Pere Marquette River Steelhead

Centerpin float fishing has been great on the Pere Marquette River this Winter.  There is a good mix of brighter fish mixed in with the colored up winter fish and by the looks of things up river there will be some dropback fish soon as well.  I have March dates available for Muskegon River and Pere Marquette River Steelhead fishing, call 616-204-4999.  Ed is pictured below with some nice Steelhead he caught centerpin float fishing on the Pere Marquette River today.

2/27/2012  Ed with a nice Pere Marquette River Steelhead.

2/27/2012  Michigan Steelhead fishing.

2/27/2012  A colored up Winter buck.

2/27/2012  Float fishing for Steelhead. 

    

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.

Pere Marquette River Steelhead

Float fishing for Steelhead was outstanding on the Pere Marquette River today.  We had a bit of a slow start with chilly air temps cooling the water off to just over 32 degrees over night but once the sun started to warm things up the fish went on the bite in a big way.  We found good numbers of slightly colored bucks and bright hens today along with a fair number of darker fish as well.  The Muskegon River and Pere Marquette River have both been fishing well for us so give me a call if you want to get in on the action.  Ed is pictured below with just a few of the piles of Steelhead he landed today.

2/20/2012  Ed with a Pere Marquette River Steelhead..

2/20/2012  Bright hens were abundant.

2/20/2012  This buck took us for a ride.

2/20/2012  There were a good number of these slightly colored bucks today.

 

Muskegon River Fishing Report

Steelhead fishing on the Muskegon River was good again today.  John was in town from Arizona for a wedding yesterday and decided to book a half day Steelhead trip on the Muskegon River.  We got a pretty late start of around noon after last night's festivities but the bite was good even in the bright afternoon sunshine.  We caught a bunch of big bellied hens and a few nice bucks as well, none of the fish were chrome but none were very dark either.  I have Wednesday, Thursday and Friday open this week for anyone that wants to chase down some Great Lakes Winter Steelhead on the Muskegon or Pere Marquette River  (616)204-4999.  John is below with a few of this afternoon's Steelhead he caught back bouncing spawn on the Muskegon River.

2/19/2012  John with a plump hen.

2/19/2012  The weather was fantastic this afternoon.

2/19/2012  This buck had an interesting lamprey scar on his back. 

2/19/2012  There seems to be plenty of these fat and sassy hens around.

 

Muskegon River Steelhead

Steelhead fishing was great today, we just had to cover lots of water to make it happen.  The fish were more than willing to bite and the bites were aggressive it just seemed the fish were grouped up and the groups were spread out.  I have a few openings for next week and the Muskegon and Pere Marquette Rivers are fishing well so give me a call if you want to book a guided Winter Steelhead trip.  Below are Tom and Rudy with a few of today's Steelhead caught back bouncing spawn.

2/17/2012  Tom with a nice buck.

2/17/2012  Rudy with a hen he caught back bouncing.

2/17/2012  A great looking Muskegon River Steelhead.

2/17/2012  Chrome!!

 

Float Fishing for Steelhead

Steelhead fishing was very good today, it seemed like every fish in the river wanted to bite.  We hit all our fish float fishing today on a mix of spawn bags and beads.  We caught a mix of colored winter fish and brighter fish with a couple mixed in that were so fresh they were still dropping scales!!  These mild temps should keep the fishing on the better side of good so give me a call to get out on the water.  Ed and Fritz are pictured below with a few of the many Steelhead from today.

2/16/2012  Ed with a great buck from the Pere Marquette River.

2/16/2012  Fritz with a brand new chrome hen.

2/16/2012  Float fishing produced some good fish today.

2/16/2012  Centerpinning for Michigan Steelhead.

Pere Marquette River Steelhead

Hit the lower fly water on the PM today with a couple buddies, we were armed with floating lines & indicator rigs and the fish were on the bite.  The water was up and had quite a bit of color, best flies were brightly colored egg patterns.  Jim, Luke and myself are pictured below with a few of today's Steelhead.

