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My wife and I may be headed to the area around Boyne, MI. in late September. I haven't wet a line since I moved to Indianapolis in early 2011. Needless to say, I have an itch that needs to be scratched. Any and ALL help and information about the opportunities to fish that area... locations, flies, etc., etc., would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and as always... Best Regards......
You will be just North of the Jordan River which is one of my favorites. I particularly like the upper Jordan River valley wilderness area. If it is late enough in Sept. there might be salmon in the Boyne river which also offers some trout fishing.
Joel;
There is a lot of great trout fishing in the area and you are only about 60 miles from the "Holy Waters" of the Au Sable River.
The Non-Resident license is $30.00 for 3 days and 76for the year. You are close enough that you may want to consider the yearly license.
That time of year will be small fly's. Check out the hatch chart at Gate's Lodge for a better selection.
I just spent a night in Indy on my way to the Michigan Fish-In!! I bet I could have mooched a free dinner off you in exchange for info on trout fishing in Michigan!! :D
Make a note to attend the Michigan Fish-In next year.
Jim just said it all! He's one of the best I've ever fished with!
Joel-
I'm far from an expert on that part of the country, but have gone up there a number of times over the years. While there are a multitude of good choices near Boyne, it doesn't get much better than the Au Sable near Grayling. Gates Lodge is great place to check with for information, and a must-visit if you decide to fish there. Meantime, pay a visit to Flymasters in Indianapolis and have Derek and the guys give you some good places to fish near Indy. They won't resemble Montana, but there are some pretty hood options to get that line wet more frequently than you have been!
I guess that I should add that the Jordan is a small river. 7/8 foot fly rods for 3 or 4 weight lines work well. If salmon are in the river not much else will be active. They require a nine weight with a large capacity reel and you will still have no chance with many of them on those small streams. If you prefer not to fish the salmon you need to get above a dam that keeps them out. The Boardman near Traverse city ( a tourist mecca for non fishers) or the Au Sable came to mind. At that time of year you are just on the cusp of the main salmon activity. I usually figure the first week in October is when the run gets too heavy for any trout action here to the South of Boyne but that varies from year to year.
There's really too much to write about the area. AKA the Midwest Golden Triangle of fly fishing. I will just add. that time of year you'll be getting into Kings (Chinook) running a lot of the Lake Michigan tribs. If you want to go for them, bring a BIG rod. ABSOLUTE MIMIMUM, 8wt (the longer the better 10ft +), you may prefer to have a 10 wt if you have one. Steelhead start heating up in early Oct but you can still find the odd early one in September.
All the rivers into Lake Michigan hold promise of nice fish. To avoid the salmon run and some of the morons that go with it, just make sure you move to above the first dam on any of the rivers. A 3-5wt will do nicely. Ants seem to work best in September or the early morning Tricos if you like fishing small flies. The PM (Pere Marquette) is the only river that has no dams so the salmon can run up a long ways. Also be aware that there are special regs on the PM especially in the flies only water...one of the better places to go for salmon if you don't like fishing with Bubba Leadripper. Do yourself a favor and grab a book or three and do some reading. There's just too much great water to talk about.
Here's an old website but you'll get the picture.
http://www.trailstotrout.com/blueribbon.html
Good advice on moving above the dam where ever you choose to fish. Having just returned from that area I can confirm that the Skamania (summer steelhead) are in some of the rivers along with bubba and his friends in hot pursuit. As you already know, many of these "rivers" can be only 30 to 40 feet wide with pools about the size of a small bedroom. Some of these morons will have no qualms about firing a chrome hot n tot right across your path or bouncing a spawn bag over your feet. Have fun where ever you end up fishing.