These Huron River fly fishing reports are posted by Dirk Fischbach (Huron River Fly Fishing Adventures).

We're still waiting for Dirk's first report for this year (The last weekend in April perhaps?). Until then, read about last year, and start dusting off the gear!

November 2, 2005

The Season that Was, 2005

Huron River Fly Fishing Adventures wrapped up its season on the river last weekend. We thank all the great people that floated and fished with us this year -- it was some great fun.

A couple of highlights included a 20" bass caught by a student in the Pinckney Community Schools fly fishing program, and a couple days of great fishing from float tubes on local lakes with Ramsey and Matthew Gregory from California.

Much of the season saw very low water, and very high temperatures, and we also had some mid-summer spate events, accompanied by heavy siltation, which are cause for concern (I have addressed them with the Huron River Watershed Council and we are seeing what can be done).

The Ephoron hatch was pretty disappointing (heavy but very short) and limited the effectiveness of the Hex, as well. Still, many good fish were caught during the Hex spinner flights, and the hatch lasted from Late July into September, and you really can't ask for more than that. The late season caddis hatch never brought any good fish to the surface, despite a couple nights of very heavy hatches.

The Ridiculous Yarn Clouser and the Chernobyl Ant were the best producers, day in and day out. The Turck's Tarantula remained productive this season, and seems to be a staple for many anglers. Chartreuse Clousers scored well late in the season, and the tried and true Woolly Bugger also had its days.

I hope everyone had a great season. Craig and I have some big plans for next year, and we will be revealing them later this winter. I look forward to seeing everyone at the symposium, November 20.

Thanks!

Dirk

October 2 and 4, 2004

Upper River: Very clear but good depth for this time of year. Temp was 66 degrees at noon Sunday. Fish are in transition to fall haunts and a few of the reliable summer "holes" produced little. Later in the day, the fish could not stay off the Ridiculous Yarn Clouser in olive/cheese.

Lower River: Excellent shape and 72 degrees Tuesday evening. The yarn Clouser fished near wood was a real producer. Also, the caddis hatch is starting on the Lower River. Size 12 tan caddis in the air from about 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. few risers -- but one very big fish surfaced.

Good luck!

September 17 and 18, 2005

Upper River: Low, clear and cooling water. 70 degrees at 2 p.m. at Hudson Mills Saturday. Fish were very active to Chernobyls in the mid-day heat, but action cooled as the temps did in the evening. A switch to subsurface fare brought a few fish to hand, but the action was definitely not the same. Fish were surprisingly active given the changing barometer, but were tight to cover.

Lower River: Water is in great shape and the fish are hitting very well. Cherobyls are the best bet right now, but pay attention to falls of winged ants and also caddis hatches. Most fish were tight to cover, but a few were venturing forth into the main channel, including a couple nice fish. Don't miss this great weather!!!

Good luck.

September 10, 2005

Upper River: Water is low, low, low! The fishing was very good with terrestrials (Chernobyls, etc. -- Black over Black Chernobyl fished extremely well) in any water over 12" with cover. The peak time was 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. with a definite decline in activity after 4:30 p.m.

Lower River: See report for Upper River, but add a little stain to the water.

Wow, there's a lot of grass in the river, and many stretches are so low now that I can't really float the boat! The leaves are already turning (due to the drought, not cold weather I suspect!!) The message is -- get out there and fish now, beacause I think the leaf drop is not far off! Anyone who has fought with the problem of leaves on the water knows what I'm talking about!!

Labor Day Weekend

Water was low and clear in both the Upper and Lower river. Hex were in the air at about 7:45 p.m. at Osborn Mill, but terrestrials are ruling the roost tight now. A Chernobyl Ant (tan over yellow) or Club Sandwich Hopper will get good fish moving. Fish were tight to cover at Hudson Mills, but often the cover was a mid-channel rock or log.

The evening was not nearly as productive as mid-day, and it seems as though the "fall pattern" is staring early, despite the warm temperatures.

