Michigan Fly Fishing | Fly Fishing Guides for Michigan Steelhead | Fly Fish Michigan

Michigan's Premier Muskegon River Guide Service for Steelhead, Salmon, & Trout. Michigan Fly Fishing & Salmon Fishing Adventures on the Muskegon River, Manistee, & Pere Marquette. (231) 519-7348

Guided Fishing Trips on Michigan's Muskegon River. Spring half-day specials - $250 for two anglers.

Muskegon River Trout Fishing - We offer Fly Fishing and light tackle.
Warmer Temperatures have greatly improved the dry fly fishing over the past few days. We are beginning to see decent numbers of second year trout taking stone flies and caddis off the water. Red Horse sucker spawn is also now beginning to be key. Great Lakes suckers have just begun to spawn over the last few days, making for some excellent steelhead and trout fishing. Trout key very heavily on eggs and nymphs behind spawning suckers. Best flies are tiny yellow egg flies, and sparkle pheasant tail nymphs.

Muskegon River Steelhead Report:
Providing first class guided fly-fishing trips for Salmon, Trout, and Steelhead since 1996. With a long, cold winter, we are now finally headed into the prime spawning season. About two weeks behind schedule, steelhead are now beginning to work gravel and begin to spawn. Water temperatures have reached the magical 42 degrees. This is when steelhead begin to aggressively spawn. Fly fishing is spectacular at this time. Black stone flies and peach egg patterns fish well when steelhead are on the redds. This time of year is prime time for sight fishing steelhead of the fly!

We are consistently landing at least one steelhead per hour. It's a great time to be on the water with little angling pressure and lots of fish. Fishing has been excellent with last week's high water which shuffled the deck and brought in lots of new steelhead from the lower river. Spring Chromers coming in from the lake with more to come!

Hope for Fly Fisherman: Starting to see the first signs of life with late winter stone flies starting to emerge. Stone flies have been a staple fly pattern over the last few days. Fry patterns also working. Citrus clown is always my first choice for dingy water but big nymphs also work great! Things are starting to wake up!

A Winter Staple - Muskegon River late winter Stone Flies- During February we begin to see Stone fly movement throughout the river.

Muskegon River Winter Stone Flies: During late February we begin to see Stone fly movement throughout the river. The Dark Knight Stone is a great stone fly imitation that also does very well in normal water levels. I tie this pattern primarily for Steelhead and Trout. It's a great looking bug with movement and a true nymph profile. This fly fishes best drifted as chuck & duck or floating line with an indy rig.

Why Hire a Steelhead Guide for the Muskegon River?

Jet boats give easy access to all parts of the river!
The Muskegon River is primarily a boat fishery and a jet boat allows you to follow fish. You can go out with a steelhead guide by yourself or with two or three anglers, so you can split the cost. All gear, tackle, bait, and flies are includes at no extra charge. We supply everything you need!

Catch More & Bigger Fish! - If you hire a fishing guide you are likely to catch more fish than if you go on your own. Our fishing guides are on the water almost every day and keep up with what the fish are doing. We can put you in the right place at the right time with the proper technique or fly patterns.

Learn The River & Locations - Since your steelhead fishing guide knows the Muskegon and Pere Marquette rivers so well, you can learn a lot from a trip. We can show you how to run the river, where to find access to the stream and where you can wade safely. Learn walk-in locations to fly fish and steelhead locations.

Woman Steelhead Fishing | Woman Steelhead Fly Fishing photo
Try New Equipment - Our fly fishing guides keep our equipment in top shape and always have top-of-the-line gear and tackle ready for your use. All gear, tackle, and flies are provided at no charge. You will have the chance to try a variety of rods, reels and line and find out what you like before buying your own.

Learn How To Catch Fish - We can show you new and innovative ways that we have learned to catch Steelhead and Trout. Like Bass fishing, Steelhead fishing styles and techniques are always evolving and conditions change. New and improved bait cures and fly patterns, and lures that may work on your local river.

Woman fishing steelhead on the fly. (231) 519-7348
Hiring a Fishing Guide Is Relatively Cheap - You may pay a steelhead guide $400 for a day of fishing, but consider what you get. The boat you fish from probably cost more than $30,000. Some of the rods and reels you use cost more than the trip. Gas for the boat is an expense. There are many others. By going with a guide, you avoid all those expenses and you have a great day of fishing!

It's Fun - A fishing guide not only helps you catch fish, most are good entertainers and will keep you laughing all day. They know lots of good jokes and have many tales to tell you. You will not get bored! Our guides keep you on your toes!

