Smallmouth fishing the last couple days for me has been challenging. Factor in the higher than normal water flows, temperamental fish, and beginner clients, it has made for some long days on the water.  Beginner fly fisherman always bring with them challenges that only exist when learning to fly fish, however with extremely moody fish, it has made the journey from beginner to successful fisherman a trying challenge. Well placed casts are key right now, it seems that subtly placed flies are the only thing getting ate.  Black, yellow, and chrome poppers are taking most of the willing fish. Look for conditions to improve as water flows stabilize.  Congratulations to Peter and his son Randy, Stu, Steve and Dave for all successfully completing their first days of fly fishing. I hope that your image files are filled with picture memories in years to come from your future fly fishing successes!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Fishing today with brothers Jim, Max and Rob Newell, it started out real slow fishing poppers, so we switched over to streamers and still no fish, until this afternoon the popper action picked up with everybody hooking fish.

We had a great time on the water today, I enjoyed hearing about past fishing and golfing stories they shared together. Keep building memories, and I’ll see you on the water again. 

Capt. Don Graham

When you have the opportunity to take a child fishing, you should do it every time. When you have the opportunity to take one of your own children fishing- its priceless! Joining me today was my middle son Zach, who loves to fish! I would like to tell you that I let Zach catch all the fish, but he out fished me fare and square.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Extremely warm weather has effected the Atlantic salmon fishing in the Soo just like it has effected the trout fishing in many other areas. Water temperature in the St. Mary’s River is running nearly 10 degrees above normal from my year to year experiences. Morning river temps are starting out around 65 degrees. Locals to the area are taking advantage of a rare opportunity to enjoy swimming in Lake Superior which in some years doesn’t break 55 degrees the whole year! Another big issue has been inconsistent water flows as Lake Superior is nearly a foot lower than last year, leaving the governors of the water flows to minimize use.  Pictured is Bill and Ida Sidor with a couple very well earned Atlantics.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

With a cardiologist and a mortgage broker in my boat today, I figured I had every base covered.   If I hyperventilated over errant casts or a Big Bertha lost or needed a 30 year fixed mortgage to assuage any angst I might have accumulated due to my profligate spending habits, I would be in clover to the max.  As it turned out, MD Tom and banker Matt were able park their professions at home and solely ply their fly fishing talents with poppers for Smallies. Today was a flat-out gorgeous day on the river:  dry air, light winds, and partly cloudy skies.  The only downside—dirty, dirty water.  The rainstorm of last night dumped oodles of earthy particles in the river (and, given the terrible, non-existent morning bite, I suspect gobs of Smallie Kibbles as well.)

So, with only one fish raised in the morning, we understandably turned our attention to the grilled steaks and accompanying yummies.  As we ate, though, we noticed the river clearing.  Taking the increasing clarity as an encouraging development, Tom and Matt cranked up their casting with renewed vigor, only to be rewarded soon with bass smacking their poppers, and in Matt’s case, his Dalberg Diver.  The bite had completely reversed itself with some fish striking the bugs the moment they hit the water.  Trophies the fish  weren’t, to be sure;  the largest in the boat was only 11.5,” but for both the guys up from Illinois, it didn’t matter.  They had bass regularly taking bugs they cast on top as the sun warmed the day.  Sweet!  For Matt, his Smallie was his first on a fly rod.  So. special congrats go out to you, Matt!  Pictured top to bottom are Tom and Matt.

Thanks, guys for a most enjoyable day of fiy fishing and companionship.  I look forward possibly to hosting you both next Spring for that  steelhead trip about which we talked.  Have a great balance of your vacation in western Michigan.  Oh, and for that tee-time tomorrow:  remember my modified  “No Swing Golf Swing” that we talked about in the boat.  Bring the club head up waist high, making sure the face is parallel to the intended line of light; address the ball with the club; and take your backswing, remembering to return the club face to the checked position.  Get it back into the same slot on the way down, and you’re square at impact.  Better scores with less practice means more time for fly fishing!  Now that’s a plan I can support big time!

