Since
1996, Michigan
Fly Fishing Guides,
in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has provided anglers with
the best in Muskegon River Fly Fishing. With an excellent
team of professional fly fishing guides, our staff pride
themselves in offering the very best in guided Trout
& Steelhead fishing, Muskegon lodging and hospitality.
Our guides are knowledgeable, courteous and professional.We
guide anglers year-around for West Michigan's Steelhead,
Salmon Guided Fly Fishing and Float Fishing on West
Michigan's Muskegon River Steelhead. We guide anglers
year-around on the Big Manistee River, St. Joseph River,
Pere Marquette River, White River, Grand River, Rogue
River, & Muskegon Rivers.Guided Fly Fishing.
Now Booking Guided Salmon Fishing
Adventures on the Manistee, Muskegon, and Pere Marquette
Rivers. August 20th through Oct. 20th. Casting Thundersticks
for Chrome Chinook. ...................................................................
(231) 519-7348
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Manistee
River Salmon Report:
Salmon are just now entering the Big Manistee River
near Insta-Launch and Manistee harbor. There are also
fair numbers on the Little Manistee below the weir.
We have recently hit a few nice pushes of salmon on
the lower Manistee. A strong East wind or Northeast
wind to turn over the Lake and get salmon moving in
a hurry! Cold shoreline water would move salmon in
close and heading into the river.
Pere
Marquette River Salmon Report:
Lower PM has been showing a few fish and improving
daily. Steve and Steve did quite well on Friday (8/27)
going 4 for 6 on crankbaits. Scottville down has had
fish moving through but have been difficult to stay
with. Walhalla and braids between Reek Rd. and upper
Custer should start seeing pushes in the next few
days with fish moving into South Branch of the Pere
Marquette. Pere
Marquette Salmon Fishing Report:
Open
Salmon Dates:
Sept. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 17, 19. Oct. 5, 6, 20
Guided Fly Fishing Adventures
for Manistee River Salmon & Steelhead.
BIG MANISTEE RIVER COHOS & STEELHEAD
The
"Big Manistee River" is famous for its huge
runs of fall chinook salmon and steelhead. Anglers
come from all over the country to sample the river's
great fall fishing. The Big Manistee also hosts a
modest run of coho salmon and steelhead. The coho
and king salmon are the result of annual plants that
are being made in the river, in addition to natural
reproduction that is now taking place as a result
of run-of-the-river regulations.
Chinook or King salmon enter the river in late August
and early September and spawn through October. The
coho show up in early October between the time when
the chinook run is winding down and the fall steelhead
have yet to arrive in significant numbers. The coho
salmon can be caught in the lower portions of the
river, but they become more concentrated on the gravel
flats near Bear Creek and High Bridge. Pre-spawn coho
can be found in slackwater areas adjacent to the gravel,
especially around cover. The cohos love bright, flashy
flies in gold and silver with red, orange or pink
tape. Key is to cast the fly across the current, allowing
the fly to swing in a wide arc while stripping slowly
TROPHY TROUT ON STREAMERS ON THE MUSKEGON
RIVER.
Steelhead Fry & Sucker Spawn |
During
the day-
Large Streamers and fry patterns near the bank.
Shaded pockets hold the fish! Sink-tip fly lines
have been the key for Muskegon River Trout and
Steelhead.
Nymphing
with sucker spawn patterns and small nymphs has
also been producing numbers Trout on the Muskegon
River.
Dry flies & Drake spinners in the evenings.
Some of the best hatches occur as the sun drops
below the tree line with low light.
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May
& June are the the time for Dry fly fishing
with the Gray Drake Spinners.
(Gray Drakes are a mid-sized may fly with smoke
clear wings, a thin variegated body, and a white
ring around the eyes.) Most spinner falls occur
just be for dark.
Drakes
also always spinner fall on a riffle or fast current.
