Fishing Report - Tributaries of the Grand River
It’s finally July and we are in the full swing of summer. The daytime temps are spicy and the sun is hot, but we love it here in Michigan because we all know it won’t last! Taking advantage of the long days and sunshine is one of our favorite things to do in The Great Lake State. With that being said, we have received some much needed rain. While the rain has not been sustained or torrential, some of our river systems have gotten a nice little drink and have upped the flows. This has brought a nice stain to the water making stealth less of a priority.
Matt Grajewski holding a beautiful smallmouth bass caught while top water fishing near Grand Rapids, MI.
Because the sun is out and hot, fishing in the mornings and later in the evening have been some of the biggest keys to success. With higher stained water comes the opportunities to throw slightly larger streamers. We have had success with olive and gold in the 4”-5” range. Our favorite way to fish streamers in the summer is with intermediate clear tips with a two foot leader.
Top water is still king, however, and the first fly we throw early in the morning. With the higher flows and stained water, throwing a popper or something that makes lots of noise and bubbles will help attract those fish to your fly. We suggest you don’t rip them through the water, but instead, make some noise and give them long pauses in-between. Sometimes even as much as 10 seconds can help seal the deal on larger fish. Our favorite colors for larger poppers and divers include yellow, chartreuse, green, and black.
Streamer fishing can be productive in summer especially when the water is stained after a good rain.
With higher stained water, the fish will venture further away from their hideouts and can be found mid-river in rocky riffle water. In front and behind large boulders midstream can also be a productive place to catch fish. Bouncing crayfish patterns is extremely productive in this type of water. Get the fly down deep, jig slightly with the rod tip, and wait for a bump as the fly drops. Don’t be afraid to let the fly swing too, you’ll be surprised with the results.
Popper fishing has been lights out, just pay attention to how the fish are reacting to the noise and action of your fly.
Slack water is also a great place to find fish. Look for the slow eddies, drop your popper, make some noise, and wait. Be prepared however, and don’t let the strike take you by surprise. If you’re interested in getting out on the water, you can book a trip here or if you’d like to receive fishing reports directly to your inbox sign up on the Fishing Report title page. Let us know how we can help and if you’d like to get on the books.
As always, I hope you get out on the water safely and enjoy it with friends and family.
Cheers,
Allen