Hoosier Fly-Fishers..

[magnatecsteve]

Anyone from IN, and what do you fish for, what's your favorite flies...? I'm just getting into fly-fishing, but I'm addicted. Been doing alot of reading and have a buddy who is somewhat experienced in the area so that helps. Anyone from here gone up to Michigan with Manistee Outfitters? I read that they specialize in guiding beginner fly-fishermen. Going to Yellowstone on vacation with the family this summer, hope to take my rods with and maybe get a weekend fishing liscence and try for some trout. I'm going to check into what times of the year are best for spawn or just best times to fish. Anyone with any info on that would be appreciated.

[billkay]

Re: Hoosier Fly-Fishers..

I've always wanted to try it. I was figuring to get a set up for gills/bass, or maybe for some of our local steelhead in the tributaries off Lake Michigan.

[Guest finsnfur]

Re: Hoosier Fly-Fishers..

I am not in IN but IL, too close for some and far enough away for others. ha.

I have not been to MI to fish. I would like to go sometime for their steelhead. STEL fishes up there. I get to WI to fish for steelies and salmon. Trout streams/ponds seem to make me stop for a day too.

Down here in Illinois I mainly fish for LMB, SMB, gills and pike.

Flies differ for different fish and locations.

salmon = 10 eggs, pink, orange, chartruesse, scarmbled eggs

steelies = 8, 10 sucking leeches orange/black, orange/purple, 8 10 woolly buggers olive green, green, brown, black bead head and not.

cohos and browns usually get the steelie assortment.

trout get the traditional flies. I really like Blue Wing Olives (BWO) in all sizes. Caddis seem to work for me on faster currents, they ride high and stay afloat. Nymphs too.

Small mouth, clouser minnows rock these guys. And they are a blast. try different colors and sizes, I use 4 mainly. I have some muddler minnows to try this year.

LMB really get me. I have a hard time with these guys, not sure why. You would think If I can catch trout, steelies, salmon, SMB that LMB is nothing different - oh well, I keep trying and it gets me out.

GILLS are a blast. My gills around her love orange, not sure why. Thjey also love Royal Coachmen 8 or 10. After the I catch about 20 gills and the fly gets ratty. I leave it on and the gills start fighting over it. I have caught 100 gills in under 2 hours on 2 coachman before. When I stick the spent fly on my patch, it nothing but a hook with a few threads hanging off of it. I love catching gills.

I have a small pond here by town that has pike. I hit it up every once ina while to see if I can get one. I use huge leeeches here in orange, white, yellow and red and combos. I think they are 1.0 and 2.0.

I am still trying to get one to bite on top of the water.

Carp are the next big fad. I have tried it, but never got one to bite.

Fly fishing is a blast. Go slow and do not get caught in all the hype. Have fun, that is what it is all about. IMO rods are more important than reels unless you are fighting fish that run a lot.

Spend the money on the rod and line, the reel is just a line holder for most of us FW guys.

Good luck and let us know how the western trip went.

[muggs]

Re: Hoosier Fly-Fishers..

I've never fished in MI but I'm also just getting into fly fishing myself, and fish for steelhead here in Ohio and PA.

When it comes to quide services, I'd say word of mouth from someone you trust is the best judge of what guide is a good guide. Most don't mind handling beginners, but some do.

Your best bet is to find a MI fishing forum or fly fishing forum and ask around there, you'll get a lot more responses from guys in the know.

You can also try steelheadsite.com, even if you're not fishing for steelhead, those guys on will know the guides, some are guides, and they'll help you out.