S teelhead season is in full swing. A lot of our west side rivers like the Big and Little Manistee Rivers along with the Betsie, Platte, Boardman, and Elk just to name a few should all have steelhead available. Harbor areas should have a decent number steelhead, browns, and late running cohos as well. The lake trout season in the lake is officially closed. However, these fish have a tendency to squeak into the lower ends of rivers this time of year.
The fisheries managers have gone through great lengths to bring back our lake trout fishery especially in the northern areas of Lake Michigan like Little Traverse and Grand Traverse Bays. Please leave these fish to spawn. Although it is legal to keep these fish while they are in the river, at a minimum, I ask anglers to uphold a reduced kill. Lake trout are a valuable resource and more than likely the future of our lake and a true native at that. Streamer fishing on rivers with extended seasons in November can be on fire. Post spawn fish can bite great and yield big results for anglers that can fly cast large 4” flies.
For steelhead, cohos, browns and lake trout fishing try streamers in chartreuse, pink, white, black and raspberry and green and copper these are all super hot color combos for late fall fish. I like to fish steamers, and November can cough up some of the biggest and baddest fish of the year for guys that are willing to cast and put in the time. Get out and have fun this late season