I know that this forum reaches people all over the world, but this topic needs Michiganders' input. For people living outside of Michigan, your input is helpfull, but what I am wanting to know is:
Is there any fishermen out there, (in Michigan) that have seen/caught steelhead in the rivers as far North as Barry County/Ionia County area? Maybe even Grand Rapids area?
We've been out a few times... Nothin yet...But I've heard stories from diffrent people about how they've been catching nice sized steelhead near Ionia... So, I'm desperate...
Also, I've been looking for some chest waders.. I dont have much spending money, but I'm getting tired of trying to walk upstream and filling my hip boots... Any ideas? Maybe somebody knows a good sporting goods store with low prices on bootfoot waders?
Replies (5)
swez on 04/1/2008 05:12:54
Hey... a fellow fisherman heard the call and understands your plight. Have you tried the MI DNR site for info?
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364-34956--,00.html
Like you, we need local information and the best place to get that is at smaller Mom & Pop bait shops and outfitters. In your area, consider the St. Joe River or Grand Rapids at the 6th Street bridge. The Steelies are slow coming in so far this season, but once the spring thaw hits and water temps rise, the fish will be moving up into the rivers to spawn. (A little late this year)
On waders, for cold water fishing, it's hard to beat 3.5mm Neoprene types. They are great for long hours in colder water. But once the air and water temps get above ~60 degrees, they are too hot to wear comfortably. (I sweat up a storm in them during the summer)
If you plan to fish a lot, (30 trips a year or more) buy quality waders! I have a pair of Guide Series Neos from Gander Mt, ($85.00) and wore out the left boot in 2.5 years. I just rebooted them over the weekend and hope to try them out later this week to see if the job holds or not. These have softer rubber soles and they grip well, but not so good on long wear life.
Consider better quality ones from Orvis or Simms as they are made well and should last 4-5 years of hard use. Am planning to go that route soon too. Breathable waders with neo stocking feet and a wading boot combo are the plan for summers' fishing. Am thinking ~$200 for the waders and just try some robust type hiking boots I have now and see how these work out. With a good pair of fleese pants, they should be good for colder water as well.
Bootfoot waders are getting harder to find these days. Many vendors are switching over to stocking foot/wading boot combos. Yes, there are still some good boot versions out there, but harder to find depending on the shoe size needed.
Hope that helps,
Swez
gotsomechange on 04/2/2008 12:11:55
I've got a few places near where I live that I can go check out. It's just hard for me to find something affordable that fits me right..
Stocking footed waders just don't seem right to me... I'm putting on shoes, then going into water... With boot foot waders, it actually feels like they're made to walk through water...
I get that subconcious thought of my mother yelling at me for getting my shoes all wet...LOL..Like a little kid who's been told to stay out of the water with his new shoes...
swez on 04/2/2008 16:11:46
I get the same thought when looking at stocking foot waders and then add on boots. After so many years of fishing in cleat booted waders, it's like a water skin I am not ready to give up just yet.
A fellow buddy bought a set of the new style breathable waders and went a little low budget on them. Our first trip out in colder weather and water sent him to the shoreline in about 30 minutes with cold feet and legs. (Hypothermia onset)
My brother and I were wearing the mentioned Neo's and had no trouble staying in 35 degree water for several hours w/ no symptoms of cold feet, legs or mid-body.
Here's a budget minded pair of breathable waders from Orvis. They are stocking foot and you'll need external boots and probably a good woolen sock inside the neoprene booties to keep the feet warm and well padded. As for pants, flees type sweat pants are great for insulation and warmth. These are superior to blue jeans for comfort, heat retention and mobility.
If you really want a cleat/lug wader for now, WOW... I see the Silver Lable 2 series is on sale right now. This is an excellent product and a great price too. Yes, there are cheaper things out there for sure. But if you have ever tried any Orvis products before, you'll know why they cost more and are worth the extra investment.
http://www.orvis.com/store/search_results.asp?keyword=waders&nav=10006&refine=3&refine=4
Tight lines friend,
Swez
gotsomechange on 04/10/2008 08:32:51
I had to go get insurance and a license plate for my car yesterday and my wallet just kept getting thinner and thinner.. I started out this week with a little over $240 and I'm down to somewhere around $70...
I do have good news though.. The other day, I came home from work and my parents had gone to Gander Mountain, they asked me if I could help bring something in from out in the car, and to my suprise, they had bought me a pair of waders. They aren't quite neoprene waders.. but I didn't have to pay a dime for them. They said the waders were a present for getting good grades this last year..
I've been out a couple times, and haven't had any luck... Last night my cousin got a small mouth bass out of nowhere, (Very, very inexperienced fisher)...Must have been beginer's luck :P ..Although small mouth really aren't in season, he still out-fished me. I don't have to work this saturday, so I'm thinking about heading up to Rockford and knocking the dust off the 'ol fishin net...
swez on 04/10/2008 17:18:16
Yeah, just rebooted my older Neos for cool weather fishing too. They seem to be water tight for now, but a pair of "Breathable" waders is on the BUY page for summer fishing expeditions.
Right now, the water/air temps are pretty cool in SE MI. The added insulation and warmth make Neos a good choice until late spring and summer weather arrive. For now, we are hunting Rainbows and Browns. When that poops out, it's back to SM/LM and other species that are most active in warm weather. We'll take a nice Smallie any time, but since they are out of season, they go back to grow for later.
Nice gift huh? For now, SM are pretty scattered and feed primarily in the later PM parts of the day. Worm-type baits are always most produtive and Hellgramite/Craysish patterns are most productive when the span season is over.
