Muskegon River Steelhead - Spring Steelhead

Muskegon River - The Muskegon River, as always, is far behind, because of the warm water reservoirs. The Muskegon River improved greatly over the next few day with the high water levels. Over the past few days, rain and warmer weather has dramatically improved the Steelhead fishing on the Muskegon River. There seems to be good numbers of steelhead starting to show near the mid to lower sections. 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 March and April should offer some great Fall Steelhead fishing, I would also expect to see a handful of large, Lake-Run Brown Trout.

Fly fishing has been our choice technique. Deep water nymphing has been producing good numbers of Steelhead with the stone fly emergence. Stone flies emerge near 36 - 38 degrees and Steelhead key in on them big time!

Muskegon River Steelhead - Center Pin Float Fishing

Floats and spawn has been our technique of choice for covering water. I spent the afternoon centerpin fishing with Jim and found the weather to be great and the Steelhead whiling to bite! We fished the upper sections of the Muskegon River and found a decent number of fish in each area that we floated. Most of the Steelhead from today were located in the deeper portions of the runs and deep tailouts. They seemed to fight hard and several of them even managed to jump. Water temps are still in the high 30's - low 40's keeping Steelhead aggressive to the correct offerings.


Our technique today was one of our favorites, Centerpin float fishing with floats and spawn. We also landed several fish on tiny Little Nipper jigs and waxworms. Long, extended drifts, light tippets, and different offerings paid off big time as the water levels remain low and clear. I feel there is a great number of Steelhead throughout the river system. These fish are wise and may have been caught and released before. A quiet approach and a clean drifts certainly helped to bring fish to hand.

Muskegon River Steelhead - Steelhead Fly Fishing!

Muskegon River Steelhead - Water levels are up and Steelhead fishing is prime! Over the past few days, we received some much needed rain to bump up water levels. Levels and water temperatures have been prime to get steelhead on the move. Tuesday and Wednesday, the wind and the rain made fishing challenging but our anglers landed a fair amount of both skipper steelhead and adult fish. From Pine St. to lower bridge in Newaygo, there seems to be an even number of steelhead, no major groups of fish, just scattered throughout the system. Michigan Steelhead Reports
Floats and spawn has been our technique of choice for covering water. Fly fishing has also been great, keeping up with bait fishing numbers. Citris clown eggs and golden/egg nuke eggs have been fishing well. TroutBeads have also been excellent while fishing behind the salmon. (Yes. There have been a very good amount of fresh - clean looking salmon around Thornapple and Newaygo.) Steelhead have also been close by, Cabin hole, Aquarium run, and the Tire Hole, have all been holding Steelhead around the Thornapple launch, High rollaway area has also been good in the deep gravel areas and in the riffle. Trout have also been active behind the salmon.
Michigan Steelhead Flies

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!