So over time from fishing for bluegills with a cane pole, keeping a spinning rod in my vehicle and stopping at every likely roadside spot, to fly in trips in Canada and owning a Great lakes trolling boat I've pretty much settled for catching steelhead and salmon on streams and rivers with a fly rod. Over the years, my fishing partner has been my nephew who is 7 years younger than me. Every year we meet up to camp, eat in local dive bars and breakfast spots and enjoy an adult beverage or 3 around a campfire. We had a great salmon run again this year. Here are a few fish from earlier this month. We release most of the fish we catch. My wife likes to can salmon so I bring home a couple fish for that.

I use a 9'6" 8 wt fly rod and usually run 8# leader for kings and as light as 4# for steelhead depending on how clear the water is and how spooked the fish are.

Betsie River King.

IMG_0798 by Brad Benzing, on Flickr


Another one from the Betsie. the guys behind us were camping on a piece of private property. We access the river from state land and then walk up or down to where we want to fish.

IMG_0797 by Brad Benzing, on Flickr

This fish was taken on a tributary of the Big Manistee.

IMG_0793 by Brad Benzing, on Flickr

One for the canner

IMG_0791 by Brad Benzing, on Flickr

sounds like a lot of fun

Nice fish. Looks like fun. It's fishing Not catching fish But you did both so Congratulations.

Nice catch and sounds like a great time. Enjoy this winter while eating your catch.

Are these wild, or supported by a hatchery? Looks like a ton of fun either way.

quote:

Originally posted by coloradohunter44:
Are these wild, or supported by a hatchery? Looks like a ton of fun either way.

We check for fin clips indicating hatchery fish. Didn't see any on the fish we caught this year so all wild reproduction. And yup tons of fun either way.

Nice fish.

Great work, Brad! And good eating!

Great looking fish!

I've caught a lot of Salmon in my day but never with a fly rod. That must be a thrill to land those bad boys. Well done Brad.

Jim

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jimbo54,

Congratulations!!!

We have spent a few Summer vacations in that area. Absolutely Beautiful!! Pure Michigan!!!

What fly are you using?

That is just good clean fun right there. I’ve salmon fished with a fly rod on the Pere Marquette and had a blast. It’s all of the fun and camaraderie of rifle season deer camp without being as cold. Plus it is a lot more action.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
What fly are you using?

For salmon, we mostly use yarn flies. For steelhead we use nymphs but yarn flies can be very effective as well. I just tie a snell knot and then open up the loop, push whatever color yarn I'm using through the loop, pull it closed and trim it up.

Thanks Brad.

Brad, I see you also do steelhead. Do you ever get over to Western MI for those?

I grew up in St. Joseph, and people would come in from all over to fish the St. Joseph River in steelhead season. I wasn't into fishing but was always amazed at the number of boats in the river when the fish were running.

quote:

Originally posted by joel9507:
Brad, I see you also do steelhead. Do you ever get over to Western MI for those?

The headwaters of the St. Joe are right here in Hillsdale County. It flows directly behind my store but the dams keep the fish below Niles. I learned to steelhead fish at he dam in Berrien Springs. I spent countless hours fishing out of Benton harbor/St. Joe and new Buffalo when I had my trolling boat.

So yes, I've fished there but I've came to love the smaller streams and rivers of northern Michigan and have not fished over that way in 20+ years.

We were back at Salmon Camp this year after deciding last year to chase walleye and pike in the U.P. instead. This was my nicest fish for 2022. Used my new pulse 9' 8 wt rod. 8# leader. My fishing partner was fighting his own fish at the time and couldn't net for me so I beached her.

2022 King by Brad Benzing, on Flickr

I'm jealous!

Where were you? I've fished the Au Sable years ago, and a tributary that I can't remember the name of (I want to say Eagle River, but not sure) off of I75 near Grayling as I recall. Not sure it was entirely legal to fish there, but we did well.

I'm going over to the North Fork of the Clearwater in ID next week. The plan is to camp for a few days, drink some whiskey, smoke a few cigars, and if time allows...do a little fly fishing. This time of year, hopefully we're not too late, there is a hatch of October caddis flies. It's stupid easy fishing as they are about an inch and a half long fly and there is absolutely no finesse required. Just slop it out there and they'll gobble it up.

I can't wait.

Gustofer, we were between Bretheran and Kaleva.

You trip sounds a lot like ours. After about 42 years of fishing together, my nephew and I enjoy the camping, cigars and whiskey sipping mixed in with a bit of fly fishing. Where we used to stay out from dark to dark, we now head in for breakfast and enjoy a nap before heading back to fish until sunset.

Good luck and tight lines