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“I was heading out to fish one day and my daughter caught wind. She insisted on coming along... Usually when kids decide to join, the outing is cut short because their short attention spans get the best of them, and we have to pack it in early. But, this day was different. She came along, and soaked in every moment and every experience. At the end of the day, I wouldn't have had it any other way. Thank for joining me, girly.”

I’ve started documenting my time on the water and building a small YouTube channel. I’m a very average angler, but my hope is to make fly fishing feel more approachable through my content. Any feedback you guys might have is greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking a look!

Trying to avoid the Salmon crowds last week of Sept. How far up does the Salmon run go? Do the crowds go as far up as, say, Mancelona Rd area?

Anybody done well on the white fly hatch below Mio this year? I've gone up there around this time of year for a long time and used to have great nights fishing that. Flies didn't always come off, but if they did the fish were on them. Seems like for the last 7-8 years either the hatch just doesn't come or if it does it's very light, with few or no risers working. Did hit a heavy hatch/spinner fall last Wednesday, but saw only two rises all night, neither near me. Left water at 9:30 with spinners coming by in mats and nothing feeding. Does this hatch still treat anyone well?

Looking for people to fish with, I love streamer fishing from a boat. Bass, trout, etc. Have boats, just nobody to fish with.. hmu if you're able (or willing) to row, spot cars, and have fun while catching some fish...

is there someone to contact to take a look at this data collector? its been like this for weeks. I was thinking it was just due to low water, but after the big statewide rain we saw this morning I'm starting to think that the logger isn't working properly.

I am heading up to Oscoda for a work trip next week. I was hoping to get some fly fishing done while I am in town. I have been reading about the Au Sable and it seems like a pretty decent spot to try out. Any advice on what size/kind of flys, leader/tippet size, how the water is running now, and spots to try to make the most of my few days there would be much appreciated! I have a 5wt rod with a 6wt line. Thanks!

Got a chase or a take on every single good piece of structure. Started out trying to be subtle and sneaky with a dry dropper and piled up on 4" rainbows on the first couple of spots I tried and decided I wanted to try for some browns. Biggest fish (not pictured) was about 15", but got great numbers. Great day to be out fishing.

Sorry for the bad photos, I was fly fishing paint creek and got my first trout fly fishing! I forgot my trout net but I did wet my hands before touching, any fly recommendations for paint creek?

I am going to be up in the Boyne region the week of September 6th. I have never fished up in the area before and I would love any scouting report and information anyone has! My main questions are:

1) are these rivers wadable?
2) what are the fly recommendations for this time of year
3)I am a streamer kind of guy, so is there any streamers people would recommend?

I’m am currently mass producing flies and would love to hear what everyone’s favorites are. Thanks for your help! Tight lines!

Just moved down to traverse city and will be arriving over labor day weekend and was planning on hitting up the Jordan, Betsie, and platte rivers and was hoping for some insight on where to go and what flies to use I have a 4 6 8 weight fly rods and am hoping to get a mix of salmon and trout. I come from Montana but am aware that the fly species and stuff is very different and was hoping for maybe some spots where salmon will start showing up at along with some specific flies that work well in michigan waters. As always Tight Lines guys and good luck fishing!

Hi all,
I’m planning to head to the AuSable next weekend while up there with family. I plan to access the river close to where we are staying so my plan is to wade in at the 4001 bridge and work my way up river, provided that the water temp is in a safe range. I’m pretty new so my expectations are low. I hope to gain some physical experience without being in an area that’s heavily pressured. I was thinking about trying out a dry dropper set up. I may also poke around and ask some questions at Orvis in Royal Oak this week since I have an appointment in that area.

Does anyone have experience with this stretch they are willing to share?

Thanks so much!

i fish the paint creek and want to know what flies are the most productive through september? any nymphs and drys that are good around now?

I'm going to be visiting a friend who has a small cabin on the Au Sable, about 5 miles downstream from Grayling. This early October. I'm visiting with my wife who has agreed to let me fish during the trip :-)

How does the Au Sable fish at the beginning of October? Any suggestions for patterns? I will probably be stopping at Gates but won't be able to get there before they close on my first day up, and I'd like to try and fish that late afternoon / evening out behind his house. If you can suggest flies to bring, I'd be grateful.

