Scouting some new waters for trout!
Michigan Fishing
Jun 30, 2023 17:17:21 #
Every season I try my best to get out and "prowl" on local waters that are brand new to me. You know how it goes...you drive by an interesting looking spot and say to yourself "Someday I'm gonna wet a line in that spot"...but all too often someday never comes.
I managed to get out for an afternoon "float/drift" down a segment of the Manistee River that I have never covered and boy, what spectacular day as far as weather is concerned. I was greeted at the waters edge of the boat landing by a good sized water snake slithering amongst the shoreline grasses, which gave me quite a startle. After using a bicycle to pedal a 6 mile set up routine for staging my pick up ride at the end of the drift I was ready to go....
My true objective was to seek brown trout after dark during late night insect hatches on a future trip, so I was not too concerned about what I might catch during daylight today. For the most part, these river trout are nocturnal, and although there are many exceptions, night time is when the big ones come out to play.
I was going to run thru the 4 and a half hour float in a drift boat, alone, so most of the time I would need to tend the oars. I did manage to squeeze in casts on a regular basis, but it was hard to cover the water intricately.
The habitat looked terrific for a future return trip, so I would rate the day as a complete success. I think I only passed six homes/cabins during the entire 6 mile run, so the remoteness of this stretch of river should pay big dividends when I come back!
I managed to get out for an afternoon "float/drift" down a segment of the Manistee River that I have never covered and boy, what spectacular day as far as weather is concerned. I was greeted at the waters edge of the boat landing by a good sized water snake slithering amongst the shoreline grasses, which gave me quite a startle. After using a bicycle to pedal a 6 mile set up routine for staging my pick up ride at the end of the drift I was ready to go....
My true objective was to seek brown trout after dark during late night insect hatches on a future trip, so I was not too concerned about what I might catch during daylight today. For the most part, these river trout are nocturnal, and although there are many exceptions, night time is when the big ones come out to play.
I was going to run thru the 4 and a half hour float in a drift boat, alone, so most of the time I would need to tend the oars. I did manage to squeeze in casts on a regular basis, but it was hard to cover the water intricately.
The habitat looked terrific for a future return trip, so I would rate the day as a complete success. I think I only passed six homes/cabins during the entire 6 mile run, so the remoteness of this stretch of river should pay big dividends when I come back!
At the launch site getting ready to drop off the boat.
A beautiful river with a pleasant flow rate. Not too many submerged "dead heads", and plenty of partial log jams and deep runs for holding trout at night. Lot's of slack waters near the shorelines with mudbeds for insect larvae too!
Taking time out for a quick bite of lunch from the cooler....
Since it would be tricky to throw big streamers for afternoon trout while also controlling the boat orientation, I opted for tossing a 4" count down Rapala from a spinning rod. Caught a few small rainbow trout and this smallmouth bass.
Jun 30, 2023 17:24:34 #
Jun 30, 2023 18:25:49 #
JDFishes wrote:
Looks like a good adventure and catching a plus. Thanks for pics!
Thank you JDFishes! It was a stellar day on the water. I had the whole time by myself except for a couple of kayakers that passed me at lunch time. I think this stretch gets crowded on weekends...especially with July 4th coming up soon. When I drove back upstream to pick up my bike I noticed several cars in the parking lot and some folks had just launched in more kayaks.
Jun 30, 2023 19:16:30 #
fishyaker wrote:
Thank you JDFishes! It was a stellar day on the water. I had the whole time by myself except for a couple of kayakers that passed me at lunch time. I think this stretch gets crowded on weekends...especially with July 4th coming up soon. When I drove back upstream to pick up my bike I noticed several cars in the parking lot and some folks had just launched in more kayaks.
Sounds like a good day to me, let us know how the night fish goes, yaker.
Jun 30, 2023 19:23:59 #
flyguy wrote:
Sounds like a good day to me, let us know how the night fish goes, yaker.
Thank you Flyguy! I am toying with the idea of putting a powerful Minnkota on that boat so that you can float down to fish a while, and then motor back upstream without committing to the entire run.