Muskegon's most overlooked hatch, typically found
in the middle to lower sections of the river.
Thornapple - Henning Park.
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Gray
Drake Spinner - May - July Trout Evening Hatch
Fishing
(Gray Drake Spinner - )
River perfect level-2450-cfs-
60 degree water temp. |
Guided
Trout Fishing On Michigan's Muskegon River!!
During
the months of May and June, Fly Fishing for resident
Brown and Rainbows Trout is excellent. The Muskegon
River is chock full of spawning White, Hognose, and
Redhorse suckers. These spawning suckers produce vast
amounts of roe that the trout gorge on. Hence "Sucker
Spawn patterns" so favored by anglers in Lake Erie
tributaries. Fishing floating lines and strike indicators
behind spawning sucker redds produces big numbers of
trout during the day. Indicator Nymphing for Muskegon
River Trout.
Afternoon Brown trout trips have been out producing
morning trips: much less angling pressure and more shade
on the water. Stone flies have played and important
role in the afternoon bite!
In the evenings of May and June, The Muskegon River
is home to the famed Gray Drake Spinner fall and the
Iysonchia Bicolor, two large varieties of may flies
that tend to spinner fall just before dark. These large
May flies attract the attention of trophy Browns on
the dry fly. These trout may be selective at times,
but are certainly well worth the wait. Michigan Fly
Fishing Guides, wait the entire year for the six weeks
of the Gray Drake spinner fall and incredible dry fly
fishing!
Steelhead
Fry, Rainbow Sucker eggs, Sculpins, and Crayfish play
a huge role in the Muskegon River bio-mass. During bright
sunny days, nymph fishing sucker spawn and fry patterns
has been deadly!! During the Summer months, larger Trout
key in on these over looked food sources!
Muskegon
River Trout - There are lots of suckers
spawning and encouraging
the bigger browns and rainbows to feed on nymphs behind
sucker redds. Excellent numbers of Gray Drakes seen
in the last couple of days, mostly during the afternoon
period. Many of stocked Trout targeting dry fly Caddis
with an occasional big fish on the surface. As water
temperatures increase, larger Trout will come up. Sulpher
emergence is soon to come. Streamer stripping with salmon
fry patterns has been working well for larger Trout
- We need warmer water to get the big boys to chase
streamers.
Guided Winter Steelhead on Michigan's
Muskegon River.
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 tempratures
are at there 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) 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...
 
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: Normal
med - Clear with slight stain
Wading is an option at this time in the upper River.
Current Muskegon River Water Conditions:
(2/10)
Good numbers of Steelhead in the lower river near Muskegon!
Chrome fish are beginning to move. Spring Steelhead
should enter the river later this week in decent numbers.
Longer day light and a surge of snow melt- run off should
get things going a bit. Fishing has been good over the
last week but Steelhead have become very content to
watch your offering go by. Multiple drifts through a
know location has been the key to getting hooked up.
Chrome Steelhead should greatly improve the bite!
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Winter Tailwater fishery for Steelhead in West Michigan.
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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!
~ Winter
Steelhead in Michigan Rivers ~
During
the Winter Months, ( December, January, February, March)
the Muskegon River is loaded with Fall & Winter
Steelhead. Unlike the Grand 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.
Michigan
fly fishing can be at it's best during the Winter. Few
anglers fish this time of year, the Steelhead are eager
to feed well with little angling pressure or guides
on the water. Our guides love fly fishing during the
Winter months. Michigan is blessed with many great rivers
that may be fished year-around.
We
offer guided fly fishing adventures year around for
Michigan's Winter Steelhead on the Muskegon River, Pere
Marquette, and Manistee. March, April, and May are also
great times to chase Spring Steelhead. The stone fly
emergence during March produces excellent fly fishing
for Steelhead in March. We have guide dates available
for Spring Steelhead on the Muskegon River, Pere Marquette
River, St. Joseph, White River, and Dowagiac River.
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