I want to go to Michigan

fredw · 10-06-10, 09:44 AM

The recent posts on fishing for salmon, trout, and steelhead in Michigan have convinced me that I need to plan a trip north.

This is the thought:

Spend a day on the great lakes trolling (I know it isn't fly fishing but is something that has been on my bucket list).

Spend 3 or days on the river fishing for salmon and steelhead.....maybe a trout or two.

Spend two days chasing ruffled grouse and woodcock.

I'd appreciate any and all advice on location, guides, etc. Private messages are welcomed in you prefer not to divulge info on the web.

JOHNKIES · 10-06-10, 10:06 AM

Take I-75 and go north ........ 8-}

fishonthebrainga · 10-06-10, 10:15 AM

Do it. Right now is the best time! Im from there! Great Fishing righ now! If you do go. Go to Mio fish the Ausable. Go to Bob Linsamans shop on 33 he is probally the formost expert on trout fishing in Michigan and a great old guy! Dress Warm.

lewdogg · 10-06-10, 10:49 AM

Do some research. It is a HUGE area to try and fish and everything is extremely spread out.

Bob Linsenman's book is very good. Jim Bedford has a very good book as well.

It may be hard to get a guide right now as it is a very popular time of year to fish. However, if you can find and afford one, it makes things tremendously easier and you can pick their brains about some do-it-yourself trips.

For a good budget trip, I would suggest flying or driving to Flint (it is on I-75 about 750 miles north of Atlanta). The town Grayling is about an hour north and has several nice rivers near or in it (Manistee, Au Sable, etc.). It would be a good base of operations. They have a nice fly shop right on the river in town.

Other great options would include just about any river on the west coast of the lower peninsula. The upper peninsula is probably too extreme of a trip to try and pull off with no knowledge of the area as it is extremely spread out (understatement), no fly shops that I know of, and very seasonal. You could potentially run into some serious weather up there also.

fredw · 10-06-10, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdogg

Do some research. It is a HUGE area to try and fish and everything is extremely spread out.

Bob Linsenman's book is very good. Jim Bedford has a very good book as well.

It may be hard to get a guide right now as it is a very popular time of year to fish. However, if you can find and afford one, it makes things tremendously easier and you can pick their brains about some do-it-yourself trips.

For a good budget trip, I would suggest flying or driving to Flint (it is on I-75 about 750 miles north of Atlanta). The town Grayling is about an hour north and has several nice rivers near or in it (Manistee, Au Sablfise, etc.). It would be a good base of operations. They have a nice fly shop right on the river in town.

Other great options would include just about any river on the west coast of the lower peninsula. The upper peninsula is probably too extreme of a trip to try and pull off with no knowledge of the area as it is extremely spread out (understatement), no fly shops that I know of, and very seasonal. You could potentially run into some serious weather up there also.

Thanks for the tips on the books. Just ordered Bedford's book Flyfisher's Guide to Michigan and Linsenmen's Trout Streams of Michigan.

fredw · 10-06-10, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishonthebrainga

Do it. Right now is the best time! Im from there! Great Fishing righ now! If you do go. Go to Mio fish the Ausable. Go to Bob Linsamans shop on 33 he is probally the formost expert on trout fishing in Michigan and a great old guy! Dress Warm.

fishonthebrainga, thanks for the tip.....and this old southern will dress warm.

I'll be doing the trip a year from now so I'll have plenty of time to plot, plan and dream.

S.Trutta · 10-06-10, 11:17 AM

pm sent....

rich

RoyC · 10-06-10, 12:37 PM

Trout season ends, if I remember correctly, on 9/30 except for the flies only water. Also, Grouse season starts 9/15 or so with Wood **** a week later. Check regs to confirm dates. Point of this is that you have a short window to do all that you are interested in. Best option, look for an outfitter that does Cast and Blast trips in September. These are 1/2 day fly fishing 1/2 day grouse hunting trips. Work in a salmon guided trip and you will have had a taste of it. WARNING!!!! Michigan will get into your blood. I know! Aside from being born there, I drive up 3 times per year for a weeks fishing. As to weather, one of the weeks is the 1st full week of June each year. Warm time of year right. Well, I never go out with out my dry bag which will have winter fishing gloves, warm hat, polartec vest ETC. A 70 degree day can have you shivering in the 15 minutes after the sun drops behind the trees in the late evening.

