Every year during Spring turkey season. WE always bring some fishing gear with us. It makes for a complete spring outting. Hunt in the morning, fish all afternoon. Hunt in the evening. We have had some great adventures. It's fun bring a turkey and a steelhead home from camp. I know it's opening week of catch and release bass. Dose anyone else fish during spring season?
Fishing the Manistee River is one of our favorite spots. The Sturgeon are usually running that time of year and makes from some great excitement on the river. Small hair jigs (black and yellow) and a bobber. Tipped with live bait, works best for us. On trout and steelhead.
This year we are going to fish Elk rapids. The steelhead run there that time of year, and brown trout are in at good numbers also. Small circle hooks and leaf warms splitshot and a bobber works just fine.
Here is my secret for catching trout. I use 4lb test mono and a clear bobber. You will have to retie you r line and hook often it's a hastle but you will catch fish 5=1 over a larger line. Give your self 3- 4 foot leader bellow the bomber. I use wax worms and leaf worms. Make sure you are not in a fly only stream. Good luck.
Saw some nice fish cought near Kalkaska. Flies and live bait is the ticket. A few nice browns and steelhead were weighed in at Jack's. With several brook and rainbows mixed in. The paraid for the trout festival was on Saturday. It was a beautiful day, It was 72 and people were in Thier shortsleeves and shorts.
We took off and fished Elk Rapids Dam. We stuck out, but saw some nice steelhead caught Friday afternoon. Took some little brooks out of the creek behind our camp site Saturday.
With less than 8 weeks to go until opening day of spring turkey season. The temps are pretty cold and I may just be ice fishing, when I set off to the north for this years spring season. I'll still brave the cold streams during the Kalkaska trout festival. Last year the lakes north of 72 all had ice, until the 2nd week of the hunt. The cooler weather did keep most of the mushroom hunters out of the woods.
Looks like I will be able to Bass fish this season! I hope the ice is off the lakes, north of 72.
There is still a bunch of ice on the lakes. It just wont go away LOL
Has the steelhead run started yet at ElkRapids. Has any fish been taken from the dam?
Not a one. I was down there yesterday just lookin and didn't see any fish. we haven't had a warm rain yet to trigger the runs as far as I know. If you check out the river section on michigansportsman ya might get some info on the rivers liek the betsie.
Well I'm ready to go. I've got my fly rods ready,my steelhead gear is in my truck. I was told the ice has broken up on most of the lakes north of 72, and the wind is still blowing ice back and forth across the lakes. We're going to hit ElkRapids and some of the streams between Frederick and Kalkaska. This year I can target smallmouth,with my fly rod.