The Big M

[Steve]

What's going on at the Big M? Any steelies in with those suckers?

[green caddis]

[Fished the Manistee on Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd. Went downstream from the dam on saturday and literally no runs were open. So fished the gravel island then left to go down near Rainbow. Very few fish down there telling me that fish that were there have either spawned or went further upstream. Did not hook any there either but few people. The spring run of fish shall be in there soon however looking at this rain thats coming. Anyways, went upstream again on sunday and found better weather, more fish, and less people. Had the whole river to ourselves by 5:00, and the spooked fish started to appear on the redds periodically through the day. Only landed 3 and lost somewhere between 7 and 10. We were mainly fishing the runs in front of the clean gravel. Hexs were good early in the day but ran out of them early. Steelhead Buggers were our top producers. All the fish in the river are fish from the winter and are starting to get spawned out. Spring fish are still waiting, so the couple days of rain could really be great for the fishing, white antron bugs will really be great then in the lower river.

[fishon]

Hey Green Cadis, I'll be up their Wensday thru Sunday, what are your predications? Think its worth the trip?

[toto]

Cadis, do you think the run is still to come, or is it about over? I am planning to go to Canada in mid-May for steel and I only hope it isn't over yet. What do you think?

[green caddis]

The spring run of fish have yet to come up. There are some fish trickling in sporatically but most are holding in the lake. A lot of the winter run fish have spawned or are in the process of spawning now. We saw fish numbers increase as the day wore on and more people left.

[fishon]

thanks green caddis I'll be up their tomorrow afternoon until sunday, i just hope its worth the trip.

fish-on!

[WEEZER]

Yes I believe that they majority of the spring fish are still out in the lake.. People have been saying that the run is over in the Big Man and Ausable. The truth is that people have been seeing the winter fish on the gravel and they are spawning and leaving. If we ever get a good warm rain they'll come in swarms..... Mark my words! There will be fish @ Tippy in Mid May when everyone "Thinks" the run is over.
~Rick

[Big Buck]

Fished the Big Man this weekend the fishing was awesome we hooked about 12 and landed 3 it's not alot but it was real fun.We were at the saw dust hole and people were killing them the dam had a lot of people but were not getting alot of fish but some are up there on the beds. good luck

[Steve]

Big Buck, sounds like you had fun down there. The sawdust hole sure is a beautiful area. A lot less crazy than the dam.

[fishon]

Was up at Tippy for a few days and their were still fish on the beds, most were really dark. Never seen the water so low in the spring you could see the fish on the gravel at the dam. Hooked 17 landed 2 both released, foul hooked. Lots of suckers! Pulled 10-12 of them in tried to take the hook out of one of them and my line broke so I went to push it back on shore and stepped on the head by accident? and tons of eggs came out of the mouth, that really sucks to see those garbage fish take so many eggs. Heard of a guy that had a sturgen on between the dam and sucide fought it for 40 minutes then finally cut the line when they saw it was a sturgen. That sure would have been a rush. Went to the little M and only saw 1 fish, but counted over 20 dead fish floating. Whats up with that? I always thought steelies went back out and survived the spawning.