Schultz Outfitters Blog

Friends, please join us on Thursday, March March 8th for a free seminar by April Vokey. April will be discussing swinging spey flies for B.C. Steelhead, something to get your blood pumping and techniques you can transfer to our MI and Ohio watersheds.

Attendance is limited so you must RSVP to the shop to reserve your spot. Please call us at 734-544-1761 for availability.

April Vokey with a Dean River summer run steelhead

Event begins around 6PM, and we’ve got several outstanding casual restaurants just down the street from the shop if you’re looking for a bite after work.

NOTE: We’re expecting a large turn-out, so please respect our neighbors and do not park in the businesses located just across the street. They’re open evenings too! There is a city lot located right around the corner on Rice St. with free parking.

I had a chance to do something that should happen way more than life allows, head out with my Dad (or Kevin as everyone else knows him by) and hit the river.  He and his friend Fr. Bill Wegher met up with me for a long overdo smallmouth float.  The day was perfect with cloudy skies, cooler temperatures, and good numbers of smallies in the net.

Good ol’ Pops with what he refereed to as “just a little guy”

Fr. Bill nailed this one right after someone said “here piggy, piggy”!

Dad with two things he enjoys, good fishing and good cigars.

Fr. Bill with a nice 16 incher

The fishing was great, the cigars were smooth, and the beer was cold.  What more could you ask for? This will definitely be a day that will stay in my memory for a long time.  Fishing with Dad (or Mom) is one of life’s great joys.  The time spent with them far out weights any other “more important” things.

The river will be looking a little different with the recent heavy rains.  But with the bad comes the good, more oxygen in the rivers, and cooler water temperatures in these hot months.  In these hot, low water times of the summer fishing can become a little harder.  These rains will help to prolong that early summer like feel to the river.  So if you thought the good times to get on the water passed you by, think again.  You just got a second chance!  So book a trip, get out there and get bent!

Aaron’s Warm water open dates for 2011

August  4, 5, 10, 16, 19, 23 & 25

September 7, 9, 12, 13, 19, 22, 26 & 30

Keep it Tight

Aaron

The weather may be hot but that hasn’t slowed the action.  The past few weeks have been filled with good number days on the river!  The smallies seem to have little preference to which fly they want.  Poppers, streamers and the occasional dry fly have all been producing good sized fish.  With little rain and high temperatures in the forecast the popper bite will be in full swing this week.  Poppers, divers and sliders….  O my!

Tony Payson with a good size pike taken on a popper!

Bait busters always show you right were to put it

Beautifully striped smallie

Lou with a shallow water biggin!   Corey making it happen on the Velvet Touch

A well placed cast behind a bolder gets rewarded

Dropped the camera in the net.  Fish eye view from the net!

The dog days of summer are hear and and the smallmouth love it!  Now is a great time to book that trip and enjoy some hot smallmouth action.  We all will be wishing for this temperature when its January and 5 degrees outside.

Aaron’s Warmwater open dates for 2011

August 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 19, 23, 25

September 7, 9, 12, 13, 19, 22, 26 & 30

Keep it tight,

Aaron

This past weekend my brother John and I headed up to the U.P on a EPIC smallmouth trip.  The idea was to leave early Friday to scout out three floats for the following days.    After guiding late on one of our northern rivers it made it tough to get out super early.  We were north bound by 9AM with the Clacka in tow!

The drive was fairly easy with only two stops along the way for gas and a sub for lunch.  Once we reached our destination camp was set and the scouting mission was on!!!

SO Camp just a few feet from smallie heaven!!!

Killer set up for the weekend

View from our Saturday launch

Major tributary

Once camp was set it was time to map out our attack on the local bronze talent.  With three maps and two GPS units this part was a piece of cake!  The locals were very pleasent and our first float/ car spot of the trip was all set. TIME TO FISH!!!

After 7 plus hours in the truck I was glad I packed the kicker motor.  Just a short drive from our camp site was a hydro dam with some nice current. GAME ON!!!

