Muskegon River Fishing Report for Muskegon Fall Steelhead, Manistee River Salmon fishing, Fly Fishing on the Muskegon River, Pere Marquette River Report, Manistee River fishing report.

- Spring Steelhead Specials -
$250 for 4-5 hrs. (C) (231) 519-7348
We will be offering half-days once again starting on March 15th
Through May 15th. 3:30pm - dark. $250 (2ppl)
Spring Steelhead Dates & Availability:
March: 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21 April 3, 4, 6, 7, 15, 30. May 1, 2, 3...
Nathan, Jim, and Tim have many dates available during March and April.
Come join us for the search for "Chrome" on Michigan's Muskegon River!
Let us know what dates work best for you!

(3/10) Wow! Glorious cloudy skies! Finally a little rain this morning. This should significantly improve the bite and give us some much needed snow melt and a bit of run off. Steelhead fishing was greatly improved yesterday with Mark and Nick.
We landed 7 beautiful Steelhead in just a few hours of fishing!

(3/9) There seems to be good numbers of Steelhead throughout the system although the low - clear water has made things challenging at times. 3x tippet and smaller flies have been the best bet. Fishing has been up and down based on boat traffic. Boats have pushed the steelhead into the wood or off to the fringes of the main runs and holding lies. Warmer weather has brought out boat anglers in big numbers, a sure sign that spring is here. Overcast skies would certainly help the bite and rain may improve the migrations. I've been amazed over the past few days as to the large number of giant female walleye. I've seen several between 12-14lbs!

Best fly patterns have been small sparkle nuke eggs with a bit of flash. Golden with an egg halo has been my best fly in the gin clear water. Hex nymphs and fry patterns have also taken some hard hits and fish during the past three days. Sometimes during the afternoon, Stone flies have worked well but have been hit or miss taking mostly smaller Trout and Steelhead smolt. Light tippets and long drifts have produced the most Steelhead especially later in the day or bright sunshine.

Stages of Great Lakes Steelhead Life cycle.
Stages of Steelhead life cycle. Egg to Smolt.
During March and April all stages of a Steelhead's life cycle are very important to the fly fisherman. Eggs and eyed eggs are a major food source for both resident Trout and Steelhead. Egg patterns in apricot, steelhead orange, and oregon cheese represent represent fertilized or freshly spawned eggs. Nuke eggs represent "dead" or unfertilized eggs with the white halo around the egg pattern with a center nuke (nucleus) dot, usually bright orange or red (Blood dot) Egg Flies
Late March - April is the time of year that the Salmon fry start to hatch and show themselves in big numbers. Salmon / Steelhead fry and parr are another favored morsel as they are readily available this time of year. Salmon / Steelhead fry live in the gravel and are are high in protein, and don't swim very well. Small streamers or fry patterns drifted along the bottom also work great. Fry are always striped with a mottled tan or soft green, with parr marks.

Grand Rapids "Fly Fishing Film Tour"
A night of cinematic fly fishing magic is expected to draw a crowd of anglers of all ages to Wealthy Theatre on March 26 when the Fly Fishing Film Tour returns to Grand Rapids. "MetalHead" BC Steelhead
Check out Kevin Groothuis at the Hex Fly Shop. Tickets are here for $13.
(616) 977-3655

When/where: 7 p.m. March 26 at Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids
(Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

Chromantic (n.) - One who steadfastly continues to fish flies in the hope of hooking any of the various members of the geni "Onchorynchus" and/or "Salmo" in the early stages of their return to natal waters despite the nearly ludicrous odds of success. "He is a hopeless chromantic; he fishes twelve months a year, uses only flies, and has gone months on end without so much as a pull!" From the modern English "Chromer" (hot fish) and "Romantic" (delusional fanatic).

Why do Steelhead key in on Winter Stoneflies?
Great Lakes Steelhead are perhaps the most opportunistic member of the salmonid family. While Chinook and Coho salmon require large schools of baitfish like smelt and alewives to support their numbers, steelhead take a substantial amount of their forage from insect sources, supplementing with baitfish, crayfish, gobies, and whatever else strikes their fancy. This fact leads some experts to believe that steelhead "residentize" back to their stream-trout roots when they spend any length of time in a river environment. When February and March roll around, the winter stonefly hatches begin in the cold river environments in Michigan.
It has been my experience as a fly fishing guide that Stone flies begin to emerge and become active in late morning through the afternoon, usually when water temperatures are at the warmest. Steelhead also tend to key on them during the warmest part of day when they are the most abundant and moving.

