Trout Opener is a week away. Start filling your box with Henny’s & Small Black Caddis. Here is a great emerger pattern stolen from the guys @ Hawkins Fly FIshing – Click the link and they’ll give you step by step instructions.
Hendrickson Emerger Material List
Here is Ed’s Baby Rainbow Pattern from a few weeks ago.
Hook: TMC 811S Size 2222
Tail: White Schlappen Feathers
Over Wing: Tiger Barred Rabbit Strips Blue/Black/White + Peacock Herl + Blue Flashabou
Body: UV Polar Chenille Pearl
Cheeks: Blue +Pink + White Buck Tail
Head: Blue Ice Dub Top + Pearl Ice Dub Bottom
Eyes: Gold Medium Lead Dumbbells
Ed gave me a call today after he got off the river and told me to check out the fishing report.
From big winter bucks to chrome dime hens we found a nice little mixture of steelhead today. With air temps reaching close to 30 today and no wind fishing was very pleasant. Any time that the weather has allowed comfortable fishing, steelhead have been willing and eager to come to the fly. Ed McCoy and I fished today and reflected upon this winter and our past ten plus years of winter steelhead fishing. We feel this year is special and have to rank this as one of the best years for winter steelhead fishing we have seen in some time. As February turns into March spring is just around the corner, if you have interest in early spring fishing give us a call 231.228.7135
This is the time of the year where a half day on the water can go a long, long way…
Half Day winter special is just $225. Come and fish steelhead in solitude. We’ll bring the heater, a thermos of coffee and the camera. Some of the best steelhead of the year are caught between now and March 15th.
I’d like to thank Ed and everyone that showed up for the fly tying demonstration yesterday. Patterns soon to show up online. Remember, if you’d like to share a day chasing trout on dry flies or indicator nymphing for steelhead contact the guys at www.hawkinsflyfishing.com There are a good number of fishing in both the PM and the Big Manistee right now. During the next warm up the fishing should turn on again. The guide from Hawkins right now fish everyday they can and offer half day guide trips if a full day in cold is a bit to much for you. Here is a preview of some of the fish you will encounter on a trip.
This weekend join Ed McCoy from Hawkins Outfitters, 11-2 at the shop for a free fly tying demo. Ed will be demonstrating an assortment of fly patterns that work well for Trout on the Upper Manistee and a selection of his favorite patterns for Steelhead on the Big Manistee. He also will be answering any questions you might have about fishing these rivers.
Here is a quick bio about Ed:
Ed McCoy grew up in Northern Michigan fly fishing for trout, salmon, and steelhead. Ed attended Michigan State University and graduated with degrees in Zoology and Fisheries & Wildlife. While attending MSU he worked on several research projects studying streams and fish biology in Northern Michigan. After graduating from MSU he was involved in post graduate research studying salmonid recruitment in the Muskegon River through the University of Michigan. He was very fortunate throughout his college years to be able to study (and play) on some of our more notable rivers such as the Au Sable, Manistee, Muskegon, Pere Marquette, and Pine Rivers. Ed enjoys sharing this knowledge with our clients, and “putting it to work”. As a guide with 7 years of experience Ed enjoys every aspect of fly fishing whether pulling streamers for large aggressive fish, casting dry flies for surface feeding trout, or nymphing.
Sandy has become quite the fly angler over the past year from King Salmon in Ontario to Brook Trout in the Smokies to Silver Salmon in Alaska and now a bright Chrome Steelhead on the Big Manistee. Congrats!
Very nice fish!!!
Here is Ed pictured with a Chrome fish from the Big Manistee as well…
Ed and JR from Hawkins Outfitters will be at the fly tying expo in Holt, MI this weekend.
Here Ed from Hawkins Fly Fishing with a mint Steelhead from the Big Manistee.
The Steelheading is improving day by day while more Silver fish enter into the rivers. Egg patterns are your best bet while streamers are improving everyday. It’d be nice to get a bit of rain to help improve the water levels.
Well the annual King Salmon Run has started to transpire over the past week or so with the cooler weather and late rains of August. King’s can be found in most of our rivers now in decent to good fishable numbers. With the onset of the full moon on 9/4, the run should be in full swing here shortly. This is one of my favorite times to fish for our Kings, fresh from the lake these fish tend to be more aggressive and very strong. Fishing streamers during the next few weeks when these fish are making their big push can provide the angler with some exciting fishing and one of the hardest “hits” we have to offer here in Michigan! If you like to streamer fish, than this will surely become one of your favorite times of the year. This window won’t last all season so it is important to time the presentation with fresh fish for the best results. Bring your toughest gear as these fish will test your tackle (see photo)!
Ed McCoy
Ed has a few dates available for trips on the Big Manistee & Pere Marquette
Starting in October you’ll start seeing a few more Steelhead showing up as well.
9/8-10 9/30, 10/7, 10/11-14, and 10/16.
To book a trip give him a call or send him and email.
C: (231) 250-6254
H: (231) 779-1075
ed@hawkinsflyfishing.com
www.hawkinsflyfishing.com
We have been playing around with some new patterns for night fishing a.k.a. Mousing. This was one we tried out a few weeks ago…
it took a skagit line to cast the fly but looked pretty sweet in the water. Now I understand there are no Taiman in the rivers up north but, I’d like to see what ever fish is going to eat this thing.
Trout Snake
Hooks: 4-6 Long streamer hooks cut.
Body: 2 full rabbit skins, foam, hackle and rubber legs.
Head: 1/4 Deer Hide, hackle, foam, rubber legs.
