Here is a report from our friend Jeff Hubbard @ Outfitters North
The Pere Marquette Trout fishing and Trout fishing around the area is still in full swing up here. The Hex fishing on the PM has been sporadic with bugs being inconsistent. Some nights are better then others. Night fishing with Mouse Flies has been picking up with the more humid weather were having. If the night bite isn’t your thing the day time fishing has been great. Some good quality fish this year have been taken before the lights go out. Look for Terrestrial fishing to only get better in the months to come. If interested in some Fly-Fishing for Trout on the Pere Marquette I have a couple days left in August.
Pics 6/15,16,18,20: Barry joined me for a couple memorable days on the water with great fishing, wildlife viewing and no Anglers to be seen. Barry holds this trophy Rainbow caught on a Hopper Pattern. Here he is with a trophy Brown taken on a big Stimulator at dark. Barry spotted this little guy tucked up on the bank. (: These two Trout Bums did some hardcore night fishing this weekend. One day fishing till it was time to get Breakfast. Rich holds a really nice Brown taken on the Hex and Matt with one of his biggest PM Browns taken on a mouse pattern.
The Pere Marquette is holding its own right now for Steelhead. There are still fish around but we did lose the bulk of them. With the warm weather we saw over the last month fish were coming and going in a hurry. We did get some cooler weather and rain and snow last week which did bring the water up. With the higher water we have seen some fresh fish, but not as much as I thought we would. I’m sure in the next few weeks more fish will trickle in, I however don’t think we will witness any big pushes. For flies with the water up Clown eggs worked great last week along with Fry and Parr patterns and Black and Olive Buggers. Look to see Trout fishing improving though especially with streamers and dry’s. The Salmon parr are in full swing and I’m seeing a number of dry flies in the air. Including Little Black Stones,Golden’s and Hendrickson’s. If interested in some Streamer fishing for Trout let me know I have only a few days left this spring.
The Outfitters North Fly of the Month is my PM Parr (little fry). April is the time of year that the Salmon fry start to hatch and show themselves in big numbers. This fly is not only deadly on Steelhead but also becomes a nice snack for big Browns that thrive in the waters I guide on.
Little Fry Recipe
Hook: #700 Dai Riki number 6 or 8
Tail: White Grizzly Marabou
Body: Olive Ice Dub with Mallard flank palmered to front of hook
Wing: Grizzly Marabou pulled over top
Eyes: Med Red Eyes
Head: Shrimp or Orange Ice Dub
Here is a report for the Pere Marquette from our freind Jeff Hubbard @ Outfiitersnorth.com
The last couple of weeks we really needed water in the river and our prayers were answered. The river now is up with a nice stain to it. Over the weekend it was really high but still fishable by my standards and the fishing was great. Actually last week overall we had really good fishing with a really good bite. As the water was rising by Thursday I started to see fresher fish in the pools, so things should only get better. You can find fish now in gravel areas and pockets or in the deeper pools and runs. Flies last week were Stones before the water came up and Clown Eggs in a various colors but Hubba-Bubba was on fire when the river was raging. We did hit a couple fish on streamers as the water was on the rise Thursday but they didn’t cooperate. The fly though was a purple/black Intruder style fly. Streamers should get good not only for Steelhead but Brown Trout in the next couple of days as the water starts to drop. If interested in some Trout fishing send me a e-mail I’m now booking for spring and summer trout.
Spring is finally in the air a little up here. The deer are moving,birds are chirping and chrome Steelhead are starting to move into the rivers up here in Northern Michigan. The PM is still fishing good for Steelhead. The fish are still scattered through out the whole river system. Some chrome spring fish are appearing everyday. The water is low and clear though. We could diffidently use some run-off or rain to bring the water up and give it a nice stain. Fish are holding in pools and pockets now. Some of the fall/winter Steelhead are starting to stage in and around gravel areas with the water temps in the high 30′s. Look for fishing to remain consistent and should only get better in the weeks to come especially if we see some rise in water with the snow melt. For flies try Stones,Hex’s and Caddis. For eggs small clowns in cheese,apricot or Steelhead orange have been good along with your standard nukes in the same variations. For streamers it’s been baitfish or smaller Spey patterns. Check out the Fly page and Spey page, there are some great new and old patterns for Spring Steelheading.
Pics from last week 2/23-2/28: Bob and Chuck joined me for a few days of great fishing before a huge front pushed into the area. Here’s a couple of the bigger Steelhead they brought to hand on the Spey rod, Indicator Set -Up. Bob and Tony joined me for some great times on the water where they had a couple good days of hooking and landing some nice Steelhead over the weekend. I joined Kevin Feenstra on a cancellation day swinging for Steelhead on the Muskegon River where he brought this nice fresh fish to hand on a Leech pattern.
