg hooks are a good choice.

Best For… steelhead and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad C67S, size 6

Tail… turkey tail

Ribbing… light copper wire

Body… 3-5 strands of peacock herl

Hackle… pheasant neck

Back… *turkey tail

*This is the same turkey tail piece that was used for the tail, now brought forward for the back.

References:

West Michigan Fishing Report for February 23rd, 2010

Click here for a good looking single page pdf version of this west Michigan guide report… perfect for a counter top or bulletin board.

For a more detailed report on the Pere Marquette River visit the Pere Marquette River Fishing Report site.
Pere Marquette River
Temps – 30’s          Water Conditions – low and clear
>>> A warm snap with rain would set us up quickly for good to great fishing, bringing in a fresh batch of new steelhead.  The PM has fish around and the fishing hasn’t been too bad but new eager steelhead would be great.  Kevin Morlock
USGS Real-Time Data for the Pere Marquette River at Scottville, Michigan

Big Manistee River
Temps – 35          Water Conditions – low and clear
>>> Good to fair fishing with good fish numbers throughout the system.  Water levels are low and clear, using stealth is key.  Using floats with small eggs in washed pink or yellows with small black stoneflies has been working well.  Jamie Clous
USGS Real-Time Data for the Manistee River near Wellston, Michigan

Muskegon River
Temps – 33          Water Conditions – low average
>>> The Muskegon launch sites are icy.  Winter trout fishing has been good, #16 scuds in olive or pink and stonefly nymphs have been productive.  With the low clear water, the steelhead have been wary… small nymphs on the bottom of deep runs has been the best bet.  Phil Cusey
USGS Real-Time Data for the Muskegon River near Croton, Michigan

Spring Stoneflies
Our first hatch of the year in west Michigan that is important to steelhead anglers are a couple species of black or dark stoneflies, they range from size 10-20, but most are in the 12-14 range.  The steelhead are not critical on size and many feel that a bit larger stonefly pattern will produce more action, stonefly patterns tied on size 6-8 egg hooks are a good choice.

Morlock’s Spring Stone… Click here for the recipe.
 

It still looks like winter

Kevin Morlock will be talking about Michigan Steelhead to the Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers (NKFF) on Thursday, February 4th, 2010.  The NKFF meetings are held at the  Briarwood Banquets, 2134 Petersberg Road, Hebron, Kentucky from 5:30 to 9:30.  The NKFF are a great group of folks and Kevin is looking forward to heading down.