The steelhead holding in river pools, waiting for spawning time to begin, may revert to feeding behavior that worked well during the early stages of life. When you're winter flyfishing and you notice tiny black specks (they look like carpenter ants with gray wings) on the snow around you, study them closely. You'll find that these are adult Stoneflies, possibly ringing the dinner bell for whatever lurks in the depths of that hole in front of you. Fish accordingly, as your luck may have just turned.

There are a variety of nymph flies that imitate the Winter Stonefly.
Most of these patterns are simple, from a hare's ear nymph or pheasant-tail nymph colored dark brown or black with marker, to more involved patterns such as the Egg Sucking Stone, black Viagra caddis, Mojo Dark Knight, Rubber Legged Stone, etc. Remember that these flies should be dead-drifted the same way you'd fish glo-bugs or egg flies, under an indicator or bottom-bounced through holes that look promising. No vigorous stripping is needed with these - keep in mind that while the weather is warmer than usual, the water is a few degrees above freezing. Deep and slow wins the race here - make sure that your flies drift along current breaks and bubble-lines, to ensure that any fish present has time to take a shot at them. Strike back when the strike comes, snub that fish before it can get loose, and then enjoy the music of your reel underscoring the winter sunlight dancing on rippled waters...

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 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. Fishes best drifted as chuck & duck or floating line/ indy.

Stone flies are now emerging along the frozen shoreline - This is great news for Steelhead and Trout fishing. Stone flies will be the primary food source for Trout and Steelhead for the next several months. Look for changes in fly patterns for Steelhead - going from egg patterns to Stone flies- Fish should begin to key in on small dark nymphs drifted along the bottom.

Current River Conditions: 34 degrees- Water levels are perfect with a slight stain- Upper Muskegon River is ice free. Visibility is: 6- 8ft.
Water temp: 34 degrees. Level: med - Clear with slight stain

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. Float 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.
Now is the time to float fish Steelhead!

Check this out! StopAsianCarp.com

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!

Pere Marquette River Report
(Accurate Steelhead Fishing information for the PereMarquette River)

Spring Steelhead fishing on the lower Pere Marquette River has been improving daily. The lower sections near Custer and Scottville have been producing fair numbers of Steelhead on Floats and Spawn. Back Bouncing with fresh Steelhead skein has also been very productive producing well over a fish per hour. Upper to Walhalla has also been fishing well. Centerpin float fishing with small spawn sacks has been producing a good number of Steelhead. Jigs and Waxworms have also been working well.

Although crowded, the "Flies Only" section is beginning to show signs of Steelhead on gravel. Floating lines with strike indicators have been working best. Egg imitations, Clown Eggs, and natural glo bugs are working well. Now is also the time for the late winter stone fly. Stone flies have begun to emerge along the shore lines. Steelhead have started to key on the little black stones. Pheasant tail nymphs in chocolate and black have been working well. Estaz Stones are also producing a fair amount of fish.

As water temperature begin to warm, Steelhead fishing should greatly improve of the the next few weeks. We look forward to fishing with you on the Pere Marquette River. Pere Marquette River fishing Report
Sea Lamphrey News about the Pere Marquette River

Attempting to stop sea lamprey with an electric barrier has become a thing of the past on the Pere Marquette River, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials. The federal agency recently announced it no longer will operate its electric weir and will resume treating the river only with chemical lampricides.
This should greatly increase natural reproduction of Chinook Salmon on the Pere Marquette River. It should also significantly improve Steelhead migrations!

Floats and Spawn for Spring Steelhead

A selection of floats and spawn.
Another preferred method for Winter Steelhead is fishing floats and spawn. Fishing floats and spawn is a fast-paced style of steelhead fishing. We fish quickly and cover miles of river in a day, usually producing lots of hook-ups and many steelhead landed.

We prefer to fish specialized G. Loomis 11' 3" float rods. Loomis rods are available for your use on guided trips. These longer rods allow the angler a longer drift and a stronger hook set. We also use Cabela Prodigy spinning reels or center-pins reels spooled with 10 lb hi-vis monofiliment line. These smooth reels allow for long casts and a smooth drag system to fight big fish.

Floats for steelhead vary greatly depending on water levels and conditions. We generally use the orange/black Thill steelhead floats. They seem to work best for the Muskegon and Big Manistee Rivers. Smaller floats styles are available for the White and Pere Marquette rivers. All gear is provided for you. We have the spawn tied, cured, and ready to fish!

Fly Fishing: Best patterns have been Rainbow Clown, Steelhead - Orange
Glo-Bugs, Nuke eggs in Chartreuse/flame, Chart/Golden, Egg/Golden.
Leaches such as Egg Sucking, Laser, & Steelhead buggers also producing Steelies.
Trout have been keying on micro eggs and nukes, and Rhyacophila (Green) Caddis. Water levels are up today! Muskegon River Streamflow Data

Brown Trout spawn during the winter months.