It Is Easy - Your Spring Steelhead guide will do all the work and you can relax and fish. You can have the guide do everything from tying your knots and taking your fish off the hook to running the boat. They will take photos of you and your catch as well as cleaning your fish if you keep some.

Book your Spring Steelhead fishing adventure today!
(231) 519-7348

Winter tailwater for Steelhead in Michigan.
Unlike the Grand River, White River, and Pere Marquette Rivers, the Muskegon is a tailwater fishery, this means the Muskegon River never freezes! This allows us to guide anglers throughout the winter months for Steelhead and Trout. Fly fishing during the Winter is a beautiful time to be on the water with good numbers of Steelhead and lots of wildlife along the rivers banks. We are also now offering Centerpin instructionals to learn Centerpin float fishing for Steelhead!

Michigan Winter Steelhead - Steelhead fishing has been outstanding over the past few days with recent rain and mild temperatures. If this is any indication of the how this years winter is going to be, I'm all in. Both fly fishing and floats / spawn has been working well with good numbers of steelhead throughout the Muskegon River system. Fishing should continue to be very good.

Muskegon River Streamflow Data

Reelin' the Steelin' - Fall steelhead fishing has been exceptional over the past few days. Both techniques, fly fishing and floats / spawn have been fishing great. Over the past week, we have received significant rainfall and higher water levels.

Fly fishing has been our most productive method by far at this point. Long casts, lighter leaders, and smaller flies have been the key. Egg patterns and clown eggs have been fishing well. Some of my other best patterns have been Otter's eggs, micro halo eggs, flash back pheasant tails, and steelhead buggers.

Steelhead migration has been far above normal this year with the higher water levels. Huge numbers of salmon in the upper Muskegon near Thornapple and Pine St. have chromers feasting on salmon roe. Trout have been gorging on a salmon spawn as well, growing over an inch per month!

Techniques: Floats & Spawn -(Baitcaster or spinning) Our second favorite technique that produces numbers of steelhead is floats and spawn. Float fishing provides a long, perfect drift that presents your offering well away from the boat. Float fishing is the ultimate "stealth" technique for steelhead in clear water. Float fishing is a faster paces technique that allows anglers to fish miles of river per day and cover lots of water searching for active steelhead.

As the days become longer and the snow begins to fade, our thoughts drift towards spring steelhead on the Muskegon, Pere Marquette and Manistee River. Big numbers of steelhead make their annual spawning migration during the months of March, April, and May. Float fishing and fly fishing for steelhead and trout is excellent at this time with new fish entering the river daily. Step on board for the best in steelhead fishing that Michigan has to offer!

Salmon & Steelhead Charters Muskegon River - Steelhead Fly Fishing! $250 - $350
ChadBetts@hotmail.com

Stream Brown caught while nymphing.
Muskegon River Trout Thunderstick Chinook Salmon
Fall Salmon Dates Available!
Chrome November Fall Steelhead
Muskegon River Steelhead
Muskegon River Brown Trout
Spring Lake Run Browns!
Muskegon River Rainbow Trout.
Muskegon River Trout

Muskegon River Steelhead
11 lb Lake Run Brown Trout.
October Lake Run Brown Trout
Pere Marquette early season King Salmon

35" Lake Run Brown Trout on the Muskegon River

Muskegon River Fall Steelhead

Muskegon River Spring Steelhead

Chrome Spring Steelhead on the Fly!

Chrome Spring Steelhead on White River.

Spawning Hen Steelhead taken with Stone Fly.

Tony with a giant Stream Brown Trout!

Muskegon River Spring Steelhead.

White River Steelhead in the Spring.

Chrome on the Spey.

Kids love Spring Steelhead on the Muskegon River.
Muskegon River Salmon & Steelhead
charters available throughout the year.

Maps and Directions

Michigan Current River Flow Rates

The Pere Marquette River "Flies Only" section has been fishing well for both resident Brown Trout, Rainbow, Steelhead, and Coho or Chinook Salmon. During the Winter months, look for the slow, deeper pools in the PM River to be holding the most active fish.

•Fly Tying and Insect Videos
•Personal Fly Boxes •Fly Tying Articles
•Fly Presentation & Strategy
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Michigan River Fishing Calendar:

Spring Steelhead – March, April, May
Trout – May, June, July, August
Smallmouth Bass - June, July, Aug.
Salmon – Late Aug, Sept, Oct.
Fall Steelhead – November, December
Winter Steelhead - Dec, Jan, Feb, March

New Video Clip: Float Fishing Muskegon River Steelhead
One of the best float fishing videos we have filmed for Fall Steelhead on the Muskegon River and Great Lakes region. Lots of float fishing with a ton of hook ups and fish landed on video! Now is the time to float fish Steelhead!

