River Beauty

The weather says winter with highs at freezing and lows at 20 F. The rivers are as high and fast as at anytime in recent memory. Fly fishing is a challenge. The smaller rivers have a few resident Brown Trout and Brook Trout but the Rainbows / Steelhead / Chromies of any size have moved out into the Great Lakes.  Large tributaries like the Pere Marquette and the Manistee rivers are your best bet. Fly fishing streamers and large nymphs are the choice.
Other considerations, the hunters will be in the woods until January 1. Whitetail rifle, muzzle loader season, and land owner doe season make a bright hunter orange hat a must.
Trout in the smaller rivers will be under the cut banks of the river. To get the fly down to them is very difficult at best. Open water is still the rule. The small lakes rarely ice over before Thanksgiving. Ice fisherman are waiting now, then will venture out as that ice offers a great opportunity for all species. However moving water of our streams never freeze but Humans do.
It is the start of the Holiday season, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It can get a little hectic around the cabin with all those turkeys, Xmas trees, and decorations. The back roads are still open. The woods & rivers are a serene escape to say the least.
Picture...the Maple River head waters on a November dawn.

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