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.

High Water Steelhead

The Muskegon River is high, running at 4,250 cfs. with a heavy stain.  The Steelhead fishing has been fair in the rising water over the last couple days and will likely get very good over the next few.  There are some new chrome fish around and a lot more are sure to come with this high water and very warm temps forecasted for next week.  My openings for Spring Steelhead are
March 12, 18, 19, 21 and 26.  April 8 and 9.  Other dates are available for other guides, call or e-mail now to get your dates!!  616-204-4999  jeff@muskegonriverguide.com

Pete is pictured with a few Steelhead from today's half day trip. 

3/9/2012  Pete with a high water Steelhead.

3/9/2012  Spring Steelhead on the Muskegon River.

3/9/2012  A dropback Steelhead from today.

3/9/2012 

   

March Steelhead

The Steelhead bite was a little slower today than it has been but Nick and Shawn prevailed and put some nice fish in the net.  River level is up a bit with some great color so we should see a shot of Spring fish coming soon.  Open dates are dwindling so call now to book your Steelhead trips.  616-204-4999

3/2/2012  Nick with a bright chrome hen.

3/2/2012  Shawn with a thick girl.

3/2/2012  Some of the darker males are ready for spring.

3/2/2012  Shawn with another hen he landed.

Grand River Steelhead

For a change of pace Jim and I hit the Grand River for a few hours this afternoon and the bite was pretty good.  Jim and I are pictured below with a few Steelhead we caught back bouncing spawn on the Grand this afternoon.

2/28/2012  A bright Grand River hen.

2/28/2012  Jim with a great Steelhead from this afternoon.

2/28/2012  Another city fish. 

2/28/2012  Jim hit this fish about a full minute into the day!!

Pere Marquette River Fishing Report

Got the chance to get my wife out on the water today and she was quick to go to work on the Steelhead putting a 10 lb. hen in the net on the third cast of the day.  Then she decided to put the spinning rod down and learn how to fish the centerpin, I had confidence she would pick it up pretty quick given her ability with a fly rod, I was right.  After giving her a quick rundown on how to cast and manage the line two drifts into her centerpinning career the float drops and fish on!!  She fought the fish like she had been using that centerpin for years and brought a nice 7 or 8 lb. Pere Marquette River Steelhead to the net.  Natalie is pictured below with that fish and a few more noteworthy Steelhead from today. 

2/22/2012  Natalie with a nice one three casts into the day!!

2/22/2012  Natalie's first centerpin Steelhead.

2/22/2012  The Pere Marquette River put out some heavy fish today.

2/22/2012  FVloat fishing has been good on the PM.

Float fishing for Steelhead

Ed hit some nice fish centerpin fishing on the Muskegon River today.  It was a 50/50 split between beads and spawn bags that hooked our fish today and most did not make the net.  Ed is pictured below with a few we did get into the net.

2/8/2012  The hat actually catches the fish and Ed holds them for the picture!!

2/8/2012  A nice hen from this morning.

2/8/2012  This hen has been in the river a while.

 

Muskegon River Steelhead

Steelhead fishing on the Muskegon River was great today. Water level has been fluctuating the last couple days but is generally on the low side and clear, temp is in the high 30's.  There is a good mix of chrome and darker fish around and they are still fighting harder than normal for this time of year.  We knew today would be good when we started out with a double header in the first 5 minutes of the morning.

12/20/2011  Bob and Sheldon with a double right out of the gate this morning.



12/20/2011  Sheldon with a nice hen from the Muskegon River.



12/20/2011  Muskegon River Steelhead. 



12/20/2011  Sheldon with a chrome hen from this morning.



12/20/2011  Back bouncing spawn produced good numbers of Steelhead today.

Pere Marquette Float Fishing

Jim, Kris and I fished a different section of the Pere Marquette River today than I did yesterday, floats and spawn was the method of choice and the fishing was outstanding.  There were a few holes where we wondered how many fish can be in there, as the hookups just kept coming.  The Steelhead definately seem to be in the Winter holding water and were rarely alone.  We had the river to ourselves which I am sure contributed to the excellent fishing.  Jim and Kris are pictured below with a few Pere Marquette River Steelhead caught float fishing.

12/8/2011  Jim with a nice buck caught float fishing.

12/8/2011  Kris with a nice Pere Marquette River Steelhead.

12/8/2011  Jimmy one drift strikes again. 

12/8/2011  Float fishing the Pere Marquette River was great today!!

           

Pere Marquette River Steelhead

Steelhead fishing on the Pere Marquette River was very good today.  It was a fun change of scenery fishing in tight quarters, while this was the first day I have fished the PM since Salmon season it seems to me there are more than enough Steelhead available.  I had a great 4 days of fishing with my father-in-law and my wife on the 2 days she joined us, they are pictured below with a sampling of today's fish from the Pere Marquette River.

12/7/2011  Back bouncing spawn on the Pere Marquette River.

12/7/2011  Natalie with a chrome hen from the Pere Marquette.

12/7/2011  Pere Marquette River Steelhead.

12/7/2011  Back bouncing spawn was great today!!

With the rains came more fish

Day two of our November rain storm proved to be better than day one, we ran into a group of new fish on their way up river and they were in a biting mood.  The river was on the rise and picking up color as we fished and by looking at the graph it is running just under 3,000 cfs.  as long as it does not go to mud things should be very exciting for a while around here.  Ed is pictured below with a few Steelhead from this morning.

11/9/2011  A double header Ed and I landed.

11/9/2011  Back bouncing spawn was the ticket today.

11/9/2011  This buck has some great color in a sea of chrome.

11/9/2011 Steelhead Fresh out of Lake Michigan.

Muskegon River Fishing Report

Steelhead fishing has been very good on the Muskegon River this October and it only seems to be getting better.  Water level is very nice right now with good color.  There is still a good number of Salmon around and the Steelhead are taking full advantage of the eggs being deposited.  Boat traffic as expected has picked up this weekend but the bite was still very strong throughout the day today.  Brian is pictured below with a few of his Steelhead and a bonus Lake Run Brown Trout from today.

10/22/2011  Brian with a chrome bullet.

10/22/2011  A great Steelhead with the sun poking through the trees and fog.

10/22/2011  Muskegon River Steelhead Fishing is fantastic!

10/22/2011  Brian with a great Lake Run Brown Trout.

10/22/2011  Brian had an unbelievable day on the river.

10/22/2011  Muskegon River Fall Steelhead.

Muskegon River Fishing Report

The Muskegon River is up just a bit with nice color after some rain over the last few days and there seems to be an increasing number of Steelhead in the system.  Look for more fish to come making late October thru November excellent fall Steelhead fishing.  Andy and Dan are pictured below with a couple chromers from today.

10/16/2011  Dan with a chrome buck Steelhead.

10/16/2011  Andy with a bright hen right out of the gate this morning.

Fall Steelhead

There are enough Steelhead around to keep us busy and some are good sized.  The fishing is condensed to certain areas right now but once numbers of spawnig Salmon drop the Steelhead should spread out.  Muskegon River is very low and we could use some rain for color as well, leaves are dropping fairly heavily making for extra debris in the river but it does not seem to killing the bite.  Aaron and Mike are pictured below each with a good fish from today.

10/13/2011  Aaron with a hard fighting hen,  love the glasses.

10/13/2011  Mike with a nice fish that pulled the boga to 11.5 lbs.!!