The Shiawassee’s BACK!

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Schultzy16

Headed out to see how the Shiawassee was doing after all the rains this spring. The river was finally looking like normal, so my trusty scouting buddy Wilson and I shipped off. We boated ten and had a blast. Golden drakes and caddis were hatching with a few smallies rising to them. Water temps were in the upper 60′s. The hot flies of the day were white minnow patterns and black leeches.



Wilson with a solid smallie five minutes in to the float

Wilson with another good size Shi town bronze back

Me with a little red eye love

Shad lovin streamer crusher!


We still have some open dates for the weeks coming up if you want to wet a line on the Shiawassee, Flint, or Huron River.

Aaron Wiley’s open 2011 dates
June 13, 24, 28, 30
July 8, 11, 13, 19, 22, 25, 27
August 4, 5, 8, 10, 19, 23, 25
September 7, 9, 12, 13, 19, 22, 26, 30

Keep it tight,

Aaron

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Memorial Day & More Warm Water Danglin

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Schultzy16
After a very hectic early season schedule it was time for a little break with friends and family up on Higgins Lake. Allison, My Brother John, His soon to be bride Kendall and I were headed north with the Clacka in tow.
After a late night around fire pit with some Michigan Micro Brews John and I headed into Grayling to visit the guys at the Old AuSable Fly Shop as well as lunch at Spikes.
If you haven’t stopped by the OAFS since Andy took over you owe it to yourself to do so. The shop has a new energy and has quickly emerged as one of the top shops in the state.
The staff is “EXSTREAMLY” knowledgeable when it comes to all things trout on the Manistee and AuSable River systems. Check them out www.oldausable.com
They feature many of the products we use on a daily basis here at Schultz Outfitters… Scott, Scientific Anglers, Ross, Simms, Patagonia and much much more!
Support your LOCAL Fly Shop!
Saturday night found us meeting up with a good friend and Schultz Outfitters client Andrew Walawender on his home waters of the North Branch. With 2 weights and Sulphurs in hand the bugs were popping and so were the brookies.
I stopped at a dozen to take in the evening sights and sounds. Between the three of us around 40 Brookies and Browns were landed by the time the bugs stopped. No big fish but it was a lot of fun hanging with my brother and Andrew.

John Skipping a brookie to hand

Me acting a fool with Brook Trout Man

Andrew with a little brown that ate a Rusty Spinner
Sunday we spent the majority of our time burning up gas on a 35 foot Baja and playing washers until 3AM. Big Thanks to Ace Hardware in Grayling for stocking 7/8″ washers for our game.
Monday morning had us up early for a 7AM start on the mainstream. We had the place to ourselves and the fish were on the chew. Overcast skies and temps in the mid 70′s kept the fish pounding streamers until 11am. We boated around a dozen trout between 13 and 18″. All on a new bugger variation that I tie with Greg Senyos Shaggy Dub available through Hareline Products.

Average Trout from a short Memorial Day float

My Bro with a dandy AuSable Brown Trout

Same 18″ Brown with the Hero pose!

Crazy water levels this spring! Were still getting it done on a daily basis.
Due to a cancellation on the 25th Aaron, Eirik and I had a chance to float together. The two fish below were the best of the day. Unfortunately I was on the sticks when they were caught.
Way to be Aaron!!!

Aaron with “Sandy” a solid 17″ smallie on the BC Leech

Aaron getting the day going 100ft from the launch with a rare 31″ Main River Pike

Same fish cooler photo!

Regulars Rich Wilkins and son Nathan joined me for a high water float. A few fish were brought to hand despite the raging river. Here’s an average size early season smallie held by Nathan.

