Tag Archive for: Jon Ray

Northern Michigan Smallmouth

Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass

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Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass

Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass fishing season in Northern Michigan is fully underway.  We have been fishing both Grand Traverse Bay and most of inland lakes in the area.  The mid size inland lakes are either full spawn or trending towards post spawn (meaning topwater is on the menu).  The big lakes like Crystal and Torch are either just starting the spawn or still pre-spawn because of our cold spring season.  Grand Traverse Bay is still Pre-spawn as the bay has been cold for the most part.  Water temps yesterday ranged from 43-50 in most parts.

Pre Spawn Smallmouth on Grand Traverse

Grand Traverse bay smallmouthJune is one of the best months for smallmouth bass fishing in Grand Traverse Bay, as warming water temperatures bring bass into shallower areas to feed and spawn. Anglers can find quality fish around rocky flats, drop-offs, sand-to-rock transitions, and near shoreline structure throughout both East and West Grand Traverse Bay. Clear water makes sight fishing exciting, with opportunities to target cruising smallmouth in 5 to 20 feet of water.

Top presentations in June include streamers on fly rods, tubes, swimbaits, jerkbaits, on light tackle. Early mornings and calm conditions can also produce great action on subtle topwater lures. Grand Traverse Bay is known for its clear water, beautiful scenery, and trophy-class smallmouth, making June a prime time to plan a Northern Michigan smallmouth bass fishing trip.

Booking a Smallmouth Trip

Interested in booking a Smallmouth Bass Trip on light tackle or fly gear, drop us a message via email, or text/call us directly 231-631-5701.

Jon Ray

Fly Fishing Insider Guided Podcast

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Fly Fishing Insider Guided Podcast

Scientific Anglers

I am honored to be selected to be part of the Fly Fishing Insiders Guided Podcast series, this series features the Scientific Anglers Ambassador’s and Advisors . This being episode 15 in the series, the host of the show Greg Keenan and I decided to discuss Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass.

Smallmouth Bass

Greg mentioned he had not had the opportunity to interview anyone yet as it relates to smallmouth bass. I did my best to cover the different ways that I like to target smallmouth bass in Northern Michigan. Going over a few different lines and setups. A key tip I disclose is how I use smallmouth bass to help me later in the year show me those off the radar steelhead spots. Make sure to give the podcast a listen and let me know what you think.

Podcast

Jon Ray

D Loop – Picture of the Day

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Warp Speed – Pic of the Day

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Erik Rambo shot this picture of me rowing down the upper manistee.  Very cool effect Erik thanks for sharing.

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Working on Something New

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Getting closer to releasing something new that Erik and I are really excited about.  First trailer is coming in the next 10-14 days.  Also have new logo for this series, just a quick teaser below.  Getting hard to not share more details.  But the last couple weeks editing, email with musicians and fancy logo designers has gotten to the boiling point and had to post something.  Check back here shortly for the first trailer.

something new

Inland Oceans Book Now Available

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One of the greatest most unexplored fly fishing frontiers finally has a book that will help more people tap into a great resource.  Jerry Darkes is the author, of this well written, full of information, fly patterns, stories and maps to help anglers get into fishing the great lakes.  With endless miles of shoreline full of browns, coho, chinook, smallmouth, carp, and muskie.  It’s almost impossible to hit all the ports, harbors, and river mouths in a lifetime.  This book will help narrow in the hotspots if you have a desire to fish this great resource.

Buy this at your local fly shop first, but if they won’t get it for you, here is a quick link.

fly fishing the great lakes

Scott fly rods

Scott T3H Video

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Had a great time working with Erik Rambo on this little project.  Great job Erik you do amazing things with the camera and at the editing desk.  Thank you Erik for all your hard work.

Thank you Brad Petzke and Kevin Feenstra for helping in this project as well.  And thank you Scott rods for making such a good product.  If you like the two-hand rods, you owe it to yourself to pick up one of the new T3H’s, they are sweet.

Swinging with the Scott T3H from Mangled Fly Media on Vimeo.

Big Appetite Smallmouth

Big Appetite Small mouth DVD is now available!

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Happy to announce the Big Appetite Small Mouth DVD is now available, I have copies of the DVD in stock and ready to ship.  Here is a link to the products page to purchase your copy.  Thank you to everybody for their patience as this  project was an amazing experience.  Thank you Kevin Feenstra and Erik Rambo, it was an honor to work with both of you for the past 2 years.

Big Appetite, Small Mouth contains beautiful imagery of one of the great warm water fish, the smallmouth bass.  Footage includes fly tying and fishing with streamers, crayfish patterns, and surface poppers.  If you are an experienced smallmouth angler, or just getting in to it, you will enjoy this exciting DVD!

 

Big Appetite Smallmouth
Smallmouth Bass DVD