Fall Wrap-Up
In short, the fall run of steelhead in Northwest Michigan was a shadow of years past. A severe lack of fall rain events and minimal pushes of adult fish throughout October and November left us with a challenging angling environment.
Despite the lack of numbers, fall offered gorgeous days on the water with good friends and guests. Low water presented an excellent opportunity to explore unfamiliar river systems and fine-tune our understanding of our home waters.
Post-spawn trout fishing was solid in December, providing a nice change-up from the steelhead fishing grind. Small natural streamers in blacks and olives brought quality fish to net.
As real winter sets in, there seems to be stability on the steelhead front. Fish are holding in consistent winter holes and runs and most days there are players to be found. The fall days of “first drift magic” are over, with some bites appearing after 10-15 minutes of working the run. For whatever reason those first 25 drifts weren’t right, but 26 did the job. Such is winter steelheading. Fishing quality water with confidence in your presentation, is key.
Small egg patterns and beads in natural yellows, oranges, and peach have been the go-to as of late. Stoneflies and swimming hexes are also staples this time of year.
Every year requires a shift in perspective and expectations. With limited numbers in our systems, I found everyone’s appreciation for individual fish to hand especially high. We gazed a little longer at them tailing in the net, soaked in those fights a bit more, and overall savored every moment of the process. I dug it, and found it a good reminder to keep that attitude through the highs and lows alike.
On the flip-side, the bulk of the fall-run may still be in Lake Michigan, waiting for water. If we get that in late winter, accompanied by a warm spell, the early-spring could be stellar - with a mix of fall fish and spring runs entering all together. Time will tell.
With single digit temps in the 10-day forecast, its time to reload fly boxes and inventory gear in preparation for the months ahead. Angling pressure will be at a minimum, so any warm up that comes our way will be worth getting back out for, as most fish will be well rested.
My spring calendar is filling in nicely, with peak-season weekend dates running especially thin. Weekdays provide the least angling pressure, making them a premo choice if schedules allow. While March and April have been traditionally “prime time”, February has become my favorite month for pursuing steelhead. If weather is mild, mid to late February angling can be some of the best of the year.
Hosted Retreats
Fellow guide Luke Vandenberg and I are offering two hosted trips again this spring. These have been a lot of fun for us, and guests have really enjoyed the all-inclusive nature of these retreats. Aside from high quality lodging, outstanding homemade meals, and premium guiding, our hosted trips offer a unique opportunity to fully submerse yourself in the angling experience. We can accommodate 4-6 anglers per trip.
Upcoming Hosted Trip Dates:
March 8-10 (2 Nights Lodging, 3 Days Angling) ~ $1,595 per person
April 13-17 (4 Nights Lodging, 3 Days Angling) ~ $1,995 per person
For more information on hosted trips, shoot me an email at cole@greendrakeoutfitters.com
Alaska Float Trips
We currently have just two spots available for our 2024 summer float trips in Katmai National Park Alaska.
Available Float Trip Dates:
July 26th - August 1st (2 Anglers) ~ $5,300 per person
For more information, email me at cole@greendrakeoutfitters.com or check out the Alaska Fly Anglers website for details.
I aim to keep this blog and report updated more frequently. Expect updates every couple of weeks.
Thanks for reading, and as always, I appreciate everyone’s support!
Cole