With less than a hour to fish it was KVD style streamer fishing.  Hitting the rocky banks was our best choice for such a short period of time and it paid off.  John rolled a couple right off the bat as well as broke off on a toothy critter.  Soon after he scored the first fish of the trip this average 16″ football.  Soon after he hit another pike and smallmouth.  3 and out is how we roll.  My turn…

Right out of the gate I stuck a decent walleye as well as a average smallie.  After saying one more cast for the 4th or 5th time this 18 plus inch chunk decided to play.  After a couple nice jumps John gave him the slip and what you see is the result.  What a way to start our trip!!!

During our first evening we witnessed over a half dozen free jumping sturgeon up to 4ft below the dam.  One was 3 feet off my oar blade.  Not a soul in site!

After tangling with a couple pike it was clear that we would run into break offs during our trip.  The majority of the first night was spent around the fire crankin out both weighted and unweighted murdich minnows.  Bell’s Oberon was the drink of choice!

Mo MURDICH

Day two had us on the water around 11am with plans of going until dark.  Locals informed us that the best bite was noon to 6PM.  We found the best bite was when we put the fly in the water.

One of several pike we managed to slip in the Fisknat.  Plenty of break offs and heart stopping takes right at the boat.  John had a fish on that was 40″ plus as well as another that sharked the fly in the 4 foot range.  No joke!  When we go back were planning on fishing Pike for a whole day.  9 and 10wt sticks with heavy fluorcarbon tippets.

John launching one off the bow

Rock solid U.P. Bronze that loved the Single Fly Cray

Schultzy’s Single Fly Crayfish

Hook:              Daiichi 2546 Size 1-4

Colors:  Combo of Brown, Olive, Crayfish Orange, Gold & Sand Variant

Thread:  GSP 100 or equivalent
 

Weight:  Dumbell Eyes tied on top Clouser Style

Stinger Loop: 30lb Original Berkley Fireline (The stiff stuff)
 

Under Flash:  Gold  or Copper Flashabou

Legs:   6-8  Brown or Olive Hot Orange tipped rubber legs

Pinchers:  2 Rabbit strips or pine squirrel tied in on both sides

Body:   Wrapped rabbit strip

Collar:   Wood Duck or Mallard Flank

Head:   Rabbit cut off the hide. Then spun in dubbing loop and wrapped in a figure 8 around the eyes.  I use a wire brush to tease out the trapped hairs. 

Slab with my popper box

The fish averaged 15-16″ during our stay

Me enjoying some time on the bow… Too many days on the sticks this year!  As you can see the black flies already got my legs.  Give me that DEET!!!

One of the coolest things in smallmouth fishing is what we call the “Wake and Take”.  It’s when you make a shot to shallow water and the fish wakes right to your fly and destroys it!  This happend a lot on our trip. Didn’t matter if we were fishing streamers or poppers these northern bronze backs were aggressive.

A victim of the wake & take

During our our first full day of fishing we covered 10 miles of river along the way we saw plenty of Bald Eagles, Osprey, Turkey and Deer.  The Sturgeon were plentiful as well.  We ended our float with 20 or so smallies and nearly as many pike in the net.   Pike break offs were common due to 15lb fluorocarbon tippets. 

I had 100% confidence in our presentations and fly patterns.  This river was capible of more!  Day 3 would be a different story.

Ahhh what do you do when your battery dies in the north woods?  First you hook up your Die Hard portable power.  When that smokes and the wires melt you get on your bike and ride it until you get a signal.  Then you call USAA.  Within 45 minutes good old Mike from L&M Towing was at the scene with a very nice $300 AC Delco portable jumper system.  Just like fly fishing products you get what you pay for!  After filling out the paperwork and slipping Mike a tip it was off to the river.

Like I said today would be different.  I was on the sticks to start and John was putting shots in the right spots as soon as I pulled anchor.  Five smallies and a pike in the first 100 yards.   You can’t make a guy go 3 and out with a run like that!  Looks like this was going to be one of those days.

Call them what you want we dubbed them “Pepper Tails”

A view from the chine

After catching over 20 on streamers it was clear that the fish were very aggresive today.  I tied on my Clown Show popper and hit several fish 17″ or better right off the bat.  This DUKER did the old wake and take.  I won’t soon forget it!  Cast… One pop… Wake…. Wait…. Pop and EXPLOSION!!! I even had time to look at John and say watch this. 