Try fishing the latter PM feeding cycles and observe weather fronts. When high pressure and cold fronts are pending, SM are wary.
Swez
Is there any fishermen out there, (in Michigan) that have seen/caught steelhead in the rivers as far North as Barry County/Ionia County area? Maybe even Grand Rapids area?
We've been out a few times... Nothin yet...But I've heard stories from diffrent people about how they've been catching nice sized steelhead near Ionia... So, I'm desperate...
Also, I've been looking for some chest waders.. I dont have much spending money, but I'm getting tired of trying to walk upstream and filling my hip boots... Any ideas? Maybe somebody knows a good sporting goods store with low prices on bootfoot waders?
Replies (5)
swez on 04/1/2008 05:12:54
Hey... a fellow fisherman heard the call and understands your plight. Have you tried the MI DNR site for info?
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364-34956--,00.html
Like you, we need local information and the best place to get that is at smaller Mom & Pop bait shops and outfitters. In your area, consider the St. Joe River or Grand Rapids at the 6th Street bridge. The Steelies are slow coming in so far this season, but once the spring thaw hits and water temps rise, the fish will be moving up into the rivers to spawn. (A little late this year)
On waders, for cold water fishing, it's hard to beat 3.5mm Neoprene types. They are great for long hours in colder water. But once the air and water temps get above ~60 degrees, they are too hot to wear comfortably. (I sweat up a storm in them during the summer)
If you plan to fish a lot, (30 trips a year or more) buy quality waders! I have a pair of Guide Series Neos from Gander Mt, ($85.00) and wore out the left boot in 2.5 years. I just rebooted them over the weekend and hope to try them out later this week to see if the job holds or not. These have softer rubber soles and they grip well, but not so good on long wear life.
Consider better quality ones from Orvis or Simms as they are made well and should last 4-5 years of hard use. Am planning to go that route soon too. Breathable waders with neo stocking feet and a wading boot combo are the plan for summers' fishing. Am thinking ~$200 for the waders and just try some robust type hiking boots I have now and see how these work out. With a good pair of fleese pants, they should be good for colder water as well.
Bootfoot waders are getting harder to find these days. Many vendors are switching over to stocking foot/wading boot combos. Yes, there are still some good boot versions out there, but harder to find depending on the shoe size needed.
Hope that helps,
Swez
gotsomechange on 04/2/2008 12:11:55
I've got a few places near where I live that I can go check out. It's just hard for me to find something affordable that fits me right..
Stocking footed waders just don't seem right to me... I'm putting on shoes, then going into water... With boot foot waders, it actually feels like they're made to walk through water...
I get that subconcious thought of my mother yelling at me for getting my shoes all wet...LOL..Like a little kid who's been told to stay out of the water with his new shoes...
swez on 04/2/2008 16:11:46
I get the same thought when looking at stocking foot waders and then add on boots. After so many years of fishing in cleat booted waders, it's like a water skin I am not ready to give up just yet.
A fellow buddy bought a set of the new style breathable waders and went a little low budget on them. Our first trip out in colder weather and water sent him to the shoreline in about 30 minutes with cold feet and legs. (Hypothermia onset)
My brother and I were wearing the mentioned Neo's and had no trouble staying in 35 degree water for several hours w/ no symptoms of cold feet, legs or mid-body.
Here's a budget minded pair of breathable waders from Orvis. They are stocking foot and you'll need external boots and probably a good woolen sock inside the neoprene booties to keep the feet warm and well padded. As for pants, flees type sweat pants are great for insulation and warmth. These are superior to blue jeans for comfort, heat retention and mobility.
If you really want a cleat/lug wader for now, WOW... I see the Silver Lable 2 series is on sale right now. This is an excellent product and a great price too. Yes, there are cheaper things out there for sure. But if you have ever tried any Orvis products before, you'll know why they cost more and are worth the extra investment.
http://www.orvis.com/store/search_results.asp?keyword=waders&nav=10006&refine=3&refine=4
Tight lines friend,
Swez
gotsomechange on 04/10/2008 08:32:51
I had to go get insurance and a license plate for my car yesterday and my wallet just kept getting thinner and thinner.. I started out this week with a little over $240 and I'm down to somewhere around $70...
I do have good news though.. The other day, I came home from work and my parents had gone to Gander Mountain, they asked me if I could help bring something in from out in the car, and to my suprise, they had bought me a pair of waders. They aren't quite neoprene waders.. but I didn't have to pay a dime for them. They said the waders were a present for getting good grades this last year..
I've been out a couple times, and haven't had any luck... Last night my cousin got a small mouth bass out of nowhere, (Very, very inexperienced fisher)...Must have been beginer's luck :P ..Although small mouth really aren't in season, he still out-fished me. I don't have to work this saturday, so I'm thinking about heading up to Rockford and knocking the dust off the 'ol fishin net...
swez on 04/10/2008 17:18:16
Yeah, just rebooted my older Neos for cool weather fishing too. They seem to be water tight for now, but a pair of "Breathable" waders is on the BUY page for summer fishing expeditions.
Right now, the water/air temps are pretty cool in SE MI. The added insulation and warmth make Neos a good choice until late spring and summer weather arrive. For now, we are hunting Rainbows and Browns. When that poops out, it's back to SM/LM and other species that are most active in warm weather. We'll take a nice Smallie any time, but since they are out of season, they go back to grow for later.
Nice gift huh? For now, SM are pretty scattered and feed primarily in the later PM parts of the day. Worm-type baits are always most produtive and Hellgramite/Craysish patterns are most productive when the span season is over.
Try fishing the latter PM feeding cycles and observe weather fronts. When high pressure and cold fronts are pending, SM are wary.
Swez
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