1/25/2012  Jim with a Pere Marquette Steelhead.

1/25/2012  Luke with a Michigan Winter Steelhead.

1/25/2012  A nice buck that I landed at the end of the day.

   

Pere Marquette River Steelhead

Steelhead fishing was great on the Pere Marquette River today.  Back bouncing spawn produced most of our fish but we did hit a handfull float fishing as well.  Fishing should remain great on our West michigan rivers well into the new year with these mild temps so give me a call to get in on the action.  Ed and Fritz are pictured with a few Steelhead from today.

12/29/2011  Ed had to battle this monster out of some heavy cover!!

12/29/2011  Fritz with some Pere Marquette chrome.

12/29/2011  Back bouncing spawn for Michigan Steelhead.

12/29/2011  Fritz caught this Steelhead float fishing.

Pere Marquette River Steelhead Fishing

The Pere Marquette River fished great today for Dan and I.  With the exception of one or two Steelhead just doing the old winter twist most of the fish we hooked were on fire, jumping and running for any cover they could find, including the boat where I did have one break me off after running under the boat and jumping on the other side before I could react!!  It felt like real Winter Steelhead fishing once the snow started to come down and by the time we were done everything had just enough snow cover to make you think it actually was winter.  The PM is in great shape and should fish great this winter. 

12/17/2011  Dan clowning around after landing the big fish of the day, 13.5 lbs.
"he wanted me to call it 14 but the boga said 13.5 sorry Dan!!"

12/17/2011  Yes that is me with a fish, I actually got to fish today!!

12/17/2011  Dan with a nice Pere Marquette River Steelhead caught back bouncing spawn.

12/17/2011  Pere Marquette Chrome!!

 

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!!

Muskegon River Fall Steelhead

Steelhead fishing on the Muskegon River has been above average for the time since the first week of October, partly due to fair numbers of fish but the lack of fishing pressure has contributed to our great success as well.  The best place to find Steelhead has been in, around or just below gravel holding spawning Salmon where eggs are available, although over the last two days there has been a few fish shifting to other fall lies absent of gravel or spawning Salmon.  Steelhead fishing on the Muskegon River should be great thru November and December. 

Today was the 8th and final day for the Aaron Day group from the UK, these guys had great fishing throughout the week with guides Gabe, Tim, Kris and myself, fishing the Muskegon River, Manistee River and the Pere Marquette River.   Thanks to Aaron, Andy, Andy, Martin, Dan, Mike, Lee and John for a great 8 days,  we are looking forward to next year.  Pictured below is John and Andy with a couple Steelhead from today.

10/17/2011  John with a heavy buck Steelhead.

10/17/2011  Andy with a great Steelhead from this morning.

  

Fall Steelhead

There are some Steelhead available in the area rivers, most are sitting behind spawning Salmon feeding on eggs.  Egg flies, beads and spawn bags will all take Steelhead around spawning salmon right now.  The end of October through November should be great Steelhead fishing.  Derek and Joe are pictured below with a couple Steelhead we found today amongst the Salmon.

(10/6/2011)  Joe with a Steelhead from this afternoon.

(10/6/2011)  Derek with a nice Muskegon River Steelhead.

Michigan Kings

Well I have put in a full week of guiding Kings every day since returning home from Alaska and what a week it's been!!  There are lots of fish in the Pere Marquette River and they are big, we have landed more fish over 20 lbs in a week than in the last 5 years combined.  There are still good numbers of King Salmon working their way up the PM to add to the already impressive numbers of fish in the system.  The Muskegon River is getting a few fish but is usually a few weeks behind the Pere Marquette due to warmer water temps coming from croton pond.  Fall Steelhead will be here before you know it!!  I still have some dates available to chase these chrome bullets so call or e-mail to reserve your days soon. 

9/11/2011  Fritz with a healthy PM buck.

9/15/2011  Myself and Jim with a heavy Salmon.

9/15/2011 

9/11/2011  Ed with a Pere Marquette King.