Good luck!

August 25, 2005

Upper River: Very low and clear. 79 degree water temp at 6 p.m. at Hudson Mills. Fish were tight to cover, and pretty sluggish. A well-cast Turck's (my client did a great job) took a 17-incher, but the going was fairly slow aside from this. A few takers to the Hex, which came on from about 8 p.m. to 8:30. One angler had some fish working the top, but it was an isolated incident -- I saw only a couple risers anywhere else.

Lower River: No Report, but water is low and clear.

Good Luck!

Aug. 5-7, 2005

Upper River: Water is low and clear (4x tippet conditions), running about 80-85 throughout the day. Big fish are chasing a lot, taking a few. Be prepared to change out flies again and again and again to get them to hit. Foam hoppers and Chernobyls are very good, as is the well-placed and worked Turck's. Logjams continue to be the best bet for daytime fishing. The Hex are on at about 8:15 p.m., and fish can be caught more in the channel of the river, particularly over substantial rocks. Not enough Ephorons up here yet to have steady feeders.

Lower River: It's happening. Get out there. Hext at 8:15 to 8:45, Ephorons right on their heels. Good risers at Delhi and Osborn Mill. Fair risers at Zeeb and Dexter Huron. Mast Road was a major disappointment. Lots of bugs, very few risers. During the day, run Clousers, crayfish and weighted 'Buggers in the runs; Turck's and foam around the sunken logs.

Note: How to get the perfect Hex drift.

We call this "cast short, drift long." Establish a position UPSTREAM of the area you intend to fish. Strip a lot of line out (about 30 feet) and let it sit in the water or in a stripping basket. Carry no more than about 15 feet of line in the air during false casting. Dump the cast with a lot of slack in a quartering downstream angle. As soon as the fly lights on the water, begin shaking the slack line on the water into the drift. This is done by moving the rod tip HARD in an upstream motion with the tip angling down to the water from about shoulder height (sort of like "toenailing" a pice of wood). It is crucial that you start this long before the line and leader come taut from the cast. When the fish takes, quickly pull all slack out of the system and tighten up on him. This, in combination with him turning his head back down on the fly, will set the hook very well and also protect the tippet (not too critical with the 3x we're using at Osborn Mill, but the same technique works for Sulphurs on the Au Sable with 5x).

Good luck!

July 30, 31, 2005

Upper River: Water is clear and in great shape at Hudson Mills. It was 79 degrees at 12 noon Saturday. Fish are active and a well-placed Chernobyl Ant, Woolly Bugger or Turck's will take fish. The Hexagenia are on at about 8:30 p.m., and a few fish are rising. You can find fish in deeper channels, as well as along logjam edges, but the biggest fish are in the logjams.

Lower River: Water is still off-color, but fishable at Osborn Mill/Delhi. Solid hatches of Hex (at least two flavors -- atrocaudata and limbata) and the Ephorons are here! Sadly, there was little surface activity despite the good numbers of bugs, and one can only assume it is a clarity issue. Still, the patient caster will take fish up top from about 8 p.m. on.

Good luck

July 27, 2005

Upper River: Water was up a bit but definitely fishable; clarity was good. Temperature was 82 at 6 p.m. at Hudson Mills. Fish were active throughout the evening, but not overly so. A Turck's Tarnatula got consistent attention when well-worked close to cover. A strong flight of Hex spinners came on at about 8:15, and lasted nearly 30 minutes. There were no risers, but a Hex pattern took a few 'gills.

Lower River: Looked unfishable to me at Zeeb, with visibility limited to about 12 inches.

Good luck!

July 24, 2005

Upper River: Water was up but clearing nicely at Hudson Mills after the morning's T-storms. Water temp was 85 at 5 p.m.

Fishing to logjams was very productive, especially with a Turck's Tarantula cast upstream and retrieved back down in a rapid strip. The fish were deep into the cover and several locations required a skip-cast to get the bug back up under the canopy, where it could attract some attention. This is incredibly exciting fishing, although many hits are missed.

