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| Chuck's
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| This page is devoted to those things which I find to be especially good and noteworthy. From time to time I'll post different products, ideas, techniques, or destinations that I think are outstanding and worthy of your notice. Please understand that any topics that I bring up are my choosing and are here solely at my discretion. These are my opinions and don't reflect in any way on other manufacturers, guides, lodges or anything else. This is just my opinion.
Sincerely,
Hawk |
New Early Season Michigan Trout Fishing Now Open!
New trout regulations have taking effect in Michigan starting this past April 1st. This is going to effect the Manistee, AuSable and Pere Marquette Rivers in a positive way. Reduced limits in certain sections, and increased special regulations, gear restricted waters will hopefully allow more of our resident trout to live longer and spread out angler pressure. Providing a better quality of trout fishing to the Michigan angler.
The new regulations for trout fishing in Michigan also change the seasons on a lot of miles of river. Without getting to specific on this page, let me just say that Trout Season begins for us April 1st!
With so many more miles of open trout water here's a quick review of what flies an early season trout fly angler should have in their fly boxes.
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Dry flies will sometimes bring fish to the surface in early April. Look for Black Stoneflies, Hendricksens and Blue Wing Olives, they can all hatch on some of our waters. Fish will even focus in on them occasionally. Dark Hendricksens dry flies and the soft hackle flymph need to be with you at all times. Hendricksens have a hard time emerge ring on most days, because of the colder temps, they are easy meals. Surprising dry fly fishing can follow.
Look for best dry fly opportunities in the early season in the afternoon hours, no need to get to the river early and or stay out late. Hendricksen's emerge from your gravel bottom areas. |
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Speaking subsurface Nymphs are important to early season success. Copper Johns are always a good attractor pattern. Get them in black, wine and copper at least. I also like to have a Tungsten Head Black Bitch Creek to imitate the black stones that are hatching.
When your not seeing bugs on the surface or trout rising, you can pretty much count on the fact that trout are feeding underneath the surface. 90% of a trout's diet is sub-surface. These two prospecting nymphs will yield a high success rate. |
Finally, no angler should attack early season trout fishing on the Manistee, AuSable or Pere Marquette rivers with out a streamer box in their vest. I'm partial in early season to both my Nutcracker and Hat Trick flies.
Get them in all colors and pick your first fly based on sky color. Meaning on a dark sky start with a darker fly, sunny means starting with a brighter color. If you don't get response keep changing color, size, and retrieve until you do.
Fish the streamers with a 200-250 grain sink tip on a 6-8 weight fly rod. Put three feet of 2X Mirage Fluorocarbon on the end of the fly line as a leader and present the fly slowly if the water is cold. Don't forget to strip strike.
Good luck this early season. We love to fish resident trout this time of year. I hope you do too.
Give us a call if you want a guided day learning the secrets to early season success.
Hawk
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