Best wishes, Tom and Matt, for continued success with your families, careers, and—of course—fly fishing!

Captain Tom Kuieck

The 2nd and 3rd day of fishing with Tom and Judy required us to endure some pretty hot summer weather. Day-to-day differences in behavior of the smallmouth kept us on our toes as well. Typically, the smallies can always be found on the woody structures along the river, but day three found player fish positioned on rocky banks only. Another key change along the way was reducing tippet size to the poppers; this really seamed to make the biggest difference to our successes. Both Tom and Judy through their 3 day adventure made strides in there fly fishing game and brought some nice fish to hand. It was a pleasure to host them on their trip and I look forward to seeing them next June for some dry fly fishing.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

First Muskegon River smallmouth bass trip of the year today with bud and fellow RiverQuest guide Don Graham.  Lots of fun, though, the bite started off tough.  The water was significantly off-color from recent rain, and the river was choc-full of minnows—literally thousands of them.   So whether full fish tummies were the issue or some other variable, we weren’t sure, but the only way to prevail is to press on so we laid out casts—lots of casts.  Streamers and crayfish patterns yielded zip, but as the day warmed and the sun hit the water, we began to get some action on top with poppers.  Don fished a green frog pattern, and it was a bee for me…  The fish struck aggressively, often taking the bugs deeply. Key to success was laying the poppers close to shoreline structure.  To one bass we spotted feeding, I threw three casts within a couple of feet of where Don suggested the popper land.   No dice.  Next cast, I drilled the spot he wanted me to hit, no more than a foot and half from shore, and Bang!  So, it’s a target shoot: structure, structure, structure.  Though at the end of the day,  I prevailed in the numbers competition, Don took big fish honors with the chubber he holds in the picture below.  All in all, a wonderful day of top-water fly fishing for smallies with a great friend.

Captain Tom Kuieck

Day one of three with Tom and Judy of Chicago went off with out a hitch, despite the ominous weather forecast. With an 80% chance of strong to severe storms in the forecast, I was worried about our first day of smallmouth fishing coming together. But as we have come to expect from the weatherman, the 20% chance of not raining was the only part they got right!

Well place poppers close to structure was the key to success today. While colors combinations of black, frog, white, and yellow all had looks, yellow led the pack by far.  Water temperatures are perfect for smallie top-water action, hovering around 72 degrees. If you have been waiting to get out after some fish, now is the time! Pound-for-pound nothing beats smallmouth bass!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Smallmouth fishing on the Mo’ is taking center stage as the water temperatures have crept to the low 70 degrees mark. Surface flies along with crayfish patterns are getting it done. Atlantic salmon are in good numbers in the Soo, and should provide excellent fishing through the end of the month.

I would like to thank Bob Swan, president of the Chicago Anglers Club for inviting me down to present at the Erie Cafe’ yesterday in Chicago. The members of the club were very a gracious audience and I look forward to speaking to them again in the future!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Great evening of dry fly fishing today with friend and client Jeff and his guest Mark!  Both guys are dry fly neophytes, but with trout rising to cinnamon caddis for well over two hours, the guys eagerly ventured into the world of dry fly fishing,  They were rewarded with continuous action, which at one point, featured a double hook-up.  Both Jeff and Mark have fished steelhead with me, and while they love chasing chrome, their enthusiasm for dry fly and streamer fishing for trout was off the charts.  Of course, the atmospherics were spectacular:  no wind, high pressure, clear skies, and the woods lush with early summer vegetation; it was simply a special night to be on the water.

Minnow and crayfish patterns,  fished on 200 grain sink-tips, also produced well, but the day belonged to the four weight rods.  As for drakes, only a few emerged around 10:15,  We hung in there until 10:45, but no big emergence or fall in our area,.  Pictured is Mark with a fat bow taken on the top with a #16 caddis—a real accomplishment for a guy who had never cast a floating line before.  Does he look happy or what!!  Congrats, Mark!  You and Jeff are well on your way to becoming dry fly guys!  Thanks to both of you for a most memorable and satisfying evening on the Mighty MO.

Captain Tom Kuieck

Captain Tom