July Flies

John with a surprise bycatch on a guides day off on the lower Au Sable. 

It seems like this summer is flying by faster than ever. This is slowly becoming one of my favorite times of year though, the slower pace after the main hatches are through, the early mornings, the late nights, and the variety of fishing opportunities make for some very fun days. 
Last week I was smallmouth fishing on the lower Au Sable and was surprised by a really nice pike. I wasn't using a wire leader so I was thankful the fish grabbed the fly in the corner of his mouth instead of eating it and breaking me off.  
Its been hot the first half of this week but it looks like temps are going to drop tomorrow and should make for great trout fishing the rest of the week. 
General attractor patterns and skunks are working well and producing trout consistently. Isos, BWO's and Tricos are whats currenly popping and weve been lucky to find good fish feeding on Isos during sporadic hatches throughout the past week. Mousing should also be picking up with the dark moon this week. Get out there enjoy these summer days that always seem to go by far to fast.