The youngest member of the Indigo Guide Service crew, Aaliyah, has been getting more and more interested in fly tying lately. With salmon season here, Dad decided to put her energies and interest to good use. After a few practice flies Aaliyah was proud to point out that Mom couldn’t tell the difference between her fly and one of Dad’s.
Kevin and Aaliyah went through many name options and Aaliyah finally choose Salmon Candy. Kevin reports that the Salmon Candy has caught several kings already.
TMC 105 Hook
Bead Chain Eyes
Estaz Body
Marabou Tail
After the rain we received on Monday the Pere Marquette jumped up quite a bit and picked up a nice stain. While there are gobs of salmon everywhere spawning and staging in the runs and holes, stripping streamers for browns was still good yesterday in the upper river. Mike was up from Chicago and stuck a beautiful brown on a small (2-3″) white rabbit strip streamer. A few aggressive salmon also crunched streamers and of course a few big nuke eggs. Pink seemed to be the most effective color.
Egging for browns was not good with only a few small fish to show for it despite finding and fishing to several larger browns behind spawning salmon. With rain in the forecast for the next few days the streamer fishing for browns should continue to be good.
Salmon are still quite thick in the holes here on the PM, but more and more are moving up on the gravels to spawn everyday. We’ve been in the middle river mostly, but reports are that Pere Marquette lake is full of fresh fish and they continue to enter the river every day.
Hot flies have been egg sucking sculpins, glow nuke eggs and Salmon Candy (aka the Sam & M, pattern coming soon). Competition for good holes was fierce over the weekend so making the most of a spot was critical. If the fish turn off, give them a break. If you hook a couple fish right away and then they slow down, rest them for 10 minutes.
Remember, crowds will start thinning out the first week in October, but the fishing should continue to be hot. Due to a recent cancellation, we have October 5, 6 and 7 open. Give us a call to take advantage of these great open dates.
Sep 19
2011
What?
“THE OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS OF USGS MONITORING STATIONS ARE SHARED BETWEEN COOPERATIVE AGENCIES AND THE USGS. DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING, THIS WATER LEVEL MONITORING STATION WILL BE DISCONTINUED ON OCTOBER 1, 2011. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT IS NEEDED TO KEEP THIS GAGE OPERATING, PLEASE CONTACT TOM WEAVER AT (517) 887-8923 OR EMAIL: tlweaver@usgs.gov”