Muskegon Brown Trout
Brown Trout spawn during the late fall months. November and December offers anglers a shot at trophy Lake-Run Brown Trout. West Michigan's Spawning Browns on the Muskegon River.

Michigan's Winter Steelhead
December also offers the finest in Fall Steelhead fishing. Both Fly Fishing and Float Fishing is excellent at this time!
Come fish Michigan's uncrowded West Side! The Muskegon River's
"Home of the Chrome!"

Jeff with a Great Lakes Fall Steelhead on a clown egg.

A selection of Mojo Clown eggs for high water conditions.

A selection a of Mojo Clown eggs. With it's many color schemes, the Clown egg works in a variety of conditions for both resident Trout and Fall Steelhead.

Egg flies For Fall Steelhead
Clients often ask me...What are the best fly patterns for Fall Steelhead?
My answer: Eggs, Eggs, and eggs!
Steelhead crave Chinook Salmon roe (spawn) and it is without a doubt their food of choice during the fall months.

I have several favorites: (1) The Nuke egg . Fav. Color: Golden/ Egg halo
(2) Estaz Egg - Orange/ Peach halo
(3) Circus Clown egg.
Low water - Smaller- natural flies.
Higher water - Larger-brighter flies.

New World Record Brown Trout!! 41 Lb 7oz. Wow!!
Articles: Manistee River Record Brown also: World Record Brown Trout

Four Seasons of Michigan Steelhead

Muskegon River Fall Steelhead
(Late October- November)

Fall Steelhead:
The crown jewel of Great Lakes Steelhead- Fall Chrome is the most sought after and Jump like no other!

We will be offering floats and spawn, backbouncing, and fly fishing trips for Fall Steelhead on the lower Muskegon River. These fish are chrome and we average well over a fish per hour!

Winter Steelhead:
During the Winter Months,
the Muskegon River is loaded Winter Steelhead. Unlike the Grand, Manistee, and Pere Marquette Rivers, the Muskegon is a tailwater fishery, this means the Muskegon River never freeze allowing 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.

Muskegon Winter Steelhead
(December, January, February)

March offers the best in Spring Steelhead fishing.
Michigan Spring Steelhead
(March, April, May)
Fly Fishing with Stone flies during April produces lots of spring Steelhead on the fly!

Spring Steelhead:
In late February, Steelhead move up river and begin their migration to their spawning areas. Steelhead feed heavily on stone flies, caddis larvae, and Chinook fry. During March, April and May, Steelhead begin to polish gravel and begin to spawn.

During this time, Fly Fishing Steelhead is at it's absolute best!! Anglers can visually seek steelhead and make casts to the spawning Spring Steelhead. Sight fishing to Steelhead on gravel and watching them take the fly makes this an exhilarating experience!!

Skamania Steelhead:
We are offering Summer Run (Skamania) Steelhead on both the Big Manistee River and the St. Joseph River. If you've never tried Skamania Steelhead, these fish are amazing and jump like crazy!!
(July, August) Skamania Steelhead available on the Big Manistee & St. Joseph Rivers in July and August!

Skamania Steelhead landed below Tippy Dam on the Big Manistee River.

Michigan's Big Manistee & St. Joseph
Summer-Run Skamania Steelhead

Jet Boats for the Muskegon River!
Jet Boats for the Muskegon River.

Our Jet Boats are top notch! HeadWater boats get you where the Steelhead are! Quality Custom Jet Boats for the Muskegon River!!

Our boats are top -notch! Fish in comfort 18' jetboat - 140 Suzuki
Custom Jet boats get you on Steelhead - and keep you on fish!
Click here to contact us

LSSU Fish Cam - St. Mary's River
Atlantic Salmon on the St. Mary's River.

Michigan Current River Flow Rates

Recommended Fly Tackle for Muskegon River Fall & Spring Steelhead.
Chicago Anglers love Falll Steelhead on the Muskegon River.

Comments: Due to huge client request I am posting a list of Spring Steelhead Fishing equipment.

Rods: As per Steelhead fishing in November and December , I recommend a 9'6" 8wt fly rod or a 10' 8wt fly rod, as for reels, I recommend Orvis Barstock IV or a Ross big game #4. These reels have an excellent drag and very fast line pick up. Spool them with a running line, ex, Poly Fuse, 25lb Amnesia or Neon Tangerine Suffix.
As for flies, I recommend a large selection of small egg flies in natural colors such as golden, steelhead orange, oregon cheese, peach, and cream. Tie them in size #8, and 10's tied on a Tiemco 105, Black stoneflies in 8's and 10's, small hex nymphs, and green caddis.