Different fish cool view

John with one of the 50 plus we tagged on day 3

John popping a big bug around some rock piles. Several fish were caught off rocks but the majority seemed to favor the wood for some reason.  Current was also key!

A glassy flat going into a rif

Pepper fins in the sunset

The left channel of some falls we ran in the Clack.  Thanks to the locals we chose the right path! 

Dragon’s and Damsel’s were everywhere which had the fish looking up.  On day 1 we caught a few fish on Chernobyls in the bubble lines. 

Gotta love sticking bronze on hopper man! 

This single day of fishing was well worth the 14 hours in the truck.  Several fish in the 18 plus inchs range were landed.  We didn’t break the 19″ mark during our trip but they are there.  These are the hardest fighting smallies I’ve ever experienced.  Sorry Lake St. Clair  or Erie and our homewaters of the Flint, Shiawassee and Huron. These dudes would drown you!!!  Just like Lake Superior Steelhead these fish are tough.  A short summers and harsh winters are the norm.  If you make the trip north please handle these beauties with care and release ALL of your smallies. 

Fish like these are special!  A reasource that wouldn’t take much to ruin.

On our way back to camp I hit a deer!  The EPIC day and zero deductable made for a chill evening despite the damage to my rig.  Support your local body shop!  Thanks Superior Collision of Ann Arbor. He he

Day 4 had us picking up where we left off.  The fish were still eatting very good and the weather was unreal.  Time to loose the farmers I mean fishing tan.

A average sized smallie that looks to me to go 16 X 16… TOADS!

John with another bronze back

Day 4 was pretty darn good!  The popper was again KING and a boat load of smallies were landed during our half day float.  By 4PM we were headed back home with some great stories and memories.

This trip was one that will never be forgotten!  It wasn’t about the fish,  It was about spending time with my brother in the north woods of our great state of Michigan.  There will be several changes coming to our family in the near future.  John is getting married August 6th to his long time girlfriend Kendall and Allie and I are expecting our first child in November.  Although future trips are a sure thing this one was special!  If you have a brother,  sister or close loved one that you don’t get to spend a lot of time with take take them fishing this summer.  You won’t regreat it!

The Big Mac and my quiver of stix

Schultz Outfitters will host a trip to these waters July of 2012 with Tim Landwehr and his team of guides at Tight Lines Fly Shop in De Pere, Wisconsin.  If you’re interested shoot us a note.  4 of the 7 slots have already been filled.  Date coming SOON!!!

Local Southern Michigan fishing has remained good dispite the low clear water conditions.  Eirik, Aaron and I are on the water daily.  Big numbers in the net has been the norm for the past 3 weeks.  Our annual Hex and Ephoron (White Fly) hatches should start any day now. Give us a shout!  Several new dry fly programs for late summer smallies.

Mike Schultz  Warmwater Open Dates for 2011

August 23, 24, 25, 29 & 31

September 1, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13 & 16

Eirik and Aaron have openings as well!

Please call or email Eirik Vitso to set up a trip this week…  I’m Alaska bound in 7 hours!!!

Due back Thursday July 28th

eirik@schultzoutfitters.com 734-972-5300

Goodnews River Lodge here we come!!!

Tight Lines,

Schultzy

Aaron’s Report 7/7/2011

The last few weeks have been full of great days on the water.  With the smallies starting to settle into their summer habits the fishing has been revving up!  Streamers, poppers and the occasional dry fly have all been receiving the wrath of a violent take.  Take a look at these bronze medal winners.

Tony Payson with a mid-day beauty

Tony and a camera shy buffalo

Cynthia Center with a prize 18 incher

Erik Center and a shad smacking fatty

Popper loving 17 incher

Rick Stanfield making it happen with the Mad Hatter

Jay Zielinski is all smiles after keeping this bronze bullet out of the wood

Mike Simpson and a mid-river bolder hugger.

With the waters warming up to their summer temps the popper bite will be hitting full swing!  We are also not too far away from the Hex and White fly hatches.  There is still a lot of summer fishing to enjoy, so if your looking to get out with us shoot us a email and book a date.  The bronze days of summer are here!

