Brad Poggi and his son Dan joined me on the Muskegon for a afternoon of fly fishing for smallies. This was the first time fly fishing for Dan. With some practice, Dan and Brad were able to make the cast necessary to bring the smallies to the surface with great top water action.

I’d like to thank you for a great afternoon on the river today. Good luck, Dan, at Michigan State this fall.

Capt. Don Graham

With a wrap on my Atlantic salmon season we ended it on a very good note. As you have read on our blogs from the last couple days-conditions had gotten tough from the mega hex hatches stuffing the fish. Last night as dusk was falling a cool fog bank swallowed the area and basically kept a bunch of hex from getting in the water. This brought the bite back in a very good way today.

Joining me today was Ben Elenbaas of Phil Elenbaas Millwork and one of Northern Michigan’s finest custom home builders Chris Miller of Traverse City. Both Ben and Chris had never caught an Atlantic before and with the tough bite of late I was feeling the pressure. Much to my delight the salmon had decided to dine on something other than hex and we finished the season with a banner double digit day. Most of the fish today were in the 5lbs class but Chris was rewarded with a very nice 11lb Atlantic salmon in the fog this morning.

With another season in the books I will look forward to 2010 and the awesome Atlantic salmon of the St. Mary’s River.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Fishing has gone from incredible to tough as I blogged yesterday. Huge hex hatches are happening nightly now as the hex are way behind schedule and playing catch up. This has placed the Atlantic’s and whitefish on the extremely thin feed since they are now gorged on the large mayflies. This being said there are plenty of fish around and finding players is key. My daily goal of 5 Atlantic’s posing for the camera is still obtainable just not reached in the first hour of fishing! Pictured is Capt. Don Graham who with my father joined me last evening for some pick up Atlantic salmon fishing.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

It has been my concern over the past two days with the Hex hatch finally coming into play here in the “Soo” that the fish would finally start to get full tummies. While I can’t prove it without killing a fish I can only speculate. This morning while passing a moored freighter one could only stare in awe at the enormity of hexagenia duns covering the side of this great ship (vessel was 800ft). To say their were millions would likely be short selling the condition of the ship.

Joining me today on the St. Mary’s River was Doug Kool and his son Rob. Fishing today as alluded to above was tough! Our past days of tremendous success made it only seem more dismal than it actually was! While we certainly did not put up the double digits as in the past few days we were rewarded with a very respectable five Atlantic salmon. Picture is Rob with a beauty from the midday.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Bill Sidor again joined me today on the St. Mary’s. We had a truly large hex hatch last night and the fish acted today as though they were quite full. While this was the case we were able to get into quite a few very nice Atlantic’s. Pictured are a couple of Bill’s best from today.

Capt. Steve Kuieck

Long time customer and friend Bill Sidor joined me today on the St. Mary’s River. Fishing was absolutely outstanding today with many fish posing for their 5 seconds of fame in front of the camera. Small nymphs and caddis were key while streamer brought chases but no hook-ups. Bill will again join me tomorrow; with any luck we’ll do it again! Pictured is Bill with his two best from today.

Frequently you may have noticed scares on some of the Atlantic’s; these are caused by the out-of-control populations of one of the Great Lakes original terrorists- aka the Lamprey Eel. Pictured lower is one that was literally chewing the life out of a caught Atlantic this morning.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Dr. Vincent Shen and Ray Davis Sr. joined me for the last two days here on the St. Mary’s River. Atlantic salmon fishing continues to be very good though this weekends monster low pressure system kept the fish very much on edge. This weeks weather looks fantastic to round out my last week in the “Soo”; with a full schedule ahead  we should post some awesome pictures and stories! Small nymphs continue their performance while the stream bite this weekend has been impressive. Pictured is Dr. Shen above and Ray Davis Sr. lower with a streamer caught Atlantic.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

note: if you can make a fill in spot on Thursday please let me know.

