Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass

Tying Tips for Spring Baitfish Patterns

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Spring Tying TipsSpring Tying Tips

Make sure to check out the blog post at Loon Outdoors that Jon Ray wrote about Spring Tying Tips.  Especially focused on baitfish patterns and staying organized during your Spring Tying prep time.

Sneaky Organization Product

Within the article I talk about Loon’s Bench Rings these rings have really streamlined my tying process when it comes to flashabou. Spring Tying Tips Instead of scrambling around looking for speckled copper and wasting time.  I can keep my top steelhead colors all on one ring and get to them quick and easy.  If you haven’t picked up one of these simple tools, I highly recommend it.  I have Bench Rings for all my favorite smallmouth colors and keep a separate ring for steelhead colors that I use through out the season.

Materials look so great hanging on the wall in a shop, but most fly tying benches look like a bomb just went off. The Bench Rings solve that problem. The stainless steel rings allow tyers to organize materials, hooks and beads by style/size/type/color using the same bags they came in.

Manistee River Steelhead Report

Manistee River Steelhead Report below Tippy Dam

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Manistee River

Manistee River Steelhead Report

Spring Steelhead Report Below Tippy Dam

Spring Steelhead Report below Tippy Dam water levels remain high but are slowly dropping. However, the Pine River upstream of Tippy Dam is dumping a heavy mud stain into the Manistee, creating very low visibility and poor clarity. As of today, flows are 4,360 cfs and the water temperature is 41.4°F.

All of our guide trips have been canceled or rescheduled since last week’s big rain events, but it’s looking like we’ll be able to get back out there very soon. High water is a common spring issue—especially after a heavy snow year—so we knew this was bound to happen at some point during the spring steelhead season.

The good news: conditions should improve shortly as flows continue to drop and the river clears. With water temps just getting into the 40s, we’re approaching the peak window and things should be firing again soon.

We will have a new update coming soon once we can get back on the Manistee River.

Booking a Trip

The Manistee River below Tippy Dam is one of the best west side rivers in the state of Michigan.  We specialize in Steelhead and Trout fishing on this section of the Manistee River Watershed.  Now is a great time to book your Spring Fishing adventure as well, with Steelhead, Trout, and Pre-Spawn Smallmouth on the agenda.

If catching a Great Lakes Steelhead in on your wish list give us a call to join in the fun at (231-631-5701), you can also shoot us an email.  We are currently booking Spring Steelhead, Pre-Spawn Smallmouth Bass, and a few remain peak Trout Dates for Michigan Dry Fly Fishing. 

Jon Ray