One chapter closes the page is turning

Well my salmon season is over for 2016, three weeks flew by and I'm back home. I want to make public that I will not be returning to either Beaver Island or the Pere Marquette for the 2017 season. Bookings have dropped off for both fisheries and there just isn't a reason for me to go back any longer. I will always miss the summers on the island, the people and the life style of it, along with floating down the beautiful Pere Marquette watching the leaves turn vibrant colors. It has been a amazing 6 years guiding some of Michigan's finest waters. If you have any desire to fish either destination contact Steve Martinez at indigoguidesteve@gmail.com I will keep you posted on my plans for 2017 as they get set in stone. On the home front the Kankakee's water temps are great it's running high the fish should be hungry. I'm back on it later this week. I'm playing the waiting game on Lake Michigan the water needs to drop a bit for the fall game to kick off. Fall smallmouth are just as big and hungry as in the spring get your trip in while the weather is still nice, give me a call I'll get you fishing.

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Smallie season wind down

High dirty water has been the story all season, both myself and the boat don't mind it. The high water scares the other boaters off the river and makes it to dangerous for waders so the outcome is the river is empty. Tomorrow is the last float of the season here on the Kankakee I have a feeling we'll go out with a bang. Next week I will be back in Michigan with the Indigo boys chasing salmon. In the next month I will be making public some big changes for the 2017 season, it is very exciting stuff.  As always 

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Back on the river

I know I've been slacking on reports. There hasn't been much to report with all of the high water that we've had. Finally the river is in good shape, the water is dropping the clarity is improving and the fish are right where they should be. There is only 4 open days to book with me before I head to Michigan for salmon season. Reports from the Pere Marquette are sounding promising. It has been said that there is already more fish in the system now than all of last season, lets keep our fingers crossed. The new boat has arrived and is amazing, good mojo is already covering it.

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Beaver comes to a end

Time flew by. Every year it's funny, while I'm here at home time drags by, counting the days until the island season. Once I'm there running the big lake every day time goes by in a blink of the eye. I guess the saying is true "time flies when you're having fun". Anyways I'm back to counting down the days again. The season as a whole was great. The carp fishing was good despite wind, and clouds. Smallmouth fishing was excellent. Pike fishing was a added bonus and tons of fun. As I sat on the boat leaving the island the other day I was thinking how lucky I am to have been able to spend the last 6 or 7 summers on such a amazing place. Smallmouth fishing here at home on the Kankakee is in it's normal summer patterns and the river is in great shape. A new boat is in the works and will be picked up by September 1st, photos will come as soon as I get them. I have some dates open for smallmouth before I skip town again this fall for salmon season on the Pere Marquette.

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Beaver Island week 1

It's great to be back on the island for the summer. This first week we were met with more clouds than sun which in the carp world doesn't make things easy. Fortunately the smallmouth season is open early this year and they are abundant and big this season. The days that the sun has shown itself carp have been willing to eat. If any of you that are reading this plan to fish carp here or anywhere else PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE remember this, they DO NOT like getting hit on the head with flies!!! DON'T DO IT!!! Signal is spotty and time to update this weekly is even spottier be sure to follow us on Facebook for daily updates,

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Week of May 14th

This will be my last report of the spring coming from here at home. The days are peeling off of the calendar, the totes are out and are being filled for Beaver Island. The fishing this week was a grind. The weather was the biggest factor. Fog, rain, wind, we had it all this week. The fish are there if you keep at it you'll find some players. The only thing that worked with any consistency was big and black everything else just disappeared in the dirty water.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook for daily updates https://www.facebook.com/GrabYourFly/

Week of April 24th

Playing the weather pays off this week. Carp have invaded the flats and are hungry. The biggest fish of the week was 28 pounds. Smallmouth on the river cooperated nicely. The post spawn bite has started. Big flies still out produced anything else. I have a few dates still open for local fishing before I head to Beaver Island.   

Week of April 17th

Falling river, dirty water, rising temps is what we were dealt this week. We caught fish, some days better than others but thats the game we play. There was no one hot color or pattern. One day they wanted black the next they wanted chartreuse. A little more than a month until the 2016 Island season and I can't wait!!