Muskegon River Steelhead

Float fishing for Steelhead has been insane the last few days for us!!  There are plenty of willing biters in the dark water around gravel areas feeding on the eggs that are being deposited by the spawners and as long as you have the right imitation it's game on!  We are seeing a mix of pre and post spawn fish each day and with the slightly cooler nights the drive to spawn may atleast slow down enough to prolong things a bit more.  Dropback Steelhead numbers are increasing daily and should be targetable for those looking to get away from the crowds.  Below is  just a couple pics from the last 2 days of gimme fishing.

3/29/2012  Dennis with a nice bright hen from today.

3/29/2012  Matt with a hen that still had tight skeins.

3/28/2012  Ed from yesterday with an egg eater.

3/28/2012  This hen got her job done while she was still chrome.

 

Spring Steelhead Fishing

Float fishing for Steelhead was great today.  We hit a mix of  darker winter fish a few bright pre spawn fish and a few drop backs.  Ed and Fritz are pictured below with a few of today's Steelhead.  I had a cancellation for tomorrow 3/28 if anyone is interested in getting out on the river call or e-mail.
616-204-4999   jeff@muskegonriverguide.com

3/27/2012  Ed with a bright and tight hen.

3/27/2012  Fritz with a nice bright hen, float fishing was great!! 

3/27/2012  These fish were laying in dark water behind spawners just gorging on eggs.

3/27/2012  A dropback hen that devoured a 12mm bead.

Muskegon River Steelhead

Muskegon River Steelhead fishing has been pretty good.  Below are a few pics from the last 2 days.

3/26/2012  Alex with a nice buck from this afternoon.

3/26/2012  Fishing was great on our evening trip.

3/26/2012  Dave with a buck he caught back bouncing this morning.

3/26/2012  Gene with a drop back hen from this morning's trip.

3/25/2012  Ed with a bright hen from yesterday.

3/25/2012  Muskegon River Steelhead.

Steelhead Fishing

Here are a few pics of Pete and Paul from today, the river was busy.

3/23/2012  Paul with a chrome hen.

3/23/2012  Pete with a bright buck.

3/23/2012  Muskegon River Steelhead.

3/23/2012  This was one of several drop back hens from today. 

Spring Steelhead

The Muskegon River dropped a little more today and is running about 4,800 cfs.  Steelhead fishing remains great with plenty of chrome fish available and some darker fish mixed in each day. 

3/22/2012  Ed with a bright chrome hen in the bright sun.

3/22/2012  A double header Ed and I landed back bouncing spawn.

3/22/2012  Muskegon River Spring Steelhead.

3/22/2012  With air temps in the mid 80's in March maybe we will see snow in May??

Spring Steelhead Fishing

There is not much new to report on the fishing, lots of fish and lots of boats.  Water is still up and has good color but is starting to drop and clear up, bring on some rain!!  Craig and Keith were with me today and put a good number of Steelhead in the net.

3/21/2012  Craig with a bright hen to start a great day.

3/21/2012  Keith with a great buck in the bright sunshine.

3/21/2012  Spring Chrome.

3/21/2012  Back bouncing for Steelhead has been great.

Muskegon River Steelhead

Steelhead fishing on the Muskegon River was very productive today.  We hit a ton of bright chrome fish that seem to have just arrived from Lake Michigan.   Water temp is in the low 40's and air temps have been more like summer than early Spring.  I am really loving the high water and at this point I am ready for a good rain to keep it up, it will also help some of the early spawners get done and gone before they get pin cusioned too many times.  Ed and Fritz are pictured with a few nice Steelhead caught back bouncing spawn today.

3/20/2012  Ed with a bright chrome Steelhead.

3/20/2012  Fritz with some chrome!!

3/20/2012  Lots of chrome fish today.

3/20/2012  A nice Muskegon River Steelhead.

Muskegon River Spring Steelhead

Steelhead fishing on the Muskegon River has been very good lately.  Boat traffic has been heavy most days with the great weather but being patient and fishing spots after others leave has produced plenty of fish.  There are good numbers of new chrome Spring Steelhead mixed in with the colored up Winter fish.   I had a boat full today with Dalton, Jed, Suzan and Jeremy and everyone was into fish, what a great day!!  Congrats to Dalton and Suzan on their first ever Steelhead.

3/18/2012  Dalton with his first ever Steelhead, a bright chrome hen!!

3/18/2012  Suzan with her first Steelhead.

3/18/2012  Chrome fish are plentiful right now.

3/18/2012  Here is a hen with some color to compare to the chromers.

   

St. Patty's Day Steelheading

Wow,  I hate to even say it but the weather has been too warm.  If this keeps up I will want to leave early for Alaska!!  On the other hand the Steelhead fishing has been incredible on the Muskegon River so I guess I will put up with 80 degrees in March.  There is a growing number of bright chrome Steelhead showing up and we are still catching quite a few darker Winter fish mixed in with them.  While the boat traffic is condensed there are good numbers of fish available in areas with very little traffic.  Back bouncing Spawn has been producing good numbers of Steelhead for us each day.  I am down to this monday March 19 and April 7, 8 for full day openings, half day afternoon trips and full days with other guides are available as well.
 Call or e-mail for more info  616-204-4999   jeff@muskegonriverguide.com

Tom, Brad and Craig had an outstanding day catching Steelhead today.

3/17/2012  Tom with an awesome chrome buck that took us for a ride!!

3/17/2012  Brad with a very colorful Steelhead.

3/17/2012  Craig with a chrome bullet.

3/17/2012  There are a more chrome fish each day.

3/17/2012  These guys had the luck of the Irish on this St. Patty's Day.

3/17/2012  Back bouncing for Steelhead has been great in the high water.

Muskegon River Steelhead

Steelhead Fishing on the Muskegon River was great again today in the high water.  Unseasonably warm weather has water temps above normal and the fish have taken notice.  Mark and Jim are pictured below with a few of their fish from a short day on the river. 

3/16/2012  Jim with a great hen from this morning.

3/16/2012  Mark with a nice buck he caught back bouncing.

3/16/2012  There are some bright hens like this one around.

3/16/2012  One of the darker bucks from today.

3/16/2012  One of Jim's Steelhead had a lamprey in tow.

Muskegon River Steelhead Fishing

Steelhead fishing was exceptional on the Muskegon River today.  There has been a lot of other anglers out enjoying the great mid March weather but there seems to be plenty of fish to go around.  Water level is still over 5,700 cfs. with 3 to 4 feet of visibility and temps are in the high 30's over night to 40 during the day.  We are still catching plenty of colored up Steelhead along with a few chrome ones mixed in so the big wave of Spring fish is yet to show up.  Some of the winter fish are spawning and will hopefully get done and leave before they have too many flies stuck in them.  I am down to March 18, 19 and April 7, 8 for full day openings, there are a number of dates that afternoon trips will be available. 
Call or E-mail for more info.  616-204-4999
Ed is pictured with a few of many Steelhead from today.

3/15/2012  A bright hen from this morning.

3/15/2012  A double header Ed and I landed.

3/15/2012  There are some new fish showing up in the high water.

3/15/2012  Ed with aother bright fish caught back bouncing.

Michigan Spring Steelhead

The Muskegon River came up more today to over 5,700 cfs. and picked up more color.  There are plenty of Steelhead around and they are willing to bite when you put an offering in the right spot.  We decided to get away from the crowds today and found enough fish to keep us occupied, putting them in the net was another story but we did manage a few.  Jimmy and Claudia are pictured with a couple high water Steelhead from today.

3/14/2012  Jimmy with a hen that fought like crazy!!

3/14/2012  Claudia with a great hen from this morning.