Peter Fink of Ann Arbor holds one of many Pike caught on a recent float

Bob Turrill from Boulder, Colorado holds one of several Bass he caught with us
As you can see we’ve been BUSY!!! Our home waters of the Huron, Flint & Shiawassee are setting up for a great season with plenty of water.
If you haven’t booked up a date with us make it a point to do so. Mid June, July and August are PEAK dates. Eirik and Aaron have open dates.
Hex and White fly hatches will be here before we know it!
Mike Schultz open 2011 dates
August 9, 15, 17, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29 & 21
September 1, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, & 16
Last year we experience GREAT fishing through mid October
Best,
Schultzy
Posted in Aaron Wiley, Eirik Vitso, Greg Senyo, Mike Schultz, Old Ausable Fly Shop, Patagonia, Ross, Scientific Anglers, Scott, Simms | Leave a comment

Just a little High Water

Posted on June 5, 2011 by Schultzy16

Usually with high water comes low hopes for catching anything. This has not been the case with the Huron this season even with the river stained and still flowing deep in to the woods. As our day progressed the water temps went from the low to mid 60′s. Golden Drakes and a few Iso’s were the only hatches on the water and no risers yet. Despite the high water Chris Beck got the job done, boating a high number of quality smallies. Olive and black leach patterns were the top flies with plenty of weight to get it deep.

Chris with a nice 18 incher

Some times the weird colors work!

Chris is all smiles with this camo striped 17 incher

Red eye!

A Fat 18 incher played perfectly to the net by Chris

The season is still young and the best is yet to come. With falling water levels, more bug hatching, the days just get better and better. I have a few open days for floats coming up in the next few weeks. So, if your looking to get in to some smallie action on the Huron, Flint or Shiawassee River, now is the time.

Open Dates: June 13, 15, 28, 30

Keep it Tight!

Aaron

aaron@schultzoutfitters.com

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Brook Trout Retreat: 2011

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Schultzy16
Greg Senyo’s PA Trout Retreat
Over the past 11 days Greg Senyo and I had the pleasure of hosting three groups of anglers at Greg’s brook trout paradise in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania. Plenty of larger than average brookies were hooked, lost and landed. What a trip!

Group 1 Dave, Len, Dick & Bill
This is what we came for! Allegheny Brookies

Gotta love the dry dropper!

After seeing the previous days photos Dave, Len and Bill unpacked pretty quick

Several Michigan Ale’s were consumed during our time in PA

Bill with a solid PA Brook Trout

Greg poses with Dave for a quick grip and grin.

Senyo showing off his small creekin skills

Dr. Len with a called shot “Wild Flower” Pool beauty

Dick with one of several nice brookies he put in my Fisknat

Bill wins the smallest fish of the trip award
The first group had ideal conditions… The creek was dropping after a short highwater period and sunshine was non existant for nearly three straight days. The overcast conditions worked in our favor.

Group 2 Jesse, Tyler, Gary & Ralph demonstrating the Brookie “Game Face”
After 4 days of overcast conditions and rain group 2 rolled into town with sunshine in tow.

Tyler scores his first trout on a Scott A3 3wt. The cork will never be the same!

Gary and I with a colored up Brookie

The super rare TIGER TROUT!
Half Brookie Half Brown
1 in a 1,000,000

Ralph and I pose with his 13″ Trophy Tiger… Congrats!!!

Ralph working a productive bucket while I work with my new camera

Greg holds one of Jesse’s nice trout

Can you tell who sold them their gear?

Afternoon shot of the Allegheny Mountains

Gary with his first trout on a fly! 15″ brookie is a great way to start

Bob from PA with a nice afternoon trout

Flip scores the “Bridge” fish! We had a bounty on this one for nearly 10 days.

After a night of heavy rain fall the river was down to 12″ of viz. It sure helped the streamer bite.

Greg and I plan on hosting several of these trips next spring.

The lodging and fishing is limited to 4 anglers per group

For more info check out Greg’s operation at http://www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com/

Give me a shout 734-546-7723 or shoot me a email any time

Tight Lines,

Schultzy

Posted in Brook Trout, Greg Senyo, Mike Schultz, Schultz Outfitters, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, Tiger Trout | Leave a comment

The Big Bass Bite is ON!!!!!

