Only a few days left in regular season

Photo courtesy of Paul Smith

It’s hard to believe there are only a handful of days left in the fishing season. It has been a season marked by roller-coaster weather, the likes of which I have never seen, and which has continued into September. The past seven days were a classic example as we saw highs in the 50s late last week and reached the mid-80s much of this week. The fishing has been, for the most part solid, although some days the fish have been less than easy to come by. (Streamers have been the consistent fish-catching fly for the past couple of weeks.) Nonetheless clients have departed pleased with their catch and the always-great scenery. The scenery will only get better as the trees are beginning to show off their fall brilliance. In case you missed it, check out Paul Smith’s story on the U.P. Fly Angler which ran in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. While our 2015 season is booked full, make plans now to join us in 2016. 

Cooler days, hotter fishing ahead

You know it’s been a busy summer when it’s been more than a month since you have posted a fishing

report. So …

This has been one of the warmest summers I can recall. July was brutal at times and that, along with the lack of rain, made finding cool water a challenge during the hottest stretches. August has been better in terms of rain, but we are still experiencing hot temperatures.  That being said, the fishing has still been good. Stimulators have been the magic fly this summer, the larger, the better. The fish have been keying into hoppers on certain days as well, although they have not been as ravenous about them as last year. The streamer bite remains slow and nymphing well … nymphing always works.

In case you missed it, the U.P. Fly Angler was recently featured in a Midcurrent photo essay by Dave Karczynski.  Make sure you check out his fine work.

Fall is approaching rapidly and some trees are already changing colors. The thimbleberries are ripe and you really need to be “bear aware” this time of year. I spooked a bear out of a patch this week, an experience that’s pleasurable for neither man nor beast.

We still have some openings for the end of August, the end of September, and early October so contact us to book a trip.  Cooler days and hot fishing are still ahead.

Fishing remains hot in the U.P.

It certainly has been a busy month and the fishing, along with the temperature, has heated up. Last week’s temps reached the middle and upper 80s, rough weather to take for those who are seemingly more comfortable when the thermometer dips to a chilly 30 below zero. The fishing has remained solid with brook trout up on top taking caddis, stoneflies and hoppers. Small rainbows have also been willing to take dry flies off the surface with the larger fish more tuned into nymphs. The streamer bite has slowed dramatically perhaps due to warmer stream temperatures. That being said, some of our waters are approaching that “don’t fish” range of 68-70 degrees (65 degrees for brook trout) which means it is important to carry a thermometer and find cooler water (or a cold beer) in order to minimize your impact on our favorite fish. Rain and cooler temperatures are in the forecast which means any limitations will not last long.

Hot U.P. fishing in June

It’s been a busy month of June for the U.P. Fly Angler, but I wanted to take a few moments and give

an up-to-date fishing report. So, how has the fishing been? In a word, phenomenal. The brookies have been very active chasing dry flies of about any size, shape and color. Stimulators and caddis have been the strongest at taking fish. Nymphing has been equally good with Copper Johns doing plenty of damage to the area rainbows, some of which have been sizable. Water temps are good as we have had cool days and frequent rains. Lows tonight are expected to reach into the mid-30s. We still have a few open dates in July and August so give us a shout.

Snow just won't quit

For the second Tuesday in a row, the U.P. has experienced snow. The proof is in the picture to the left. That’s just the kind of spring it has been and it has made the fishing tough some days and great others. This week Pete and Bob joined me and for the first eight hours of Day One, the fishing was brutal, as in no fish landed. It took a change in river systems to break the drought and Bob did it in fine fashion, landing a coho salmon from the first pool. Granted it wasn’t the largest coho ever caught, but it was the first I’d ever seen from that river. The next pool was literally ridiculous. For 90 minutes, it gave up rainbow after rainbow, the total exceeding three dozen. The day kind of summed up this spring … either crazy good or stupid bad. Streamers and nymphs continue to take the most fish, with the occasional trout falling to a tan caddis. It’s raining right now and we are expecting a solid inch over the next 24 hours. It is much needed moisture and, with more normal weather forecast for the rest of the week, fishing should shape up nicely. Continue to follow our Twitter and Facebook pages for updates.

The one that got away

In the world of angling, there are really only two kinds of fish – the ones you caught and the ones you lost. If you’re like me, it’s the ones you lost which haunt you. I’m fortunate to only be haunted by a few fish, the most recent of which I lost on the Wind River in Wyoming a few years back. I can now add a U.P. fish to that list.

I was fishing a stretch of fast water in a spot I had not fished in a couple of years. There’s nothing overly inviting about the piece of water and it’s really not much fun to fish. It is fast, deep and the steep banks are choked with tag alders. I had pretty much given up hope of moving any fish when I hooked what I thought was a log. When the log started to swim, it came at me quicker than I could strip line in. My 4-weight rod could do little with whatever was on the other end so I was pleased when it decided to stop ten feet away from me, slightly bull-dogging but mostly moving a few inches from side to side. The fish then made three head shakes, the third shake expertly designed to toss the sculpin pattern from its mouth, and left me in a state of shock wondering what I could have done differently. I mentally marked the spot and hope I am offered a rematch later this summer. That’s if summer returns.

Last Thursday, the temperatures were in the 80s. Tuesday it snowed. Surprisingly, the cooler temperatures improved the fishing and I got into an awesome Hendrickson hatch mid-day last Friday. Streamer fishing and nymphing have also been solid. If you can find a set of beaver ponds, they have been fishing well and likely will continue to do so until we those waters heat up. The weather is expected to warm in the coming days so I expect to see the dry fly fishing to pick up.

Summer-like weather has arrived

Last week felt more like summer than spring and water temperatures continue to climb higher with most streams and rivers stopping the thermometer in the mid-fifty degree range. Bugs – including at least one mosquito – are showing up as well. Yesterday I encountered a great little black stonefly hatch and caught a few glimpses of caddis. Unfortunately, the fish don’t seem to be looking up yet and that’s what I am hearing from other anglers and guides. That being said, streamers and nymphs are still the only game in town for those looking to move fish. I offer the 13-inch brook trout pictured as evidence caught yesterday on a streamer. Finding cooperative fish has been difficult, but if the chance is out there to put a fish like this one in my hand, you’ll know where I will be.