The magic hour was from about 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (I quit fishing at 5, so it may have gone on later).

Good Luck.

July 23, 2005

Upper River: Water at Hudson Mills was a little high, but clarity was good. Temperature was 85 degress at 3 p.m.

Big fish are holding in the submerged logjams, and a reliable floater, like a Chernobyl or Club Sandwich offering, is a must. A few fish were still hitting the Clousers, and chartreuse seems to be the color of choice over the last few outings, but it has not been bang-bang.

A smattering of Hex showed up at about 8:30, but there was little interest, and in fact the best fishing was in the middle of the day, far and away.

Good luck

July 20, 2005

Upper River: No Report

Lower River: Water was up and off-color, but still fishable. Big, nasty patterns, like Craig Kivi's Four Eyes, Chartreuse Clousers, and other streamers worked past logjams and across rocky sections got some action, but in general, the fishing was slow. A few big fish were spotted, but showed little interest in our offerings.

A few Hex showed up between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. but there was no surface activity to speak of, although a Chernobyl Hopper and Turck's both took fish.

Good luck,
Dirk

July 19,2005

Upper River: No report

Lower River: Water is up a bit, but very fishable. Not much surface activity yet (my guess is another week), but a few fish were coming to the smattering of Hex spinners and a number of smaller fish were taking a tan caddis (about a size 14). A patiently worked crayfish pattern got several takes and a small contingent of Ephoron were spotted.

Things were slow below Delhi, but you can tell that it is ready to bust loose. A little more good weather, and I think the bonanza will be on!

Good luck,
Dirk

July 11, 2005

Hit a small local lake for some float tube fishing. Water temps were very warm, but fish were active. Clients landed nearly 60 fish in about two and a half hours of fishing. Gills were inhaling Copper Johns, Prince Nymphs and Damsels (size 12 on Copper John, 14 on Prince, 10 on Damsel) on a steady or trolled retrieve. Bass were taking light colored 'Buggers and olive/cream Clousers worked with a hand-twist retrieve.

I hope to hit the river Thursday, as we are going back to the lake tonight!!

Good luck,
Dirk

June 26, 2005

Upper River: Water was hot (85 degrees at 2:30 p.m. at Hudson Mills), and the fish seemed a little lethargic. Lots of half-hearted follows and a few grabs, but pretty slow. Fish were tight to cover, but would follow off of logjams, especially to floating patterns like Chernobyl Ants and Madam X's.

A few caddis (about a 14, tan) were on the water, along with some Sulphurs. There weren't enough risers to tune into what they were taking, but there was the occasional dimple.

Good luck!

June 25, 2005

Upper River: Temps around 80 (82 at Hudson Mills at 4 p.m.), low and clear. Fish are on the muscle!! Great chases/takes with Chernobyl Ants in tan/green, tan/yellow. Ridiculous yarn clouser also getting plenty of attention. I was fortunate enough to run into a pair of brutes yesterday -- and I will post a photo of the one as soon as I finish this roll of film.

If you've been waiting for things to turn on -- they have!! Fish the logjams, but don't worry about being too tight to them, the fish seem willing to move a bit to chase right now.

Good luck.

Dirk

June 18 and 19, 2005

Upper River: Temp was 72 at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hudson Mills. Water was clear and up a bit from last week. Fish were very tight to cover in general, with a couple caught mid-channel off rocks. Tan strip leeches and clousers connected best, with a few fish also taking Chernobyl Ants in green/tan combo. Still pretty slow going, and many good anglers were working hard to get any action.

Lower River: Fished it Sunday with my son Evan and we had good success mid-afternoon. I caught a pair of nice smallmouth on a tan strip leech and Evan scored with a Turck's Tarnatula. I didn't take a water temp, but it felt about mid-70s. Much more activity than on Saturday -- it just felt "fishier" and there was a lot more going on (a few risers here and there). Takes were hard!