I could make this report really short and just sum it up with a resounding “WOW”! That’s really it………but since you know I cant let anything go; I will just say that the last two days have been extraordinary! Dr. Scott Smith and Bob Linsenman should have had celebrity “add on” status given to them at the MLB Home Run Derby- after their performance they could have easily hit balls out of the park. Pictured above is Dr. Smith with his personal best Atlantic to date and Bob (lower). If you would like to try to make it out yet this season please drop us a call or email; this season is on track to be one of the best ever!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

note: a fellow guide on the river asked if we were shooting a “fish porn” photo shoot with all of the photography the past couple of days….pretty awesome! Should you care to hit the “Holy Waters” or the “Trophy Waters” on the Au Sable River give Bob a call- he’s a fantastic guide, author,and friend!

Big wind off Superior kept it rockin’ on the St. Mary’s River today with 3+ foot waves and spray; this of course bringing a bounty (it was sick) to the smiling guests. Dr. Scott Smith and Bob Linsenman of the       Au Sable Angler joined me today for what would be a very remarkable day on the water. Small caddis and nymphs provided all of the action today though I did through several streamer patterns to the “surf” cruising salmon to no avail. While most of the Atlantics today were in the 3-7lb. class Bob was treated to an exceptional salmon that was 10-12lbs. Whitefish are becoming much more active as the insect flow kicks in to 3rd gear. If there are any of you readers that are interested in filling a couple holes in my schedule please let me know; I have next week Thursday the 23rd open. Pictured is Bob (top) and Scott (lower).

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Sometimes it’s more than fishing….

For the last three days, Captain Don Graham and I relived our trout fishing genesis—the Jordon River, one of Michigan’s finest river jewels. Our expedition was the result of a mid-winter pact Don and I had sealed to “get back up to the Jordon and do it like we used to—rough it in the tent, fire up the Coleman stove, and keep the campfire going.”

Since our clients and friends know Don’s and my general ages all too well (We’re “well seasoned”!), and since we both started trout fishing in our youth, our return to the Jordon was a pilgrimage of sorts—a tribute to a beloved river and to great times past. So, two older, but wiser, fly fishermen returned like kids to their river—a stream changed in a few respects, to be sure, but still the special place we remembered. And there they were, too: lots of memories of trips, special spots and trout, and, of course, most meaningfully, treasured times with friends and family.

The simple fact is that Don’s knowledge of his stretch of the Jordon River surely rivals, and probably exceeds, anyone plying the river today. For seemingly every run, hole, and glide, he can rattle off a name or story. Don remembers specific trout netted and lost—some from decades ago! My memory of the river, on the other hand, is cursory at best and made even fuzzier by the 30 years plus that had passed since I had last fished it.

But fly fish the Jordon we did: tossing streamers, nymphs, and dry flies. No big trout came to hand, but the action was hot and heavy on browns as they went berserk over an excellent Hexagenia Limbata emergence. You know how it goes with the Hex hatch—nothing happening, no rises, no bugs in the air, and then, fish rising everywhere! And so it was.

Great time that fishing the Hex hatch was, though, it was eclipsed by the deep slurping gulps that one very substantial trout continued to make well after the emergence ended. Don and I both tried to hook him, as did the very gracious gentleman who had called us upstream to try to take a shot at the big guy. The fisherman had thrown everything he had at that trout, including a mouse (which he said the fish bumped a couple of times)—all to no avail. Even though he had earlier landed two very good browns, he couldn’t solve this one, and neither could we. With full nightfall upon us and only the sound of the rises to guide us, Don and I kept finding the brush cross-stream that shrouded the fish’s lie. Three flies lost, we ambled our way back to the truck, awed by what we had seen and heard. What a fish! What a night!

And so, our return to the Jordon was a fantastic experience. Pictured is our humble campsite and various shots of our time on the river. Truly, the Jordon is flat-out dead gorgeous. Thanks, Captain Don! I’ll tuck this trip away in a place never to be lost.

Captain Tom Kuieck