Pic of the Day – Small Rainbow in the Sky

IMG_7894

First Hex, found on an inland lake

Driving home from the river the other day saw my first signs of hex, on an northern michigan inland lake the streets and overheads lights to illuminate the streets were covered in this Michigan Mayfly.

Hex Hatch

Snapping Turtle Day

Not that I really drive up and down the roads looking for snapping turtles.  But yesterday was by far the strangest day.  Saw 4 different snapping turtles all on the road or side of the road.  Did witness one laying eggs, must of been the day to get that done.  Quick chance to take a couple down low pictures of this guy.

snapping turtle

Carp on Grand Traverse Bay – Picture of the Day

June is prime time for carp on Grand Traverse bay and had a chance yesterday to get out on the bay and chase down the golden bones on the flats.

carp in Traverse City

Leptophlebia Spinner – Great Mahogany

Mahogany DrakeCommon Name – Great Mahogany, Borcher’s Drake, Black Quill

 

New Bug 2 Tails

So from time to time you see a bug on the water, and at certain time of year it stands out. It separates it’s self from every other bug on the water.  When this happens it must be funny to be the birds in the trees, watching me chase after the bug in my Clackacraft.  Rowing as fast as I can forward, backwards, and side to side.  Making the boat spin and dart the best I can to get the angle to grab this bug.  What fishing guides do to learn more about their craft and the environment they fish in.

Now if you have ever fished with me for dries I’m a simple match the size and match the color kind of guy.  My first questions about bugs on the water always is, are the fish eating them?  But the mystery bug below if it can come out in enough numbers will for sure have fish looking up.  So with my limited knowledge I always ask Ann Miller author of the best Hatch Guide book I know of for the Midwest.

Current word is still out, feel free to add your input.  The reason for the problem is the 2 tail dilemma.  Will have it figured out shortly but just wanted to post the pic.  Trout fishing has been real good, still have one day open in June the 5th if you want to get out for a prime Iyso period.  Shoot me an email.

I like the reflective nature of this picture.  Had to shoot at 640 ISO because of how late in the evening this was so thus the grainy nature of the image.  Plus no tripod in the boat.

michigan mayfly

Gray Drake

A gray drake on it’s last leg.  With the next couple days coming back to normal, look in the evening sky for this great bug.  Also if you havn’t already picked up your gray drake spinners pick up a hand full of Ed McCoy’s Gray Drake Spinner.

orvis gray drake spinner

Brown Trout Feeding Video

Here is a little lesson for you to learn.  You know those patterns that you fished last year that you put back in your box.  Make sure to check the hook closely.  As this trout taught us, after we hooked him, he made quick work of us and lost him,  because the hook did not make it.  This guide standby pattern had rusted out through the winter and was too weak to land a nice trout eating sulphurs.

slow_mo_trout

Jaws

Jaws of a Pike.  Had a chance to fun fish for pike on an inland lake, captured this picture with a GoPro3 and took a screen shot of the video.  Hard to see but the fly is totally sucked into the jaws of this Alpha predator.

michigan pike