Happy Holidays to everyone! Winter sure hit early this year, with single digit temperatures in the evenings and teens during the day. The Pere Marquette River temperature and water level are really starting to drop. We’re starting to see shelf ice and anchor ice in some of the middle sections of the river system.
As winter progresses look for steelhead fishing to slow down a bit. Instead of an all- day bite you will start to get short windows of action throughout the day, usually in the afternoon as water temperatures start to warm. Nymphs will also start to be a key fly to use this time of year. When the water temperatures really start to drop steelhead and resident trout are looking for whatever they can get as far as an easy meal. Hex Nymphs, Stone Flies and small Hares Ear’s or Pheasant Tails can start to produce. Eggs will also work well. Try small Clown Eggs and Nukes in more natural colors. For Swinging Flies try more natural colors too, with less flash as the water clears. Sculpins in olive or brown can produce in the winter. Check out my site for some go-to patterns, www.outfittersnorth.com. Remember trout Beads are not flies and are illegal in the Flies Only Water.
You can find fish throughout the whole river system. The fish are now starting to use their winter runs and pools. Look for fish in much slower deeper runs with wood structure to hide them. You can find this type of water in any stretch of the Pere Marquette, however because of the weather; access will become more difficult until spring. Play it safe at the boat ramps and while wading the river. Practice catch and release on wild Pere Marquette steelhead. If they don’t get to spawn, we don’t get to hook any in the future. Good luck and Happy Holidays!
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