My days of pulling "all nighters" to do a long float while mousing or hexing (giant mayflies) are behind me and nowadays I like to wrap up by at least 1 am!
This run was pretty smooth for "dark running" over the first half...but the second half would require an ocassional "peek" via a headlamp and maybe even a bright flashlight. Of course the minute you light up the water ahead...that spooks these trout so you miss some chances!
Stay tuned!!!
Jun 30, 2023 19:34:17 #
fishyaker wrote:
Thank you Flyguy! I am toying with the idea of put... (show quote)
Looking forward to it, yacker.
Jun 30, 2023 19:38:40 #
fishyaker wrote:
Every season I try my best to get out and "pr... (show quote)
Fy, now those are some pics that would keep me from sleeping well in anticipation of fishing the river. Great idea staging the bike, thinking ahead
good for you.By the way, you can keep the snake.
Jun 30, 2023 21:53:56 #
plumbob wrote:
Fy, now those are some pics that would keep me from sleeping well in anticipation of fishing the river. Great idea staging the bike, thinking ahead good for you.
By the way, you can keep the snake.
good for you.By the way, you can keep the snake.
Thank you Plumb! It was very "fishy" looking water. Lot's of bottom variety...from muck to sand to gravel and woody debris. I brought an Exacto knife along in case my drop anchor got hung up in any logs (so I could cut the line)...because you never know where you might drop, and sometimes the water is deep enough to where you can't see bottom. Since it was a nice day, my plan would probably just have been to jump overboard and swim below to release it anyways...but even that can be a chore!
I have used a bike for many years to stage float trips, and it works out well, especially if the roads are paved! The main risk is in hoping that nobody messes with your gear while you are gone and riding back upstream!
That snake was a real cutie pie...and kind of playful. My camera was still up slope in the car at the launch otherwise I would have snapped a photo. They are beautifully marked...but like you, snakes are not something I like anymore. Now as a kid...we had a lot of fun with snakes.
Jun 30, 2023 23:32:40 #
Jul 1, 2023 00:09:17 #
fishyaker wrote:
Every season I try my best to get out and "pr... (show quote)
Beautiful area,personally some of the side banks look very interesting to me,glad you found a possible new spot,thanks for the pics🎣
Jul 1, 2023 07:30:03 #
fishyaker wrote:
Thank you Plumb! It was very "fishy" loo... (show quote)
Fy here is a suggestion for you if you want to eliminate the knife. Release the anchor and have a buoy on the line and maybe get at it with a different angle.
Jul 1, 2023 08:22:48 #
NJ219bands wrote:
Nice 👍
Thank you NJ219! There was not much of a daytime bug hatch going on, but I did notice a few small trout now and then just hunkered down in holding lanes. The only fish I saw break surface all afternoon was going after a damsel fly that was sitting close to the water on a stick. The trout missed it and the fly quickly got airborne to safety!
When I see that happen it always makes me wonder how much a fish sees above the shimmer of the underside of the water.
There have been times I was out trolling for muskies, and would look over and see one glide up and out of the water as if it was trying to check out the boat!
Jul 1, 2023 08:27:15 #
Rhyno wrote:
Beautiful area,personally some of the side banks look very interesting to me,glad you found a possible new spot,thanks for the pics🎣
Thank you Ryhno! There were numerous stretches that were wadable...but the tricky part would be getting between them thru deeper water. Now and then I was surprised to see some steep clay banks, which are not uncommon around here. I wish I had taken a photo!
The best way to cover this water is slow and stealthy...like you could do on foot.
Jul 1, 2023 08:31:46 #
plumbob wrote:
Fy here is a suggestion for you if you want to eliminate the knife. Release the anchor and have a buoy on the line and maybe get at it with a different angle.
Thank you Plumb! That's a great idea! Anchors are pricey (so you never want to lose one)...and it would be easy to lose track of where it was without some lead rope and a floating marker.
Jul 1, 2023 08:54:34 #
That is a wise move! Always do a little prospecting along the way. That way you have things to look for the next trip. Just Sayin...RJS
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