Tag Archive for: jon ray fishing guide

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.

Man vs Boat continues

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Maybe I just like the challenge.  Why does it seem like I’m always fighting with my boat?  I wonder who will win in the end when it comes to Jon Ray vs. Clackacraft?

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Spicy Crab and Smallmouth equals good fun

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Sunny Day, high pressure (from anglers and mother nature) try the spicy crab.  Featured pattern in the Big Appetite Smallmouth DVD.  The next 4 months are prime smallmouth time.  Crabs other wise none as crayfish are not the big fly, sexy to tie patterns you read about they flat out catch fish. Plenty of open smallmouth dates open starting in July, once I get through the Hex cycle. Give me a call or shoot me an email.  July – September great months to chase the bronze back before muskie and steelhead seasons.

Great Speckled Olive caught in a Web

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Siphloplecton basale Spinner other wise known for me as the Great Speckled Olive caught in a spiders web.  When you see this guy you know Sulhur’s are on the menu in a day or two.  Hatches are moving forward and temps are really improving.  Couple prime open dates in the first part of June.  June 6,7,9  shoot me an email or a text message if your interested.

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Big this Year

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Better get ready to rumble this year, as fish are bigger than normal on the West side.  Pictured is Jon with a big boy from the Manistee River from this Friday, Oct 11th.  Two-Handed rods are start to come out, as heavy angling pressure is pushing the fish off of the gravy train and into the spots I call home.

 

Picture of the day – Silly flies for steelhead

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michigan steelhead

John O. with a dandy on a ugly fly

Now is the time to swing the big flies, as our lake-run rainbows from Lake Michigan are not so focused on the egg bite.  November historically is one of the best months and this year is no different as fish are on the hunt for something more.