Our Michigan Steelhead Guides excel in Float Fishing for Winter & Spring Steelhead on the Muskegon River. We provided all gear, tackle, flies, beads, whatever you may need. Steelhead guides are available for both Winter & Spring Steelhead!

Betts Guide Service
(231) 519-7348

Guide Chad Betts
PO Box 608
Newaygo, MI 49337
ChadBetts@hotmail.com

Jet Boats play an important role of covering water for Winter and Spring Steelhead. This gives the guide and client an important edge- Being able to cover water! In Michigan, inovative techniques basically "change it up" for Steelhead that have seen it all. Our guides strive in inovative techniques!

Muskegon River Outfitters are located 3.5 hours from Chicago, IL 60610. Only a short drive North from Chicago on US-31. Chicago anglers can be fishing for Steelhead, Trout , and Steelhead in Western Michigan. We guide year around on the Muskegon River and St. Joseph Rivers.

Summer-run Steelhead (Skamania) are available on the St. Joe during July and August. The Mansitee River also offers tremendous Skamania and Chinook Salmon near Tippy Dam area in the Manistee National Forest.
Michigan's Hottest Tailwater Fishery - Muskegon River Trout!
The Muskegon River offers anglers the finest fly fishing anywhere for Steelhead and Trout. This tailwater is loaded with prolific hatches of Stone flies and Caddis. The nutrient rich waters of the Muskegon River provide cover and food for thousands of Michigan Trout during June amd July!

Michigan Fly Fishing charters on the Muskegon River, Pere Marquette River, White River, and Manistee Rivers for Steelhead, Salmon, Trout and Smallmouth Bass. Michigan Fly Fishing guides on the Muskegon River for Fall & Winter Steelhead!

West Michigan's best kept secret fishing destination... Muskegon River Steelhead guides!! Pere Marquette Fly Fishing for Trout with the Hopper & Dropper fly patterns. Hot, windy days have been the best fly fishing for Trout Salmon charters & guided trips available.
There have also been some Chinook Salmon in the upper "Flies Only" Section of the PM River. Michigan Fly Fishing in Southwest Michigan for Skamania Steelhead ( Summer Run Steelhead) on the St. Joseph River and Dowagiac River. Casting Thundersticks and small spinners fishing well.

Daily Muskegon River Fishing Report
Welcome to Spring Steelhead Season 2010! Steelhead fishing over the past two seeks has been exceptional with slightly higher water levels and above average temperatures. Good numbers of Spring Steelhead throughout the Muskegon River system.
February and March offer pre-spawn Steelhead just entering the river. These fish are chrome and ready to bite. Newaygo, Bridgton, and Maple Island are consistently producing.
Stone fly activity also plays a key role in the Steelhead migration. Steelhead gorge on emerging Stone fly nymphs during February, March and early April. Prolific hatches make Stone flies a good choice for Great Lakes Steelhead.
Floats and Spawn has also been producing good numbers of Spring Steelhead. Watch for rising water levels over the next few weeks to bring in chrome fish from the lower river. Warmer water temperatures and the longer length of day light bring Steelhead closer to spawn. 42 degrees is the magic number for sight fishing Steelhead on gravel.

~ Chicago Fly Fishing Guides ~
We are located only 3.5 hours from great Chicago Fly Fishing. With just a short drive North, Chicago anglers can be into some of the best fly fishing Michigan has to offer! Chicago Fly Fishing anglers will enjoy Steelhead fishing on the Muskegon River. We are located 3.5 hours from Bass Pro Fly Shops Chicago, IL 60610. Only a short drive North from Chicago on US-31. Chicago Fly Fishing for Steelhead, Salmon and Trout is available year around on the Muskegon River and St. Joseph Rivers.

~ Grand Rapids Fly Fishing ~
We are located 45 minutes North of Grand Rapids, Mi 49505. Grand Rapids Fly Fishing on the Grand River can be fantastic during March for Spring Steelhead. The Rogue River also receives a good push of Salmon and Steelhead near Rockford in October and November.

Welcome to Western Michigan's premiere guide service for Spring Steelhead, Trout and Smallmouth Bass on the Muskegon River, Manistee River, and Pere Marquette rivers. We pride ourselves in offering anglers the unique opportunities and knowledge to fish.