FLY FISHING PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS | UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN: HIKING ALONG BIG & LITTLE CARP CREEK

Hiking, Camping, and Fishing through the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was truly a once in a lifetime experience. The landscape was something unique to this part of the country and I am so happy I was able to put my boots down on it for three days. Our trail led us down the Little Carp River, across the Lake Superior Coastline, and then up the Big Carp River to the highest spot on the Mountains. We roughly did 20-25 pack miles and another 5-10 camp/fish miles. We absolutely pushed our bodies to the next level with packs that weighed well over 60lbs. Miles were slow and miles were long! At the end of most days it seemed like we hardly had any time to do any good fishing. With the little time we had each day to actually do some fishing we were only able to find a select few. We both managed to get into the native brook trout that lurk in this coffee tinted water! The bonus catches were a steelhead smolt as well as the rare double chub. This sort of experience is not for the faint of heart. By no imagination are we experts in this department, but please do as much preparation as you can and really research your trip. I hope you enjoy the information in this video.

[@blauer2551]

I remember catching mini brookies on the Union River up there and I was thrilled

[@FLYALLSZN]

Sounds like a great time!

[@kennethbiebighauser7984]

Superb! You two gents complemented each other perfectly! Enjoy all videos ! Thank you

[@robperry9065]

Really thoughtful and reflective video. Sometimes a great companion and camping, and not so great fishing. Sometimes just the opposite or somewhere in between. Whichever time it is, it’s always more good than bad, and each time is always memorable. Keep up the great work and tight lines!

[@FLYALLSZN]

That is the most important thing to me, is being able to capture the memory! Telling the story is pretty important too i suppose.. but the fish will always come eventually haha Thank you so much!!

[@alanbrown7976]

Very nice video and great advice. Reminds me of a fishing trip many years ago in the Western UP in which the water looked fishy, but only got one rainbow after fishing various sites along the river. Can't beat the scenery !

[@johnwilkes4090]

Fantastic video. Good advice on the base camp. Fishing streams looked amazing.

[@FLYALLSZN]

If you need a good Sherpa I know a guy haha

[@tightliningmd]

You haven't been living until you got a double chub. Congrats on getting that on film :) Nice video, cool change of pace to see more of a like trip/hike and chronicling the journey. Good stuff man!

[@FLYALLSZN]

Double chub is living brother!! Thank you so much! It was such a cool change of pace! I think my shoulders are still sore though.. haha

[@gbcoutdoors7316]

Great vid Mike! I never knew how beautiful that area up there was, and that double chub was pretty awesome! Take care

[@FLYALLSZN]

Thank you so much! We were both rolling when we saw that double chub hahaha

[@chucklutter2509]

Love the Porkies, spent a lot of time there in my late teens, twenties and early thirties. Like Glacier, and Inuvik I am glad I did it while I was able bodied. GREAT video, thank you.

[@FLYALLSZN]

It was such a fun trip!

[@sirwinston2368]

I spent some time in da U.P. when I was in Houghton back in the late 80's. I have never fished the Carps but I have fished similar streams, some good, some mediocre. Some on flies, some on... ahem... crawlers. If I had a dollar for every sub-legal brook trout.... Really nice video guys and those fish were great. The brook trout is my favorite (probably because it needs the cleanest, coldest water so a lot of backcountry solitude and immense enjoyment). Thank you for sharing.

[@FLYALLSZN]

Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoyed this oldie!

[@gavin_mueller]

This is super cool, im heading up to do pretty much the same thing this week.

[@shawnbergman6558]

Very cool. I just subscribed from northwest Montana.

[@FLYALLSZN]

Phenomenal! Thank you Shawn!

[@josephmarietta4135]

Love the video man. Grew up in Da UP myself. That bow and brookie were absolutely gorgeous! The hard fishing can be typical in a lot of those types of streams up there. Have fished plenty that look like they should be great only to get skunked, but there are plenty of streams that are absolute gems.

[@FLYALLSZN]

That is good to know! We did a lot of hiking for a few fish! It was so beautiful which definitely made it worth it!

[@CGBaker]

Really cool video. Glad that you were able to experience a taste test of the Youpee. I'm a native of the Driftless area, but lived in the U.P. for many years. Many of these streams are full of native Brookies, but the fishing can be very challenging just as you and your dad experienced. That wasn't by any means unusual for up there. Just coping with the brush overgrowth on stream banks will test your meddle. The Yellow Dog River which flows out of the Huron Mountains over near Big Bay was a favorite of mine, and during my decade of living up there, slowly managed to figure out how to fish for native Brook Trout. Really great little documentary you put together of this trip though. There's always next time...

[@FLYALLSZN]

You are exactly right!! I had such an amazing time just being out there with my old man! The UP doesnt give her gems away easily haha and I am more than okay with that!

[@Osnyfishingadventures]

Wow amazing video buddy!!! Some amazing scenery over there, so cool to see them steelhead smolt, caught wild bows before but those little bows look super unique. Compared to the wild bows in my area very pale color, still super pretty just look significantly different. Awesome brookie as well! Then brookies are so colorful, wish there were more brookies in my area, the browns have mostly taken over around here. Tight lines and look forward to the next one! 👊🎣💦

[@FLYALLSZN]

I know it was so amazing to get to hold both of those fish! We have mostly browns here in the Driftless as well! Those Native brookies have trouble trying to compete! Thank you so much!

[@EscapingTheCity]

Man, I really commend you for going out and trying that there. I usually bring my fly rod on backpacking trips but having hiked the porkies several times, there's no way I'd have the energy to go out and fish after putting in miles on those rugged hills. Nice video dude, keep it up! If you're ever in Chicago and wanna go fishing on some of the rivers around Northern Illinois just shoot me a message.

[@FLYALLSZN]

I would say it was the product of ignorance rather than being bold! We had no clue what we were getting ourselves into! Still an absolute blast!

[@FishfearmeStudios]

Nice to get far away and close to good fishing.

[@FLYALLSZN]

Yes indeed!

[@markbardusk9516]

Amazing video! If you don't mind me asking what month were you guys fishing?

[@americanvarietyoutdoors]

Your editing skills continue to improve. Nice job.

[@FLYALLSZN]

Kyle! That is seriously so good to hear! Thank you so much!

[@stevenrbennett]

I see you are wearing something under your shorts when in the water. Black with yellow on Dad. and gray on the young man. What are you two using for a base layer?

[@evans1982]

You were absolutely fishing the wrong sections, and that’s all I’ll say about that. I’ve backpacked in there numerous times and fished both rivers, and if you know where to go, you’ll catch so many big brookies, you’ll basically get bored of catching them..

[@kennethbiebighauser7984]

Oh tech question ....your thoughts on bamboo rods....for Driftless .....

[@FLYALLSZN]

I think if there is a good angler behind the rod, you can have yourself a very good time!!

[@MoveOverLady]

I’m going in 2 weeks! How many miles and days was your hike?

[@FLYALLSZN]

3 Days and 25-30 miles!

[@robertzingery8888]

What kind of reels are you using the look old?

[@FLYALLSZN]

One is an orvis reel and the other is a GLoomis!

[@ethankilmartin7000]

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