Keep it tight,

Aaron

Aaron’s open dates as of 7/7/2011

aaron@schultzoutfitters.com

July 13, 15, 19, 20, 22, 25,

August 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 19, 23, 25

September 7, 9, 12, 13, 19, 22, 26 & 30

Schultzy’s Report 7-7-11

Sorry for the long lapse in reports & pics.  I’ve been on the water everyday for the past 3 weeks chasing the boys of summer.  Smallmouth as well as carp fishing are a full GAME ON!!!  Eirik, Aaron and I have been hard at work over the past few weeks guiding multiple species on multiple rivers here in Southern Michigan.  The fishing has been nothing short of spectacular as of late.  With consistantly dry warm weather the fish have been very predictable.  As you can see from the photo’s below we have been in the thick of it!!!

Beautiful Mid Michigan Sunset late last week

7-6-11

After 3 weeks of hardcore carpin it was nice to be back on the sticks searching for smalljaws.  Bob Cannon was my angler for the day on one of our rivers to the north.  Bob spent the afternoon tossing streamer with very good success.  After dinner we switched over to poppers and got it done in a BIG way!  Plenty of aggressive fish looking up in the low clear water.  Hot flies for the day were the Gold & White Murdich Minnow as well as Vitso’s Shad Popper.

Bob with a soBob with a solid minnow chaser

First of the day on the popper was the biggest at 17.5″

7-5-11

My first day back from a mini 4th of July vacahad me on the water with first time SO client Mark Ish.  Mark and I set out early with carp on the top of the list.  It didn’t take long as Mark hammered down in the first section we fished and continued to do so all day.

Mark showing off his best carp man imitation

Eirik’s client Gary Stan with his first of several on the day

7-1-11

Friday before the big holiday weekend had us heading north right in the thick of the traffic.  After a long ride Peter and Tate Feenygot things going early with some solid mid teen smallies finding the net.  After a slow in the action things heated up in a big way!  We spent the evening tossing poppers to many willing combatants.  Hot flies were Schultzy’s S3 Sculpin in Olive as well as Pacific Fly Groups Harvey’s SW Popper in Gold & White.

Peter Feeny launches a popper into the set before the holiday weekend

Tate Feeny showing us how to get it done with the popper

Peter sticks his first ever carp on the streamer!  S3 Sculpin in Olive got it done for us

Peter with a gnarly 18″ S3 chewer

6-30-11

With the carp game dialed it was time for SO regular’s Bill and Karen Kraus to take their shot at the title.  Bill started our day off with a great battle.  We covered two very different sections of the Huron river and found success in both.  Bill and Karen put over 100lbs of carp in boat. 

Bill with his first carp on the surface

Karen with one of several carp she landed

6-29-11

Bonefish Bob Cannon and I floated a couple sections of river on this beautiful June afternoon.  After getting off to a slow start with extreamlylow water.  (I’m guessing an issue with one of the dams) Bob and I were happy to see the water come up just in time for the mid day bite.   Bob landed several golden bones on the day.

Bob getting bent on some of our NEW mulberry water!

Bob with a DONK and new set of closes after a mid day swim

6-28-11

Found me on the water with a couple old time friends and clients Jeff Wicklander of Northville Barbers as well as Fly Shop David Heid.  After taking Jeff on this section a river a few weeks ago he had to come back for more.  It was Davids first trip on our mid Michigan waters and he was not disappointed.  Dispite18″ of viz the guys but on a clinic with the Rio Outbound Short Floating/ Intermediate lines and Crayfish combo.  The hot fly of the way was Schultzy’s Single Fly Cray in size 1/0.

David enjoys a late afternoon rest before the BIG show!

David displays a healthy upper teen small jaw

Wicky displays a slim but athletic 17

6-27-11 (PM Trip)

Monday afternoon had me on some fresh water with Jeff Wicklander.  Jeff is no stranger to the blog this year.  Seems like he’s in my boat once a week when the fishings on!!! Today was no different.  Jeff put the boots to several nice surface feeding carp including the 13lb BOGA Griped leather carp below.

When a client tells me to fish I usually say no.  But… When double digit carp are feeding on the surface I usually take a shot.  This fatty took on the first drift!  Perfect fish to show of the new “Brotherhood of Fly Fishing” hat from This is Fly.  Thanks for the hook up Paris!