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Schultzy16
Schultz Outfitters Guides Eirik Vitso and Aaron Wiley went out on the Huron for a little scouting mission yesterday…Hog Hunting if you will. The fishing has been fantastic as of recently! More big fish have come to hand than any other time of the year. We, and our clients, have been catching some legitimate trophy Smallmouth. We’ve seen lots of fish between 16 and 19 inches. But yesterday, we tipped the scale at 20.25 inches!!
This HOG measured in at 20.25″ and weighed over 4lbs!!
Water temps were in the upper 50′s to low 60′s depending on the stretch…and yes…the leech bite was still on. SLOW stripped or swung Black and Olive leeches, about 4 inches in length, weighted with large lead eyes have been and still are the pattern of choice.
We approached a stretch of river that has been home to a lot of big fish recently. Eirik put a cast at the head of a deep, dark log jam and started his swing with a little twitch every so often…and like a sledge hammer on a railroad tie, WHAM!!! FISH ON!!!
At first, we knew it was a big fish, but we didn’t know how big it really was…we definitely didn’t know it was a 20 inch fish…and then like “a bat out of hell” the fish came out of the wood and jumped. This is the moment in any anglers’ career that your angling life flashes before your eyes…and when you start pondering what you will do if this fish throws the hook…whether you break your rod over your knee, throw it all in the river, or curse like a sailor. These are the fish that keep you on the river…the fish that keep us up at night.
Eirik is all smiles with this 20″ Smallmouth!
After a long battle, and one net dodging by the fish, Hog Johnson was landed, measured and weighed…and photographed too of course. And with trembling hands and a heart rate of a sprinter, Eirik released the fish and had to sit down for a few minutes.
Aaron with another nice 18 incher!
At the end of the day, 6 fish in the 18 inch range, the 20, and a handful of other very respectable fish, including a HUGE walleye were landed. If you want a legitimate shot at some of these big fish, now is the time to go. They are feeding hard!
Eirik with a solid Smallmouth!
Aaron with a SWEET Walleye! Gator Man!!
This is the time to hit BIG FISH!!!

Leech=Lunker!!

Another solid Smallie!

A nice darkie!!

Sweet colors and sweet fish!!!
The water is extremely high, so if you find yourself wading, PLEASE WADE WITH CAUTION. If you would like to go on a float with us, we have a couple of open dates still and would love to try and get you into the fish of your dreams!
Keep it tight!
Schultz Outfitters
Posted in 20 inch smallmouth bass, Aaron Wiley, Early Season Smallmouth, Eirik Vitso, Huron River Fly Fishing, Schultz Outfitters, Southeast Michigan Fly Fishing, Trophy Smallmouth | Leave a comment

High Water + Hard Work = BIG FISH!!!

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Schultzy16
I love it when a last minute idea turns into a day you never forget! This past Wednesday, Eirik and Aaron had a half day to go search some of the clear upper waters of the Huron. Boy did they find some fat fish!!
Aaron with a solid fish!
It truly was a day to remember. The fish were so fired up and the streamer action was outstanding! So to try something different after many fish were landed on streamers, Eirik fished a popper for a little while and on the first cast a little smallie hammered the popper! The popper couldn’t even fit in its mouth! And then there was the fish that tried eating the leach that was stuck in a log! It was amazing how fired up the fish were! In total, 23 fish were fooled by the business end of their rigs and there were many more follows that were just as exciting!
Sure was an eager little guy!!
Aaron with another fatty!

Eirik with a big “May Muncher”
Many of the fish were 16 inches and larger with one solid 19 incher! May is a great time to go out on the river for a float in search of some truly big fish.

Aaron with a solid 19″ smallmouth!

Aaron with another well fed smallie

Eirik with yet another solid smallmouth

A leech lover for sure!
The rig of choice was a heavy black leech on RIO’s Outbound Short Intermediate Sinking Line. The water temps were in the upper 50′s to lower 60′s…couple that with high water levels and summer time weather…you’ve got a great day in the boat!

