Tippy Dam, Betsie River, Little Bear River, Pine River, Homested Dam, Little Manistee River, High Bridge launch, Rainbow

[davetclown]

We fished by night and toured by day. we got home around 10 pm this evening. and as I expected I saw the new world record brown was posted..

We ran the country side begining close to the dam moving out word to the near by rivers and tributaries.

we covered hundreds of road side rivier crossings, talked to hundreds of people, had a great time checking out some of the locals shared hot spots.

Next time I deffenantly will pack batteries for my cameras, both cameras were with out batteries, one of my shots would been outstadning if I could have used the zoom in camera.

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12765/cat/668"][/url] Turkey buzzards we saw near the Betsie river I think it was fryday. We had just left Rosies Diner on 115 with a cople tips of where to go and was following up on the leads. Might I recomend the home made apple pie [:p], the rest of the food was just as great, and they are open for breakfast and lunch only, closing by 2pm.

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12764/cat/668"][/url] Thursday night the skeeters we didnt have any problems with, But the nats on the other hand were outragous, they were so thick you couldnt walk or talk or breith with out these hatches flying in to places of uncomfort. including eye balls and up your nose and ears.. no they didnt bite, the just flew in your face and landed on every square millimeter of you. I still have hundreds in my tackle box, I am going to wait several days for them to die off before I open it back up and spend several hours cleaning out the dead bugs from it.

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12768/cat/668"][/url] Fryday night this 31 inch walleye was caught at the Tippy Dam site.[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12767/cat/668"][/url] It may have been the only fish they got, but you can bet your last bobber that they were happy campers.

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12766/cat/668"][/url] along with dozens of respectible Alaskan Kings, here we are cleaning a few early in to fryday nitht at the fish cleaning station on the north side of the dam, but not to worry, there are several places available beginning next weekend for 24 hour fish cleaning service at reasonable prices. and from now on at the south side of the dam, just check in at the gate of the camp ground. next weekend on the north side of the dam in the town of Brethern you can check out Hanks tackle shop and Andy's Tackle shop on the left side of Coates Hwy long before you hit the Highbridge and Coates intersection.

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12773/cat/668"][/url] I was asked if the fish were in the river [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12772/cat/668"][/url]

From wensday thought today "sat" we covered every suggested spot from the light house in Manistee west to the pine river north to Chrystal lake north of the Homested Dam. Again no camera batteries on that day either. A beutiful quant little three step dam on the Betsie river near its end at crystal lake. Might I add there were lots of people there for the taking of salmon. so many so that we didnt want to get in to a hook flinging contest in the middle of the night so we moved on to the next place of intrest. most of the places we went to were places we could fish from shore, I did not take my waders cuz my fishing partner did not own any so I didnt want to leave him on the river side come night fall...

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12774/cat/668"][/url][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12775/cat/668"][/url] On the way to manistee lake we found our way to the little manistee wier, I am posting these photos for his son who is in Iraq at the present time.

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12770/cat/668"][/url] This photo is of two of our goupe saturday morning.

The river level as of sat morning at Big Manistee river is at least a foot low posibly a foot and a half.

Genneraly the fishing is slow every where including the Betsie that was hot a cople weeks ago. Bait shops expect to be in full swing next weekend as they are planning on staying open 24 hours to meet the need of anglers and share any tips they can posibly share.
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[lurtch]

sounds like a fun trip..you were in and around my favorite spots including the little bear river..great brookie fishing..and rosies diner has the best food around for good price..gotto get there breakfasts,..great..if i knew you were going i could have directed you to a nice spot on the betsie in thompsenville..great hole ..fishable from shore..let me know before your next trip
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[davetclown]

I think next time I go up that way I will take the boat. I did not realize there were so many places to get on the river. [cool]

I just might take you up on that. so long as I aint got to walk in to far.

I did find me some places I would have given a shot if I had me a jimmy or cherokee [:p]
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[lurtch]

next time you go up that way let me know..ill give you the grand tour..i have 4 weel drive...and know alot of places..did you get to the pond that connects to crystal lake..thats always stocked with trout..you fish it from shore..and its 20 feet from were you park your vehicle..
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[davetclown]

I genneraly dont go up that way but about once a year, its a 5 hour drive for me one way. I went up early this year because of deer season and pumpkin season.

no, I didnt make it to the pond, after homested dam we headed north looking for "I think cold water creek" didnt find it, found a mountain loaded with houses so we turned back around and headed to the bear river.

we steired clear of the Plat "I think" I heard it was a single shank only zone, and my box has about 300 trebbles, and if they charge me by the barb, oooleeee!

I stopped at that little camp/trailor park down river and across the main road from the dam. you talk about your tight quarters... one good sneze and I would blow out the fire of the next two campers...[shocked] but they do have all the modern hookups.
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[lurtch]

did you happen to see if there were alot of boats trolling in platte bay..i used to do alot of surf fishing there when they came in..
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[davetclown]

like I said earlier, I stayed away from the platte because of the trebble hook restrictions.

but saturday morn boats were rolling in from every direction headed to the manistee river filling every slot in the lots on all the launches,,,

isnt it amazing what a big fish caught yesterday will do to a bunch of hungry anglers? lol

I did see boats going in and out of the manistee to lake michigan, and other boats headed up the manistee river from the docks in the town of manistee...

most every one had no fish at the time we left sat afternoon, but there were those vetrain anglers who had their limmits in an hour... but even they said the main run hadnt started yet.
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[lonehunter]

A bunch of us guys at work are heading over next weekend .
I'm hop[ing i'll have the camper repair done by then .
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[davetclown]

With all the cold and miserable rains coming across the state, I got the itch to go back up again tuesday morn. By tuesday afternoon I had my first one in the cooler, and it was about the time I was ready to leave when I latched on to a couple more this morning. "thrus"

the River is running higher than normal, wich is a switch from two weeks ago when there were sandbars sticking up in the river.

it misted and rained all day tuesday well in to the night, Wensday got cold in the shade I had to keep my winter coat on most of the day.

then last night a mist formed over the river so thick I could not see the end of my pole...

ok here is the meat of the story, I did manage to bing home three, I got them just around the corner of the boat launch, I did try several other spots and yes there were fish there but not much luck at them.

some places was crouded while others there was no one was any where near.

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[left]for those who want to know what I was using, it was my flyrod, waders to get out near the holes and spawn bags.
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[left]Now where did I put those canning jars [crazy]
[left]any one wanna play salmon patty cake?[laugh]
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[lurtch]

sorry it took so long to get back busy week..did you go were you said you were going to..i see you did the flyrod thing howed that work...everybody a six street does it that way..you already know that though...
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[davetclown]

This time I used both, spin cast and my heavy deap seas salmon rod.

I caught fish using the fly rod this time... in addition I took the waders as well..

it makes a difference when you can get out close and personal with the fish you are trying to catch... especialy when they are given a fighting chance, that is to take out a few anglers by knocking them over.... Saw that a couple times in the two days I was up there...[laugh]

ya I went where I said I was going, and a few other places as well, I faired better over on the north side of the dam. Tho they were catching fish every where on the river.. but not every one did as well as I and others did by far better than I did as well....
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[lonehunter]

I'll be heading over to the Au Sable today , I can't take the steps anymore . Will post the report later , first thing today I have to move a couple tree stands around .
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