Fall Colors
Colors seem to explode yesterday morning (once the rain stopped), this bank along the Manistee River always has great color and is a wonderful back drop for anglers as we search for chrome.
Pic of the Day – Thought we had Chrome
So when you choose to run the streamer for steelhead, anything can bite. Usually that is a good thing, but when you pick up the two-hand rod in the early season you sometimes hook up on Kings. Not to be too picky, but when you get the grab your heart drops, but when you realize that it’s just a King you kinda get mad. This King was the first grab we had of the day and all on board were extremely happy for a short moment. It was not chrome, but it was a fish. Days are numbered until chrome (steelhead) start looking for other things to eat other than eggs.
Mangled Fly Hoodie and Chrome
Hoodies and steelhead have gone hand and hand for me for years. Chris Radar sporting his Mangled Fly Hoodie and great early run Manistee River Steelhead.
Respect for fish and for film making
Even though I have never fished out West for steelhead, my respect for these fish can never be second guessed. Also understanding how much it costs to deliver films and videos to the public check this video out. Here is a short link as well – http://kck.st/15rmFpt
2013 Last Muskie
Did a quick post about the last day, and now here is a picture of the last muskie of 2013. Great fish Frank, nice job!
Last Day Chasing Muskie
My 2013 Muskie chase has come to an end as of today, but had one of the best sun rises of the year. Brings to mind the old sailors saying. Red Sky in the morning, sailors take warning. As the last day brought with it 20-30 mph winds that chased us off a little early. Now back to my home waters and the steelhead chase begins in full swing. It’s truly a mix bag of emotions though. While Muskie absorb you in every way and almost eat at your sole, I do love my leaping, jumping, cartwheeling, quick-running, dime silver friends that I will be coming home too. I will miss the muskie waters and look forward to the chase in 2014. During the winter thoughts and patterns will be developed and new techniques will come to mind. If any of this muskie stuff interests you I am booking additional muskie fly fishing guide days in 2014. Feel free to contact me direct at jray@mangledfly.com
Thank you to all that joined me this fall season!
Picture of the Day – Biggest Muskie for Jerome to date
Jerome S. who started this adventure 3 years ago, today achieved a new PB (personal best) muskie. Great fish Jerome, nice job. Any muskie on a fly is a great fish, but some are always a little more special.
2013 Fall Steelhead season is under way!
David S. pictured below with a great example of what my life will be obsessed with over the next 5 months. Fall fish look in great shape so far, they are big and they are mean. Can’t wait to stretch out some line and get the two-hander firing once again.
David is also wearing the Mangled Fly Hoodie, great way to keep warm on those cold morning starts. One of the best Hoodies I have found, and personally I wear a hoodie almost everyday on the river.
True Mangled Fly
The sad part of this story is this fly was never the same. After Mr. Esox got ahold of it and turned it into true Mangled Fly. It did not swim right ever again. We had to put to rest this buck tail, rabbit strip, rubber leg, flashabou creation. Will always have found memories of the fish we shared.
So close I can taste it.
If you follow the blog and or if you know me personally you know fall is one of my favorite times. Being busy chasing the muskie has caused a little bit of jealousy on my part of my fellow guides finding some of the early steelhead back home on the Manistee. But I will be back home shortly chasing the fish that I love. At this time I have a cancellation on Oct 8th if anybody is interested. Contact me via email or text my cell.
Booking Smallmouth Trips on Traverse Bay
Grand Traverse Bay Smallmouth Bass