The early season can be the best time to land a true trophy Smallie! There are still a few spots open in the next few weeks for day trips on the Huron, Flint and Shiawassee…so if you’re still on the fence about getting out with us for a float, jump that fence, run to the river and get ready for some GREAT early season action!
Going back to the river to get even bigger!
Over this past weekend, Eirik had the pleasure of taking Patrick P out for a day of early season fishing. To be honest, the weather was not favorable. It was cold, rainy and windy…but that didn’t matter! Patrick was a true sport and after taking a lesson with us recently, he took his new knowledge and skills and brought them to the river to be rewarded with a true trophy on his first day of fly fishing ever! Great job Patrick!!!

Patrick with the fattest 18.5″ Smallmouth ever!
If you find yourself on the river in the coming days, please be careful! The water is extremely high and wading can be dangerous. If you’re itching to get out, give us a call and let us take you on a float!
Keep it Tight!
Schultz Outfitters

Posted in Aaron Wiley, Early Season Smallmouth, Eirik Vitso, Flint River, Huron River, Schultz Outfitters, Shiawassee River, Southeast Michigan Fly Fishing, Trophy Smallmouth | Leave a comment

BIG Water: Mixed Bag!

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Schultzy16

Saturday April 30th was the official opener for “Catch and Release” Smallmouth as well as the re-opening of the Pike & Walleye season. As you can see from the pictures below we’ve put some time in with good results.

The Huron, Flint & Shiawassee rivers are running at record highs forcing us to concentrate our efforts on the slower sections as well as impoundments. With water temps in the 50′s the next month is trophy time! If your looking for a 20″ Smallie or monster Pike the time is now.

Solid Huron River Pike that fell victum to Mr. Jiggly!
Another solid 30″ Huron Pike

9 & 10wt rods rigged up with Rio’s Outbound Short F/I with a short leader and jig headed flies have been getting the job done. Black/ Copper as well as Clown have been the colors of choice.

Jay Daly getting it done with our biggest Gator of the year! 24″

Gotta respect a smallie that eats a 8″ Pike Fly
Paul getting it done with a 35″ Water Wolf
Pike fishing should remain good for the next 3-4 weeks. These fish get really stupid and feed heavily in the high flows. We know where to find them… Come get some!

Rock solid 17″ Smallie
If your looking to hit the river this May give us a shout! The guys are itching to get you bent this season.
Save GAS fish for Bass!
Remaining May 2011 Dates for Mike Schultz…
Monday May 9th BOOKED
Tuesday May 24th BOOKED
Wednesday May 25th
Thursday May 26th BOOKED
Posted in Jay Daly, Mike Schultz, Pike, Smallmouth | Leave a comment

1 week only!!! She blew again

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Schultzy16

After 6 days of cancelled trips I was headed back down to the Alley for week on the water. Sunday was a scouting mission that started on the Vermilion and ended with the Elk Creek. I put a ton of miles on truck as well as my boots but it was worth the effort!

Paine Falls on a Grand River Tributary
Monday was the first day of our annual spring trip. Eirik Vitso and I hosted the group made up of four regulars and two newbies to the steelhead game. Despite the tough conditions the guys made it work. Monday found us on one of the smaller unstocked tribs with 18-24″ of viz. Large clown eggs as well as giant crystal meth eggs in size 6 made the bobber go down.
The proof…
Tommy with his first fish of the day… A 31″ drop back hen that put on a show!
George with the first steelhead of his career
Tuesday morning I was back on the same river with Gene and Tony. The viz decrease to 6-8″ Not what I expected!!! After 30 mins I made the call to move. We headed over to the Conneaut and found much better conditions. Tony took full advantage popping 2 fish right off the bat. One found the net while the other did what steelhead do.
Tony, a well traveled angler scoring a pretty hen
The rest of the day we managed to land a skipper and shake hands with a few others.