Do some online research and enjoy!

Gene L · 10-06-10, 12:43 PM

I have fished the Au Sable and the Big Two Hearted river. I caught lots of small trout, not the season for the bigger fish. Along Lake Superior it's neat, the BTH and the LTH flow into it. Only two paved roads in the county, one N-S, the other E-W. Lots of sandy roads though. Supposedly, the LTH is great for good size brookies, but I never fished there.

fishmonger · 10-06-10, 02:56 PM

Check into the Pere Marquette River, on the west side of the state, at Baldwin Michigan. It is one of my top 3 rivers!

FM

10-06-10, 09:44 AM	#1
fredw Native Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 600	I want to go to Michigan The recent posts on fishing for salmon, trout, and steelhead in Michigan have convinced me that I need to plan a trip north. This is the thought: Spend a day on the great lakes trolling (I know it isn't fly fishing but is something that has been on my bucket list). Spend 3 or days on the river fishing for salmon and steelhead.....maybe a trout or two. Spend two days chasing ruffled grouse and woodcock. I'd appreciate any and all advice on location, guides, etc. Private messages are welcomed in you prefer not to divulge info on the web.

10-06-10, 10:06 AM	#2
JOHNKIES Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Laurel Park, NC USA Posts: 3,776	To Michigan Take I-75 and go north ........ 8-}

10-06-10, 11:17 AM	#7
S.Trutta Native Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,890	pm sent.... rich __________________ "Fish hard or go home!!!"

10-06-10, 12:37 PM	#8
RoyC Native Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: South of Battle Creek Posts: 1,151	Trout season ends, if I remember correctly, on 9/30 except for the flies only water. Also, Grouse season starts 9/15 or so with Wood **** a week later. Check regs to confirm dates. Point of this is that you have a short window to do all that you are interested in. Best option, look for an outfitter that does Cast and Blast trips in September. These are 1/2 day fly fishing 1/2 day grouse hunting trips. Work in a salmon guided trip and you will have had a taste of it. WARNING!!!! Michigan will get into your blood. I know! Aside from being born there, I drive up 3 times per year for a weeks fishing. As to weather, one of the weeks is the 1st full week of June each year. Warm time of year right. Well, I never go out with out my dry bag which will have winter fishing gloves, warm hat, polartec vest ETC. A 70 degree day can have you shivering in the 15 minutes after the sun drops behind the trees in the late evening. Do some online research and enjoy! __________________ RoyC I'm not Retired, Fishing is a Full-Time JOB!

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10-06-10, 10:15 AM	#3
fishonthebrainga Native Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Woodstock GA Posts: 512	Do it. Right now is the best time! Im from there! Great Fishing righ now! If you do go. Go to Mio fish the Ausable. Go to Bob Linsamans shop on 33 he is probally the formost expert on trout fishing in Michigan and a great old guy! Dress Warm.

10-06-10, 10:49 AM	#4
lewdogg Native Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vinings, GA Posts: 1,995	Do some research. It is a HUGE area to try and fish and everything is extremely spread out. Bob Linsenman's book is very good. Jim Bedford has a very good book as well. It may be hard to get a guide right now as it is a very popular time of year to fish. However, if you can find and afford one, it makes things tremendously easier and you can pick their brains about some do-it-yourself trips. For a good budget trip, I would suggest flying or driving to Flint (it is on I-75 about 750 miles north of Atlanta). The town Grayling is about an hour north and has several nice rivers near or in it (Manistee, Au Sable, etc.). It would be a good base of operations. They have a nice fly shop right on the river in town. Other great options would include just about any river on the west coast of the lower peninsula. The upper peninsula is probably too extreme of a trip to try and pull off with no knowledge of the area as it is extremely spread out (understatement), no fly shops that I know of, and very seasonal. You could potentially run into some serious weather up there also.

10-06-10, 12:43 PM	#9
Gene L Native Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 416	I have fished the Au Sable and the Big Two Hearted river. I caught lots of small trout, not the season for the bigger fish. Along Lake Superior it's neat, the BTH and the LTH flow into it. Only two paved roads in the county, one N-S, the other E-W. Lots of sandy roads though. Supposedly, the LTH is great for good size brookies, but I never fished there.

10-06-10, 02:56 PM	#10
fishmonger Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,386	Check into the Pere Marquette River, on the west side of the state, at Baldwin Michigan. It is one of my top 3 rivers! FM