Good luck

June 11-12, 2005

Upper River: Low and clear, water running about 80 degrees. Saturday was the first day this year that I have seen a lot of big fish on the move and on the muscle. Tan is grand!! The fish seemed to really like a tan-colored strip leech, but they also were taking strip leeches in yellow and black, as well. Buggers also would connect.

Sunday was much tougher (could have been the advancing weather system), but again, fish were behaving much more "summer-patternish" -- hanging out where they should be and attacking a well-presented fly. Work the logjams hard, hard, hard.

Lower River: Same as upper except not quite as clear. Same program, except that a few more fish are still being caught mid-channel. For my money, though, I'd rather work the logjams.

Good luck!

Dirk

June 8, 2005

Upper River: No Report

Lower River: Water is warm (80 degrees??? can my thermometer be right) at Delhi, low and clear. Fish are sluggish, and there doesn't seem to be any great "secret" unlocked yet (at least by me). Woolly Buggers, Clousers and large foam terrestrials all are getting takers, but it is not like flicking on a switch. One consistent thing seems to be yellows and chartreuses -- these seem to get more interest than the average, with basic black running a close second. We had a lot of surface activity to chernobyl ants in yellow/tan and green/tan, including one nice smallmouth, but most of the fish were rockies (not that rockies are a problem at all!!!!)

Good luck!

June 7, 2005

Upper River: Clear, late-June low, warm (78 degrees at Bell Road riffle). Fish are very slow right now. Working the water hard with Buggers and dry flies when risers are present will yield a few fish, but it is not hot fishing by any means. Still a few fish on beds, but the others are on the move toward summer haunts (the few that have arrived at their summer haunts are providing the action right now). The good news is that it should be improving every day for the next two — three weeks.

Lower River: No report

Good luck!
Dirk

June 4, 2005

Upper river: Water is warm, low and clear. Fish will take a well-presented bugger, leech or Clouser, but presentation is critical right now. I call this "first cast" fishing: If the first cast is good, you'll likely get some attention, but if you have a poor initial cast or hit it in the wrong spot, the fish are pretty unforgiving right now. Fish are scattered all about. As much activity mid-channel as there is in the logjams -- but I have yet to see a big fish out away from shoreline cover.

Plenty of risers before dusk -- a few very nice ones!!!!!

Lower river: Very fishable. Fish are a little more willing to play, and my guess is they are coming out of their post-spawn funk down here a few days earlier than those above Mill Creek. Try Clousers or big buggers swept past logjams and large boulders.

Good luck!

Opening Weekend, May 30th, 2005

Fishing report
Opening weekend

River is very fishable, and temps are running between 63-67 degrees at Hudson Mills.

Fish are being persnickety in mid-day, and I suspect a "post-spawn" condition. A well-worked bugger will take a few, as will Clousers. In the evening, we have been blessed with solid emergences/spinner flights of several bugs. Golden Drakes are on the water all day, and the fish love these (use a White Drake in a size 12). We also have Isonychia spinners THICK, and these are about 10 2xl in a burgundy color.

My father took a few very nice fish (17" biggest) with a patiently worked yellow/black bugger in a size 6.

Good luck!

Unofficial!

The bass season is still one week away, but this weekend I conducted an on-river class for Pinckney Community Education. We had 10 outstanding students plying their new skills.

Water temps were 62 degrees both Saturday and Sunday. The river is already in mid-June shape, and clear. The students learned to work cover and wade safely, and they gave many a rock bass a lesson. They also tapped a few smallmouth. One student -- Jo -- landed a monstrous bronzeback of nearly five pounds (I think she's ready for a graduate-level course!!)

Strong hatches of Anthopotamus (Golden Drakes) in a size 12-14, and a few caddis. Looks like a glorious opener next week. The only downside is a lot of bass are going to be on beds. Please don't target these vulnerable gents!

Dirk

(previous years reports are archived here)