Michigan Fly Fishing Guides for the Muskegon River Steelhead, Salmon, and Trout. Muskegon River.

Michigan Fly Fishing Guides for the Muskegon River Steelhead, Salmon, and Trout. Muskegon River.
Betts Guide Service - "The first and only name in guided fishing in Michigan". Guided Fly Fishing on Michigan's Muskegon River, Pere Marquette River, and Manistee Rivers for Salmon, Trout and Steelhead. (231) 519-7348

Monday, February 14, 2011

Spring Steelhead on the Muskegon River - Muskegon River Fishing Reports

In the up coming weeks, we should start seeing a fair amount of brighter, chrome spring fish. I guided down low, Bridgeton down, last week and there were good numbers of chromers to be had. I know there are good numbers of fish in the lower section of the Muskegon River. Water levels were up this morning, also with warmer temps. Day light is getting longer, Spring Steelhead fishing should start in earnest in the next week or so. There also seems to be a fair number of stone fly nymphs. The activity of Michigan Winter Stone flies usually my cue to start fishing hard down lower for bright chromers closer to Muskegon Lake.

Muskegon River Steelhead and Salmon fry - During the late winter months,early Spring, Chinook salmon fry and lake run brown trout fry begin to hatch out of the gravel into the "Fry" or "Alevin" stage.

These young fish are the perfect food source for larger steelhead and trout during this time of year. Egg patterns with a pronounced "blood dot" or bright red dot mimic the fry at this time. Also patterns such as the "Ice Man Minnow" or other fry or parr patterns also work well. Steelhead and trout during winter are now relying less on salmon eggs and focusing more on case caddis, stone flies, scuds, sowbugs, other macro invertebrates. Stone flies and fry patterns begin to really work well at this time of year when temperatures are cold and food is limited.