Tony with his second fish of the day

Wednesday it was back on the water with a couple regulars Tommy and Mac. Tommy owns the Firing Line in Westland, Michigan. If your in need of a gun, ammo or accessories the Firing Line has you covered. Tommy and his team are TOP NOTCH!!!
It’s like a Fly Shop for the guns!
Tommy getting the day started with a little BOB DOWN!
Tommy with a nice colored up buck Gene lost due to a Pere Marquette Clay Banks Salmon Hook set in the same run on Tuesday. How could you forget the double striped buck!!! Plus he had my fly in his mouth from the previous day.
Mac with a drop back hen out of the Snake Pit!
Thursday it was back to the smaller tributary due to massive rains in PA the night before. The headwaters of the Connie were pounded with over an inch of rain. The morning was slow but Peter and Bill put in their time and were rewarded with fish to the net.
Bill with his first steelhead on fly
Lake Erie Love
Peter with a drop back buck from the dark water
Friday I had the pleasure of guiding Belinda and Rick. Rick lives in Alaska so the pressure was on to find some real fish to play with. The water was low and clear. Soon after walking in to a choice run we were rewarded with 3 hook ups that managed to come unbuttoned. While working our way down we slipped into a nice hole that usually holds a good number of fresh and drop backs this time of year. The fish below found the net.
Belinda’s first Steelhead
Later in the day we slipped into some dark water below a redd and found another player
Rick and Belinda with another solid buck
Lower River Buck
Sorry to all the clients we were forced to cancel this spring. It was a bummer losing 10 plus days on the alley due to massive amounts of rain. We would rather take the loss than fish you in unfavorable conditions. Thank you for understanding.
Despite the shortened season and CrAzY conditions we managed to keep the skunk off everyday this spring. I look forward to fishing with everyone on our home waters this summer as well as the Alley this fall.
Fall steelhead dates will start mid October 2011 and run through the first week in December. If your interested in a date or one of our hosted trips feel free to give us a shout at 734-546-7723 or email me at mike@schultzoutfitters.com
For more up to date Steelhead Alley info visit Steelhead Alley Outfitters
BoB DoWn,
Schultzy
Posted in Eirik Vitso, Firing Line, Schultz Outfitters, Steelhead Alley Outfitters | Leave a comment

Steelhead Alley: It’s ON!!!

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Schultzy16
After a week of high water the Alley dialed in very nice for us last week (March 27- April 1st). Everyone that made the trek down found plenty of players willing to go! Some days were better than other but that’s early spring steelheading.

If your planning on heading down soon you better bring your hiking boots… These fish did not come easily!

During 6 days of fishing we found a number of fresh fish as well as drop back hens on a couple of the eastern Ohio tribs. Looks like all of the usual suspects fished well including the Grand during the past week.

Monday had me on the water with Lisa and TJ. It was the couple’s first time down to the Alley and won’t be their last…

Lisa with a pretty chrome hen that took a clown egg

TJ & Lisa with TJ’s first of the day

Tuesday had me chasing steel with Andrew and Matt from the Detroit Athletic Club. Both guys have plenty of experience with a fly rod and it showed. Plenty of BOB DOWNS during the day!

Andrew with one of several steelhead that found my net

Matt with his biggest steelhead to date!

Steve from Ann Arbor filled a late hole in my schedule on Wednesday. He was rewarded with a couple hook ups at first light that kicked our butt! Once we dialed in our game several nice steelhead found there way to hand. Including this dropback pictured below.

SO regulars Bill & Greg hooked up with me for two days of fishing Thursday and Friday. Greg’s friend John from North Carolina was a late welcome addition to our party. The guys put some miles on the boots both days and were rewarded with a good number of hook up’s despite the snow and low temps.

Greg with a tight hen we found poking around below a key gravel

Bill with a solid buck! Matt hooked this same fish on Tuesday but lost the battle.

I got my fly back Matt!

North Carolina John with a 10lb plus chrome hen! His first steelhead ever!!!

Friday was the first day with water temps above 40 degrees in over a week. The game is about to change again! If you heading down this week pay attention to the weather and river flows. Think spring versus winter holding water.

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