Last week found myself taking a little break from guiding and enjoying some skiing with some new snow we received up here. It also let me fish some other rivers and different stretches of the Pere Marquette. I fished the Muskegon river with good friend and guide Kevin Feenstra. Where we spent the day swinging flies with numerous pulls and a couple fish to hand it made for a great day of swinging flies in the winter. For more info on the Muskegon River check out his web site at www.feenstraguideservice.com. The PM and Muskegon are both low and clear with water temps in the 30′s. Plenty of Steelhead around, it’s just a matter of if they want to bite on that given day. For flies try neutral color egg patterns in cheese,apricot and grapefruit. For Nymphs,Caddis,Hex’s and Stones can be good on the days above freezing. For Streamers, Baitfish and Leech patterns with a bit of flash to get there attention and seek out the more aggressive fish. For some great new fly patterns check out my fly page.
Pic from last week: A nice Muskegon River buck I took on the swing. (photo by Kevin Feenstra)
Here is one of our good customers Rick R. with beautiful PM Winter Steelhead from this past weekend. Rick was fishing with Jeff Hubbard – outfittersnorth.com
Here is an up to date fishing report from our friend Jeff Hubbard @ outfittersnorth.com
The Pere Marquette Steelhead fishing has still been very good. Cold but good. (: Seeing some new fish coming in with the rise in water we had last week. The river is dropping fast, though it’s still holding a nice stain. For Flies nymphs have been good, try Stones,Caddis,”Squirrel” Nymph. For eggs colors have been cheese,apricot and HubbaBubba. For Streamers get them down and fish them slow. Leeches and numerous baitfish patterns have been the ticket. Winter Steelhead fishing has been great this year. And it looks like the old ground hog saw his shadow so winter might set in up here for a few more weeks. If interested in some winter Steelheading check out my special on the Current News page. Open dates for the winter special are: February 9,10,18
Pics from the week so far. 1/26, 2/1,/2/2 Fraser joined me for a couple days of cold weather, but some of the most memorable Steelhead fishing I’ve seen in a long time. Here is one of the biggest, coolest looking bucks I’ve seen in awhile. Fraser with a nice chrome hen. Nice Steelhead I took on the swing while the water was high.
Drop me an email if you want to book a trip, or if looking for an up to the minute report.
This Saturday come check out a Fly Tying Demonstration from 11-2 with Jeff Hubbard from Outfitters North. Jeff is one of the most experienced fly fishing guides on the Pere Marquette River. He specializes in Steelhead and Trout trips throughtout the year.
Beginning Fly Tying Class
$60 all tools and materials provided 6-8pm minimum 4 students
January 12, 14, 19 & 21
February 8, 10, 15 & 17
March 16, 18, 23 & 25
Specialty Classes
$20 Each minimum 4 students 12-4pm
Simple Steelhead Patterns – January 24th
Trout Streamers – February 14th
Smallmouth & Pike Patterns – March 21st
February 28th
Jeff “Bear” Andrews 10-5pm “Best of the Bear”
Join Jeff Andrews and learn how to tie some of his favorite Trout flies in the morning followed by Steelhead Flies in the afternoon. Lunch and materials will be provided.
$100 for both sessions or $60 for the Trout or Steelhead session.
Trout Fly Session – Steelhead Afternoon
FREE FLY TYING Seminars*
Saturdays January – March 11-2pm
January 9th – Todd White – Fly Tying Tips & Tricks
January 16th – Jeff Hubbard – Outfitters North – Pere Marquette Favorites
January 23rd – Jon Harris – Trout Fly Patterns & Grand River Favorites
January 30th – Ed McCoy – Hawkins Outfitters – Manistee River Favorites
February 6th – Kevin Feenstra – Feenstra Guide Service – Muskegon River Favorites
February 13th – Matt Erny – day5flies.com – Warm Water Favorites
February 20th – Jim Reed – Flies by JR – Tying with Deer Hair
February 27th – Tommy Stornant – Local Fishing Patterns
March 6th – Jeff “Bear” Andrews – Au Sable River Favorites
March 13th – Mel Comeau – Forgotten Patterns
March 20th – Eli Barent – Great Lakes Flies – Flies for Big Fish
March 27th – Brian Bielecki – Nomad Anglers Practical Patterns & Night Patterns
*This is a tentative schedule tiers my change dependent upon availability.
