Fishing Report Forecast -  August - September Muskegon River

King Salmon -  As summer winds to an end and the leaves begin to change, our focus changes toward the annual migration of Chinook salmon on the Muskegon River. Cooler nights and colder water temperatures bring Chinook salmon into the lower ends of the river near Muskegon Lake, Mill Iron and Giles rd. Throughout the lower sections near Anderson Flat to Bridgton offer some excellent Thundersticking for Kings! Casting crankbaits for Kings is a great way to cover water in search of vicious head shakers! Best colors for salmon usually have some sort of kelly green, Fire Tiger or clown colors are excellent choices.

    Kings are running much larger this season due to a bountiful Alewive populations. We typically spool spinning rods with 30lb Power Pro Braided lines, or 15lb Berkley Big Game clear monofilament, 9' med- heavy spinning rods, and reels with a smooth drag. Remember to save your salmon skein for upcoming steelhead in November.

Resident River Trout - Trout follow the salmon throughout the river as though in search of mother's milk! Trout key big time on the spawning Chinook salmon. As salmon dig gravel, vast amounts of nymphs, larvae, and eggs are kicked up. Trophy Brown trout and nice rainbows are often caught at this time along with the occasional skipper steelhead, hanging behind the salmon. Light spinning or fly rods are the preferred tackle, fishing with small spawn sacks, egg patterns, or caddis nymphs all work well. Finding spawning salmon equals great trout fishing!

   Smallmouth Bass - Smallmouth & Walleye also put on the feed bag during late summer and fall. Casting crayfish colored crank baits or soft plastics is a sure way to get bit. Number 5 Shad raps in pearl or perch colors for the walleyes. Perch fishing can also be great. Minnows also begin to school this time of year so bait balls produce big catches of walleye and smallmouth.

Capt. Chad Betts
BettsGuideService.com
(231) 519-7348

Muskegon River Fall Steelhead

Muskeon River Steelhead fishing has been outstanding the past few days. John display a gorgeous Steelhead landed while fly fishing with a peach clown egg pattern. Egg flies have played a huge role in landing Salmon and Steelhead as Chinook roe or spawn has been the primary food source. November is the best month for Fall Steelhead as numbers begin to improve!

Manistee River King Salmon - Salmon Fishing Report- (231) 519-7348

Now offering Manistee and Pere Marquette River Thunderstick trips for early Season King Salmon. Full day trips are 8 hrs and begin early morning around 6am and finish around 3pm. Afternoon half-days are also available from 4pm till just before dark. $250 for two anglers.
Do you want to learn to catch trophy Chinook Salmon and Steelhead and Pere Marquette or Manistee Rivers? Do you enjoy bone jarring strike or fish that about jerk the rod out of your hand? Well come join us on Northern Michigan rivers for early season Salmon. Manistee River Fishing Report
We also offer guided float fishing trips with floats (bobbers) and Skein salmon eggs under a float. This is a very fun day on the water with limits of salmon landed daily. The Manistee River is also home to the World-Record Brown Trout landed bt Tom Healy and Tim Roller. Who knows, you could land the next world record Salmon or Steelhead!

Manistee River Fishing Report: Salmon are just now entering the river is good order. The lower sections near Insta-Launch and Matson's Campground are beginning to produce some really nice fish. Cooler northeast winds have been the key to more salmon. Cooler night and and rainfall have also helped the bite. Some Skamania Steelhead (Summer-Run Steelhead) have also been landed along with Fall Steelhead and Coho. Best baits have been floats and spawn. Casting crankbaits or Thundersticks have also worked well.

Pere Marquette River Report: The lower sections of the Pere Marquette River are also fishing well for early Chinook Salmon. Indian Bridge, Custer, Scottville, and Iris Rd are all producing some nice fish. Ludington Charter boats are also doing well in Pere Marquette Lake. Stinger spoons producing the most fish. There should be very good numbers of both Salmon and Steelhead in the Pere Marquette River through September-October.