Shop Hours 8am – 6pm Daily
This report is going to be short and sweet! There are fish throughout the system and the water levels are great! We had a roller-coaster week of weather, water temps and water levels, but things have leveled out. Nothing like March steelhead fishing in Northern Michigan…three seasons in a day is not uncommon, but it was pretty extreme over the last week.
To say we had a tough week (last week) would be an understatement; it was brutal!!! Very harsh wind, precipitation and harsh temperatures hit us in the face last week. However, that is in the rearview mirror and we are looking good going forward! The water temps bottomed out at 32-33 degrees for a couple days and have bounced back up to the upper 30’s to low 40’s throughout the system. Water levels still remain an issue; as the frozen rain water melts out of the roads, woods and ponds. The water is starting to drop and level off.
The river is running at a nice tea color in the upper sections, coffee color in the middle river and “Swiss Miss” in the lower river. It will clear up sooner then we would like and might be back to normal levels sooner then we would prefer….stay tuned! It is a much different spring than the last three; when we had mild winters and heavy early spawning. The run should remain strong until late April at this rate (if not later?).
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.
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).
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 & “Let’s Go!!!”
John
