The installation of several dams along Michigan’s major rivers has created a wealth of opportunity, both economically and for recreational purposes. Some of the rivers in our southern tier of counties are limited to warm-water species, but harbor trophy sized fish in those categories. This article will cover the larger tailwaters that are home to my favorite species, the trout.
Many of these dams are the upstream limit for adronomous species such as salmon, Steelhead and lake-run Browns that traverse these rivers on their annual spawning runs. The pure protein of the roe feeds this native trout population for almost 5 months of the year and, in turn, provides tremendous growth rates (up to 1” a month), not to mention the nymphs that are broken loose during their spawning activities. It’s not unusual to see dozens of trout feeding below an active redd.
Insect activity is also quite high in such a nutrient-rich environment. Blanket hatches can be experienced at times if the planets line up just right.
Add the Salmon and steelhead smolts, crawfish, minnows, sculpins and amphibians and it’s easy to realize why these waters are so prolific.
One main drawback with our tailwaters is the high, mid-summer temperatures. July, August and part of September can bring temperatures in the high 70’s, sometimes even mid-80's for daytime highs. Fortunately, there are thermal refuges such as tributaries and underground springs that provide some relief. Recent studies have revealed that some fish will run the tributaries during high-water events and spend a good portion of the summer in these creeks. Some are very small and nearly impossible to fish with the long rod.
Additional studies have been done in search of reduction measures against the high temperatures, but there really aren’t any viable solutions short of removing dams. Unlike some major southern rivers like the Clinch (TN), White (AR) or Cumberland (KY), where bottom draw on the impoundment keeps the rivers at a steady temperature for most of the year, that isn’t much of an option with our tailwaters. Most of the ponds are too small and shallow to provide enough water below the thermocline to make a significant difference.
Our tailwaters are considered small compared to some of the major players, but many anglers are intimidated by their flow and size. The easiest way to approach them is to dissect each riffle, pool and chute into sections and fish them like you would a small stream. Wading is possible, but in order to fish them effectively one really needs some type of watercraft.
Spring is probably one of my favorite seasons. There are still a few Steelhead in the system to keep things interesting. A well-placed drift may result in one of the drop-backs lashing out at your offering. I have found they really strap on the feedbag after the rigors of spawning.
For nymphing I resort to using a 5 wt. rod, mostly due to the size and weight of the offering. My rigging is primarily a 2-fly rig. A heavier, sometimes beaded nymph in order to gain depth, and a small dropper about 18” behind it. The dropper might be a pattern to match a current emergence or something flashy to attract the attention of neutral fish. The main thing is to get it down. I’ve experimented with using splitshot, but found that on the longer casts hinging became an issue with heavily weighted flies and droppers.
Don’t be afraid to over-size your nymphs. Use your dropper to “match the hatch.”
If the fish get fussy, scale it down.
Caddis seems to be the primary insect, since they are available from as early as May all the way into November. When Caddis emerge, they do not float in the meniscus like mayflies, but simply pop out of the water. That makes them a hard insect to target. We simply try to match a cripple or a drowned adult.
These are scaled down to an 18. Even without any signs of risers the fish will snatch them up like popcorn at a theater, especially when the upstream migration of caddis is evident.
Adding a little flash will take its share. I find this very helpful on a bright day.
Some of the traditionals will also work. My buddy John Cable just loves the Partridge and Orange.
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