Sucker Punch

Well the spring season is well underway and there is so much fishing to be had.  This is often a tricky time of year to get a line in the water.  Some days can be clear and 75 degrees and the next freezing rain.  So how can one be effective during this time?  One of the keys to hooking up during the springtime is to stay in the loop.  Keep up with current stream conditions, previous as well as future weather patterns.  This can give you key insight into what the fishing might be like and give you the upper hand over the person next to you. 

Spring rains can cause streams to fluctuate water levels and clarity.  This is the major battle you have to fight as a fisherman.  Being prepared with big flies and hot colors could be the difference between feast and famine on a great lakes tributary this time of year.  Having larger streamer patterns and gaudy egg patterns are always a good choice to tie or have with you when the water in muddy.  If the water is high and muddy, go big or go home.  Knowing what the weather has been like gives you insight on what streams will be like before you even get there but knowing the weather (particularly the Barometer) can tell you how your day might go.  Barometer means difference things to different people.  Some fisherman swear that is the barometer is high its not even worth going fishing.  I have a different mantra.  Fish have a "6th" sense using their lateral line.  This is a sensory receptor that lines down their body and can feel changes in barometric pressure.  My theory is that when the pressure is low fish (for instance wild trout) are more likely to come up and hit a fly on the surface since there is not as much air pressure pushing them lower in the water column.  On the other hand when the pressure is high the fish glue themselves to the bottom and feed almost exclusively on nymphs.  The next tip might seem obvious but know what your target fish is going to be eating.  Flies like sucker spawn, woolly buggers, and prince nymphs can be deadly when fished in the right conditions.  Sucker spawn is generally fished when the suckers have moved into the streams and are actively spawning.  You'll catch steelhead as well as suckers themselves on this pattern.  Woolly buggers swung through an eddy or riffle can be effective if the water is a bit stained.  Lastly Prince Nymphs are a very good low/clear water fly that is effective on steelhead you just have to fish through all the chubs and other small fish that are now present in the streams this time of year.

Right now is the time of year where the fishing starts to change.  The steelhead fishing starts to wean off right about the time the smallmouth bass roll into the lower reaches of the streams.  As for the fishing right this instant you've got a very mixed bag.  The streams are STUFFED with suckers right now giving an excellent sucker spawn bite for the steelhead but expect to catch a few suckers for every chromer.  With the rain we had last night and today will give a bump up in flows giving way to decent streamer action on the steelhead.  Although pike season is closed it's not unheard of to catch a pike while targeting the steelhead with larger flies like intruders.  Probably starting this week or whenever we get a few days of consistent warm weather you will begin to see the smallmouths trickle in.  These are catch an release and artificial lures only until the 3rd Saturday in June.  Be aware of the regulations in your area because nothing ruins a day of fishing like a ticket from the warden.

Remember to leave any comments or questions below as well as some conditions or pictures of fish you've had the pleasure of bringing in.  Thanks again for reading and tight lines!


Current Stream Information: 
Streams are going to be wildly different from stream to stream depending on how much rain was received so checking levels before you get all geared up might be advantageous.

Sandy Creek (Hamlin):  March 28th, 2016

Light to no fishing pressure.
High/Muddy flows. (CFS unknown)

Oak Orchard (Albion):  March 28th, 2016

Light fishing pressure.
Med/Stained flows (CFS unknown)

18-Mile Creek (Burt):  March 28th, 2016

Light fishing pressure.
Med/Stained flows.
182 CFS