Fly Fishing Northern Michigan's Salmon, Trout, Steelhead
Mood:  not sure

Lack of snow seems to be the concern. Winter of 2006 has given little to no extra base for the watersheds. Great Lakes levels will continue to drop, rivers will run low and clear, and inland swamps and lakes drop in size. Low water and increased water temps have altered hatches of aquatic insects and altered migratory runs of Salmon & Steelhead. 2006 looks like another drought type season for Michigan. Bookings for commercial guide trips are down, as they have been for the last 3 years. Hatches have not been on time, and major rivers saw migratory runs of Salmon as late as 3 weeks.

On top of the lack of water issues, we seem to have some problems with baitfish numbers in our great lakes. Zebra mussles are taking the food supply awy from the bait fish, and the number of game fish is too large for the amount of bait in the Great Lakes. Lower numbers of migratory fish and reduced size is what we are looking at if things do not change.

Although pressure has been steady on Salmon, Trout and Steelhead, the fishery is still strong. Spring is on it's way, and Steelhead will be making migratory runs up northern Michigan streams and rivers. What does the future hold?

Jon Kestner
Northern Michigan guide