Shop Hours 8am – 6pm Daily
Happy St. Patrick’s day!!! As “March Madness” continues the plot thickens…Wild Weather would be an understatement! Since my last report we were experiencing “perfect” conditions, but then Mother Nature ripped the rug out from underneath us. I truly believe this is a great thing for our run. “Short term pain for long term gain”…that is not just an investment term.
Saturday evening through today; we saw every type of precipitation a meteorologist could describe! Incredible system that caused chaotic weather throughout the region. We received a huge amount of rain Sunday afternoon/evening, which then turned to snow. As the temps dropped, the wind picked up and the snow started to accumulate. Needless to say the river is very “swollen” right now. But, most on the water is currently frozen on the banks and in the woods. This will cause a slow release of all that water as the weather warms up. It should be perfect to keep the river level up for an extended period. The bad news is the water temps went from the mid-40’s to the mid-30’s (and even colder) in a few days. This was a shock to the fish, but will keep them in the system longer and extend our run well into mid-April and maybe even early May?
There are plenty of fish throughout the system. But, we are working a little harder and more methodical while the water temps are low. Before the weather turn, the fishing was on fire! We had a couple epic days with very little fishing pressure. However, as the season continues expect the fishing pressure to increase (especially in the upper sections while to middle and lower river are high).
Expect the water level to be higher than normal for a little bit. Be careful wading and floating the river if you are not experienced. Plus, the boat ramps might be a mess for a few days….be prepared and be safe launching and retrieving your boats.
It has been a mixed bag of flies getting bit. PM Blondes, fry patterns, ESL’s, hexes and stones have all had their moments this month. Pale oranges, bright oranges, chartreuse, clowns and larger rag eggs in brighter colors have caught fish for me recently. Once again, adjust your tippett, fly sizes and color spectrums to match the water level/color. Same theory with beads…any where from 8mm to 14mm have been working. Don’t be afraid to drift larger offerings in cold water too! (Please remember that beads are illegal in the “flies only” section of the Pere Marquette River).
We still have some availability for guide trips and lodging…give us a call to make a reservation 231-745-3529. It’s a great time to hop in a guide boat with the higher and darker water conditions. Personally, my openings are April 5, 12, 13, 15 & 17 and more openings the following week. We really should see an extended season while this cold water stalls out some winter fish and slows down the new ones from even thinking about spawning.
Please exercise caution while on the river and don’t push your luck. Be safe and prepared; it’s always better to live to fish another day! Please respect your fellow anglers and their space and a little communication goes a long way. “Ask before you cast” and that should resolve any potential issues. Good luck and here we go!!!!
BBT Fly & Tackle Shop is seeking full and/or Part Time Retail Sales Associates
Description:
We are seeking a passionate, knowledgeable individual to provide top-tier customer service, assist with rod, reel, fly, tackle and accessories selections, manage point-of-sale operations in an often fast-paced environment and take reservations for Guide Trips & Motel Rooms.
Requirements:
A solid foundation of knowledge in fly, spin and bait fishing as well as the equipment needed, experience with POS systems, and strong interpersonal skills. (Interpersonal skills is the only actual unconditional requirement as the right person could be trained on the rest.)
Responsibilities Include:
Assisting customers with gear, taking reservations, managing inventory, and maintaining a clean and inviting shop/work environment.
Experience Needed:
This varies a lot depending upon your work ethic, personality and ability to learn, but being “experienced in fly and/or spin fishing” is most certainly a major bonus as is some history in retail sales…
Benefits:
Employee discounts are nearly universal, alongside product discounts direct from many of our manufacturers and a very laid-back work environment despite the fact that it can and does get hectic at times. Pay raises will be quickly granted based on good performance as we are looking for long term employee(s).
“It’s the shop environment, spending time with quality like-minded individuals, talking hunting and fishing all day…, quality of life, low pressure work environment… the list is long!!!”
So, please call the shop and talk with either Jake or Jimmy if you have any questions about the position. Applications can be picked up at the shop and résumés can be dropped off there or emailed to [email protected]
(231) 745-3529
Good luck out there!
John
