H appy New Year and we hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! The Big Manistee has been fishing well, and we have a good mixture of fish in the system at this time. We are seeing a hand full of fall holdovers and also catching some nice new chrome fish as
well. With the weather we have been having it feels like late fall fishing rather than winter steelheading. I know December was nice without all the snow for all of us steelhead junkies, but we do need the snow pack for spring run off.
The Manistee is in great shape as we start the new year, water temps are a little above average flows, and the steelhead are happy. Even with the unseasonable weather the water temps are still slowing down the metabolism of the fish, so you have to do the same as an angler. Look for slower runs and pools, slow current seams behind log jams or structures where they can rest out of the main currents. Fishing has been best under a float, whether it be on a spinning rod, switch rod, or my favorite a centerpin float rod. Although you can catch them other ways in the winter, I like to watch the float drop!! We are using natural to milked out trout beads mostly but some days we have to dig out the spawn or a jig and wax worm to help get it done. Even though it is the dead of winter, there are some great opportunities for some really good days of steelhead fishing in January. Fish the warmest times of the day, look for warm ups in the weather systems, and get out and enjoy the El Nino winter.
We run enclosed and heated jet sleds through the winter months, so the weather isn’t an issue. For an up to date fishing report check us out on the web at www. premieranglingguideservice.com. Tight lines and high fives!!