For weight on chuck-n-duck I use a free sliding snap swivel clipped to pencil lead, a clear bead, and a barrel (crane) swivel with one end to butt (12lb) and one end to tippet. For optimal drift, I recommend a 5 foot leader (8 or 10lb) from lead to end fly, with and egg fly in the middle and a dark nymph on the end. Also note: For guide trips, you will need waders and polarized sunglasses. All gear, tackle, flies (nominal cost) and a grilled, shore lunch will be provided with all guided trips!
Fly Fishing Knots- Steelhead

Steehead:Glo-bug egg flies in sizes #8 and #10's, natural colors such as Golden, steelhead orange, peach, Oregon cheese, baby blue, soft yellow. Hex Nymphs, nuke eggs, dark center, light halo Nymphs: Stone flies, hex nymphs, soft hackles, green caddis rock worm. I always carry a large selection of egg flies at any given time for Steelhead and resident trout.

We now also offer guided floats & spawn fishing trips with either center-pin or spinning gear for Winter Steelhead on the Muskegon River. Come join us.. These trips are available during December and are a fun and exciting way to catch numbers of Muskegon River Steelhead!

Purchase Mojo Fly Steelhead Assortments for Great Lakes Steelhead.
Steelhead Fly assortments make excellent gifts and are available in many assortments for steelhead and/or Trout...

Muskegon River - The Muskegon River, as always, is far behind, because of the warm water reservoirs. The Muskegon should peak for Steelhead during later November. Over the past few days, rain and cooler weather has dramatically improved the Steelhead fishing on the Muskegon River. There seems to be good numbers of steelhead starting to show near the Thornapple launch and high rollaways. Deeper holes and runs have been producing the best fishing action. With forecasted rain, fishing should continue to improve. The middle to last week of November and December should offer some great Fall Steelhead fishing, I would also expect to see a handful of large, Lake-Run Brown Trout.

Book a Winter Steelhead trip on the lower Muskegon River or Big Manistee River!!
We have multiple jet boats & other fishing guides with dates available for early season Spring Steelhead !! Let us plan a Spring fly fishing adventure for you!

Fly Fish Steelhead on the Muskegon River.
West Michigan offers trophy wild Fall Steelhead!

Great Lakes Fall Steelhead are some of the most sought after fish of the year! The bone jarring hits and incredible power... these chrome fish are amazing!

We have guided trips available for fly fishing for Steelhead. Guide trips with sink-tips or chuck & duck are available. We also specialize in fishing with floats and spawn during the winter months. Not only do these fish bite.. They about rip the rod out of your hand!

Muskegon River Steelhead

Click here to contact us for more information about guided fishing.

Michigan Current River Flow Rates

Local Maps and Directions to places we fish:

Lake Run Brown Trout.
Lake Run Brown Trout taken on the Muskegon River.

Michigan's Muskegon River - Winter Steelhead Fly Fishing
Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters - Chicago, Ill 1279 N. Clybourn, Chicago, IL. 60610
Grand Rapids Fly Fishing Company - 49505 - Grand Rapids, MI
Chicago Fly Fishing Steelhead Muskegon River- Chicago, Ill.
West Michigan's Spring Steelhead ~ Muskegon River Fishing~

Michigan Current River Flow Rates

Fly Patterns for Fall & Winter Steelhead.
Purchase Steelhead Patterns here: MoJo Flies.com

Steelhead: Natural tones of egg flies, Oregon cheese, peach, cream, Hex nymphs, green caddis, sparkle stone flies.

Salmon: Any two fly rig, such as an egg (middle fly) and a nymph dropper fly seems to be working well. Dark nymphs such stone flies, green butt skunk, large pheasant tails, or hares ear nymphs. Tan or olive colored PM wigglers also work.

Trout: Small egg flies, little green caddis rock worms, midge larvae, pheasant tail nymphs, Beatis nymphs, Clown Eggs - Hot for Steelhead!

Hot Clown Eggs : 1. Chartreuse, Cherise, Steelhead Orange, White
2. Baby Pink, Cherise, White 3. Steelhead Orange, Golden Nugget, White
4. Charteuse, Niagra Gold, White. These egg flies work very well drifted as a fly
or drifted under a float with spawn, they add color to your presentation!

Hot Steelhead Flies: Nuke eggs- (Egg-Golden) (Peach- Golden)
(Grapefruit) Glo-bugs: Peach, Golden, Early Girl Cream, Orange Dot.