6-27-11 (AM Trip) 

I spent my morning with first time SO clients Andy Marko and Bill Jack.  Both of which were new to the carp game as well.  After 3 second presentation demo I demonstrated the no look dangling berry hook up technique.  It was going to be one of those days!  Both Bill and Andy had plenty of shots and hook ups throughout the morning. 

Bill with a dandy right out of the gate!

Andy followed with one

6-26-11

Carlos and Bruce Feterolf joined me for a late Fathers Day float.  BothBruce and Carlos had fished with me in the past. As always we had a wonderful day chasing the golden bones.  The guys boated double digits some as big as 12lbs. 

Bruce with one of many on the day

Carlos and I with one of his

6-25-11 Off DAY… Kind’ve! 

Aaron Wiley, Brian Doelle and I floated an old favorite stretch of the Huron that we rarely take clients to due to it lack of accessability.  After a 300 plus yard drag we were cruising along in the heavily stained waters with high hopes. 10 minutes in we connected with this duker!  The gold over white Murdich Minnow did the trick.  Not quite 20″ but I take a 19 plus any day. 

Lower Huron Piggy!

6-24-11 (PM Trip) 

Howdy Holmes was my stick for the afternoon.  With mulberry carp our main focus we headed down river.  The clarity was good and the fish were looking up.  Howdy stuck several fish in the 10lb range and even let me stick one!

Solid Huron River Carp

Howdy with the victim… SAVAGE!

6-24-11 (AM Trip)

Gregg Rasmussen and Leon Bunch joined me for a gray skied morning of carping.  This being the 3rd annual float/ carp competiton.   The match was tied 1 to 1.  Gregg took the W in 2011 with a few to hand. 

Gregg with a Huron River Golden Bone

6-23-11

Greg with a nice FRUIT lover 

Tommy proving you can get it done in FU Bay

6-22-11 

Another veteran of the carp game Dr. Bob Bailey was my man on the stick.   The rain was on and off all day but the fishing remained consistant.  Even with high winds Bob got the job done!

Bob showing how to get down in dirty with Mr. Carp!

Dr. Bailey with one of several on the day

6-21-11

Mark and Todd Griffin were in full carp mode on this beautiful June day.  With the Mulberries just starting to hit the water the surface feed was on! 

Mark playing one from the boat

Mark & Carp Man

Todd with a Huron River FATTY!

Father and Son Mark & Todd Griffin

6-20-11

Mickey & Andrew Taylor joined me for their first experice with carp on the fly.   We got off to a great start with Mickey cracking a 15lb bull right off the bat.   Soon after the Taylors double up! See pic below.

Andrew & Mickey DOUBLE UP!!!

Mickey with a 15lb Brute

6-19-11 Fathers Day

My brother John and I decided it would be a good idea to take Dad fishing for Fathers day.  After a slight twisting of his arm plans were made to do a little mulberry carpin to break him in on the fly game!  Back on June 28th 2008 we purchased a Scott Rod, Ross Reel and SA line for his retirement gift.  Almost 3 years to the day he got to use it!  Several carp were hooked and landed.  I hope this becomes a tradition.

My brother John got the day started with this guy

The Schultz crew on Fathers Day 2011

Mike Schultz 2011 Open Dates

August 15, 23, 24, 25, 29 & 31

September 1, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, & 16

mike@schultzoutfitters.com Cell 734-546-7723

With the Flint River just coming of its record breaking floods it was only a matter of time before it would be back to normal and that day came yesterday. Lucas, a Wisconsin native, was the lucky one that had first crack at the post flood Flint and it paid off with a BIG numbers day. The hot flies were larger white minnow patterns and olive leaches. The water temps held steady in the upper 60′s and water clarity was mildly stained. Lots of bugs including, Golden Drakes, Sulphers,Tan Caddis and Golden Stones were all out in small to decent numbers. Also, saw a few bait busters that we were able to capitalize on. Here is just a taste of the days catches:

The Flint River fun is just getting started. If this looks like your idea of a fun time then shoot us an email, aaron@schultzoutfitters.com, and we will book a date on the Flint for you.

Keep it tight,

Aaron

aaron@schultzoutfitters.com