Fish the deeper holes. It is clear, so you should be able to see them moving around down there.

My clients biggest of the day went a shade over 20lbs that took us a couple hundred yards down stream. A BLAST on a fly rod! All were caught on a white streamer that I tie up. I will post tying instructions here soon.

Give me or Chris Lessway a call if you are looking for a guide on the Betsie or Manistee River. I do not recommend too many guides, but Chris is an exception. He is a great guide- you will have a great time and he will put you on fish. Here’s his number: 248-255-2054

Back to the Pere Marquette tomorrow!

This is a great time of year on the Pere Marquette. The salmon are starting their move up the river and it is the only time you can rip BIG crank-baits (thundersticks) for FRESH salmon! It is a blast. There’s something about a 20 pound fresh salmon on light tackle that really gets the blood pumping.

I just got back from an excellent season in Alaska and wanted to get back on my home waters so I did just that today. I only got a couple hours in on the lower part of the river, but went 2 for 3. The biggest going 18-20lbs.

Here’s the good news.

LOTS of fish on the move for this time of year. All indications point to a great season.

Shoot me an email or give me a call if you are coming up!

Jed

This is a beautiful and HUGE king salmon from the lower Pere Maquette River. It was caught and released in early September on spinning gear and crankbaits. Special note this fish took almost a half hour to land!

Between rod breaking hits, logpiles and chasing fishing with the boat this is one of the most exciting ways to fish the Pere Marquette River!

Early season king salmon on the lower pere marquette! Caught on a crankbait, while fishing spinning gear! You can expect the weather to be a little cool in the morning and into the high 70′s by afternoon. It is the perfect time to see the natural beauty of the Pere Marquette River

This is the third week of King Salmon from the Pere Marqutte River caught and released on a flyrod!! The fights do not get any better than this!!

Here is a perfect example of a Fresh to the river King Salmon Caught and released! Lower Pere Marquette River on casting gear!

Yes Cal, We all know how big that King is that you just lost! This is a pose you will be making more than a few times a day on the Pere Marquette River during Peak King season. This photo was taken in early October

This is a beautiful example of a October King Salmon on the Pere Marquette River caught on a flyrod. Fishing these on a flyrod you need to have your ducks in a row or be a little lucky!!

Step 1. Start with a 2 foot length of 20 pound butt section attached to your flyline.

Step 2. Double Nail Knot down to a 3 foot section of 15 pound ( this is the line you want your indicator on)

Step 3: Attach a barrell swivel.

Step 4: Attach 12 pound mono (Maxima ultra green) or 10 pound floro ( Maxima Florocarbon) for 3 feet to the end of your barrell swivel.

Step 5: Tie on your first fly (for me it is usually an egg pattern)

Step 6: From the eye of the first fly, tie on another 3 foot of 8 pound maxima (or 10 floro) to your next fly (nymph or small streamer)

Step 7: Put your weight at the barrel swivel (only enough to get you to tickle the bottom not rattle).

There you have it! A quick and easy set up that will have you ready to go to fish the Pere Marquette River for both steelhead and salmon.

I had the honor of guiding Ben Wilson! This is one of the many fish he caught and released the end of the first week of Sept on the Pere Marquette River. As a note when fishing this time of year you will also catch pike and smallmouth bass.