Fall trout on Boardman River, NW Michigan
Sep 24, 2021 17:55:20 #
Don't know where the time goes, but like sand flowing downhill in the vortex of an hourglass neck it keeps on running! Seems like Summer came and went...but I will not complain as I managed to spend a great deal of time on the water fishing this year...via boat, kayak, bank casting and stream wading. I'm feeling a bit melancholy as Fall has taken over and that means it's time to organize the garage for Winter and getting ready for ice fishing...no more paddling in calm waters, deep water trolling for lake trout, bass fishing with crankbaits or fly casting for wary trout.
As most of our Michigan trout streams and lakes will close to fishing at the end of September, I thought that I had better get the lead out of my shoes and hop into some waders this afternoon to swing some streamers with the fly rod! I covered a lot of water, and made what I considered to be some spectacular casts into likely lairs, but was only rewarded with a few wild trout today...brown and brook to be specific. I still feel like the lower Boardman River is in a recovery mode after the local dam removal projects of a few years ago, and I deliberately chose a section of the river today that I have not fished in about 10 years...hoping by some miracle that it would be teeming with fish. Oh well...the sky was blue, the air had a scent of decay, the breeze was stiff, and the spring fed waters felt cool on my Gortex encrusted legs as the current swept by on the way to Lake Michigan to greet migrating salmon.
Other than a half dozen passersby in canoes and kayaks, I had the river all to myself today...almost as if I had made stream reservations to fish on this particular stretch!
There are still a few days remaining in the season, and I have high hopes of spending at least one more day...or perhaps 2, over on my favorite reaches of the Manistee River. I hope that your own fishing seasons have been productive, or at least adventuresome, over the past several months! Time flies when your having fun....
As most of our Michigan trout streams and lakes will close to fishing at the end of September, I thought that I had better get the lead out of my shoes and hop into some waders this afternoon to swing some streamers with the fly rod! I covered a lot of water, and made what I considered to be some spectacular casts into likely lairs, but was only rewarded with a few wild trout today...brown and brook to be specific. I still feel like the lower Boardman River is in a recovery mode after the local dam removal projects of a few years ago, and I deliberately chose a section of the river today that I have not fished in about 10 years...hoping by some miracle that it would be teeming with fish. Oh well...the sky was blue, the air had a scent of decay, the breeze was stiff, and the spring fed waters felt cool on my Gortex encrusted legs as the current swept by on the way to Lake Michigan to greet migrating salmon.
Other than a half dozen passersby in canoes and kayaks, I had the river all to myself today...almost as if I had made stream reservations to fish on this particular stretch!
There are still a few days remaining in the season, and I have high hopes of spending at least one more day...or perhaps 2, over on my favorite reaches of the Manistee River. I hope that your own fishing seasons have been productive, or at least adventuresome, over the past several months! Time flies when your having fun....
Main branch Boardman River...lot's of room for fly casting!
Throwing large streamer flies in hopes of attracting large trout! 5 weight rod with a fast sink tip set up today.
First customer of the day...a nice brown that came out of an unlikely place under some streamside branches.
A plump brook trout with coloration that coincidentally matches my line backing!
Sep 24, 2021 18:52:34 #
fishyaker wrote:
Don't know where the time goes, but like sand flow... (show quote)
Beautiful area, beautiful trout, thanks for sharing, Fish.
Sep 24, 2021 20:00:41 #
fishyaker wrote:
Don't know where the time goes, but like sand flow... (show quote)
Great thread fishyaker. Like the write up and the pics are like i was right there.
Sep 25, 2021 06:59:11 #
Great story beautiful fish!!! Get out there while you can, old man winter is coming!!
Sep 25, 2021 13:37:51 #
Sep 25, 2021 15:34:24 #
Great story line and pics fy. Beautiful fish and beautiful area! Thanks for the reminiscing of the season, but I’m not done yet, lol. Can’t believe your area closes end of Sept?
For me it’s trying to balance hunting as well this time of year.
For me it’s trying to balance hunting as well this time of year.
Sep 25, 2021 19:57:26 #
bric wrote:
Great story line and pics fy. Beautiful fish and beautiful area! Thanks for the reminiscing of the season, but I’m not done yet, lol. Can’t believe your area closes end of Sept?
For me it’s trying to balance hunting as well this time of year.
For me it’s trying to balance hunting as well this time of year.
Thanks to all that are enjoying this post thus far! Yeah...our opening season for bass and trout (my favorite pursuits) is in late April/early May each year...and then they shut down at the end of September for most waters. There are a few exceptions, but the bulk of our waters close to protect the fish from over harvesting I suppose. So...it's like the starting gun goes off for a "race" when we begin each year...and as a fisherman you have to keep a fast marching pace on to get quality hours in on the water that count!
I enjoy marksmanship with a compound bow and a variety of firearms, but I don't hunt...so that leaves me in the lurch when fishing abruptly stops. I'm not as tolerant to cold temps as I used to be for outdoor fishing...so even before snow flies I don't do too much in the way of steelhead or panfish anymore. If it's warm, I'll go, but if the line guides are freezing up...then count me out these days! Now when it comes to ice fishing, when you can bundle up, and even sit inside of a shelter with heat...that's pretty cozy and a ton of fun. I love watching fish come in shallow and enticing them to bite. Frankly, I enjoy just looking at them as much as catching! If I fish deeper, then it's just blips on the screen of the Vexilar...but still exciting!
Good luck on your hunting pursuits and enjoy the camaraderie that goes along with it! I have numerous family and friends that absolutely love the hunting side of being a sportsman/sportslady, and I enjoy hearing of their tales in the woods or water. Once in a while I'll hang out at somebody's "deer camp" for a few days to absorb the indoor aspect of it all!
Sep 26, 2021 00:01:04 #
Very nice, beautiful country. But, I think I'll stay right where I am and put up with the misery of being able to launch my boat year round. I do suffer some though. Next month I'll have to remember where I put my jacket last February!
Sep 26, 2021 17:32:18 #
Beautiful place to fish! I’d try to get out as many times as I could,great pics🎣
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