April 30, 2010

April Streamer ActionCan April be coming to a close already?
Typically, April is my absolute worst month of the year for stream fishing. Once the spring run off has subsided, I naturally turn to streamers as my primary mode of assault. Although stream temperatures aren’t really warm enough to support a good streamer bite, that’s my weapon of choice. I’ve had a winter-full of bottom bouncing nymphs and yarn flies. I’m anxious to switch gears. The normal result is a dismal hook-up count.

March Streamer Brown from P-MMy oh my! What a difference an early spring can make. Streamer fishing has been tremendous. That’s good news, because the on-again, off-again hendrickson hatch has been impossible to time sitting here 60 miles north of the Au Sable. It’s a real blessing that the local rivers have warmed up, and the fish are willing to chase marabou and rabbit strips. The Sturgeon, Manistee and Pigeon have all rewarded me with handsome fish. The warm temperatures even turned on the streamer bite on the Pere Marquette as early as March! It’s been a good spring.

I’ve got three guided float trips planned this year. One on the Muskegon in May. Another in the UP for Lake Run Browns in November, and a third with my wife on the beautiful Housatonic in Connecticut during fall color. This is shaping up to be a memorable year.