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Manistee/Boardman/Betsie Rivers
January 19, 2005

Posted by Streamside Orvis/Orvis Michigan Fly Fishing Schools
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Current Report
Manistee/Boardman/Betsie Rivers January 19, 2005 Posted by Streamside Orvis/Orvis Michigan Fly Fishing Schools Current Report: Streamside Orvis and the Orvis Michigan Fly Fishing School (231) 938-5337 info@streamsideorvis.com Orvis Endorsed Lodge and Endorsed Guides TROUT GUIDES ARE AVAILABLE DAILY! Manistee and Boardman Conditions: REMEMBER, BOARDMAN RIVER ABOVE SABIN DAM IS CLOSED. BELOW IS OPEN FOR SALMON AND STEELHEAD from 300 feet below weir down to Union Street (check regulations for specific open water). Cold temperatures and heavy snow have brought winter back in force to the Boardman, Manistee and area waters. Only the bravest of us will venture out to find fish. However, there are steelhead on the Manistee below Tippy dam. Look and wade carefully. Above, streamer fishing is still going on the Manistee "flies only" water which is open until the last Saturday in April as "catch and release" water. However, the colder weather will make fish more lethargic and turn more anglers to nymphing techniques. Quick runoff muddied local rivers and made wading tough. King's and Sunset Trail were near impassable with the freezing rain but are now more reasonable and clear. (Tip: Try bouncing a beadhead nymph with a small streamer behind it.) Fair success on streamers last week before the cold arrived. Betsie: Some steelhead in. Fish up and below dam. No new fish. Few steelhead in. Hatches: - Colder weather Sub-zero temps and snow have shut down the hatches completely now. We will expect to see the occasional tiny black stonefly crawl out onto the snow though. So keep a look out on sunny days in the upper water. Below Tippy, we may see some midges go any time. They will come as warmer water comes down streams if any is release. Higher flows will allow for it and one should not be surprised to see midges bringing up feeder below the lauch to Suicide. Patterns: Hare's ear, pheasant tails (#18 and #20) copper john nymphs (#14) will move fish too. Keep a few #20 gray/olive or black midge emergers or larva patterns handy. Guides had good days of streamer fishing before the cold. Sink tips seemed to be the key difference. Keep a watchful eye on the water downstream as you wade. Don't spook the spawners on the gravel in the middle of the river. Soft hackles will often entice these spawners. Zuddlers #4 in yellow and white best. Brown, black and olive also good. (Hard to beat an olive/black bugger.) Nymphs include copper Johns #16, and #14 in, red and copper. Caddis pupa patterns #16 and #18 in green and #14 and #16 in tan. Manistee below Tippy has best numbers of steelhead in. Best success has been on hex nymph patterns of all sorts. Sparrows and Jeff's Hex are best. Fair numbers from the dam down to Sawdust. Some anglers are having great action for resident browns on streamers with a soft hackle dropper below Tippy Dam. Best lake run fish are found down below Rainbow on eggs. Betsie has a few steelhead, but their moving up stream all the time. You'll have to check levels though with the runoff this weekend. Forecast: Early week is sub-zero and heavy snow. Farther out, week ahead looks like very cold nights and cold days. Temps at freezing or below all week and evenings in the 0's. Snow forecast Wed. through Sunday. Check in by phone for the latest. CHECK THE WEATHER BOX ON THE TOP OF OUR WEB PAGES TO GET TO THE WEATHER CHANNEL. Check in directly by phone if coming this week. (231) 938-5337.

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