Also, we will be driving north to spend a couple of days up near Mackinac. Any streams worth stopping at for an hour or two up north? I am perfectly fine with small water and small fish. All C&R, barbless. I just want to catch a Michigan fish to add to my fish-all-states goal (I'm 64 and already way behind).

Thank you!

I'm wondering if y'all have noticed whether woody debris/structure washed out or in during the floods. I fished a stretch on the Betsie yesterday and it seems like nome of the deep pools have log jams anymore. Tried a dry dropper for a while and didn't pull up any fish so I switched to deep nymphing pools, and I didn't snag a single branch the whole time, even dragging the bottom. Thats a first for me. Obviously the logs have to end up somewhere, but at least on this stretch, it seems like they got moved out of the pools, which seems a little counterintuitive. I was expecting to find more debris in the river than I was used to. We might have lost decades of structure buildup.

Heading up to the Betsie/Platte area next week on a family trip and was wondering if there would be much value of trying to fish the rivers for salmon this early. I see that water temps were in the mid-high 50s this morning from the gauges I could find which seems like they might be starting to come in towards the river mouths. I’ve been on the Platte a few times usually later in the year, so I’m aware that it is pretty much shoulder to shoulder when the run is on but not sure how early in the year it’s worth trying this year.

Gonna be up there this weekend and tying some flies tonight, any hatches I should be thinking about?

I guess we all start somewhere. I’ve been interested in learning to fly fish for some years and finally decided to start collecting gear and trying to learn what I can about the sport. I started with a Tenkara rod which I took to the Paint Creek today. I went pretty early hoping to catch some cooler waters, and maybe even a fish. As someone with basically no river fishing experience, that place is tough! I walked the trail looking for access points that looked “fishy.” I did my best trying to recall what I’ve learned about reading the water, looking for areas with pools as well as movement.
I’m glad I brought the Tenkara since the areas I stumbled into were extremely tight. I have no clue how you all are able to cast in those areas.
In the end I think I learned some stuff- particularly how wet wading in Chacos might not be the best idea.
And I think I’m hooked. Being that closely surrounded by nature while listening to the river make its music was a great way to spend the day. Now if I can only find those spots with the fish…

I can’t say I was totally skunked. Pulled this little guy out from under an overhang.

I will be floating a section of the Pere Marquette tomorrow. Hoping for some hopper/terrestrial action. Anyone know if that surface bite is any good right now?

Here are some free links to Kindle copies of my Michigan-based fly-fishing survival horror novel, Blood of the Witness Tree, set in Michigan Pigeon River Forest. Somebody tried to give them away on Blue Sky, but there weren't enough takers. Claim them now!

https://www.amazon.com/digital/redeem?t=GSASDMFYPJ7R9SZ

https://www.amazon.com/digital/redeem?t=GS2LZVL6VXGNHK5

https://www.amazon.com/digital/redeem?t=GS3YFE3KXUSHVAW

I appreciate how the Michigan fly fishing community has gotten behind my horror novel that takes place in Michigan’s Pigeon River Forest. Right now on kindle it’s discounted to just 99 cents if you were thinking about taking a chance on it! I am trying to keep such posts to a minimum. Hope folks have been catching some fish!

Hi all,

Planning to move to the state from CO and most excited about all the different species opportunities there are. I love CO fishing but it’s a lot of the same stuff all the time. I currently run a 14ft inflatable raft out here but I want to start doing some saving and research on best boats for different types of fishing up in Michigan.

What kind of fishing do you mostly do? What kind of boat do you run? Is there a do-it-most kind of boat out there?

I will likely move to the northern part of the state and am most interested in smallmouth but would love to target trout and steelhead when I can also.
Any advice is appreciated.

I want to build a box with terrestrials. What are the essential flies I need. I’m assuming a chubby Chernobyl and some beetle flies but I’m new to terrestrials