If you would like to catch a trophy Pere Marquette River Trout or just learn more about Fly Fishing Michigan, Please give us a call. Guided fly fishing on the Muskegon and Pere Marquette rivers.

Muskegon River: An Awesome Tail water Fishery!

Located less than an hour from Grand Rapids, the Muskegon River boast some of the absolute best Steelhead, Salmon, and Trout fishing in the Great Lakes Region! With expansive gravel bars, slow deep holes, runs and over fourteen miles of spawning gravel, it's no wonder the Mighty Muskegon is home to so many trout and game fish species.

The Muskegon River is a boat river where jet boats are king. Jet boats allow you to find and stay with the fish. During the summer months, drift boats and wading are great ways to cover the river. Wading the broad gravel shoals offers anglers great fly fishing for Rainbow and Brown trout, Smallmouth Bass, Summer run ( Skamania) Steelhead, and Walleye.

Croton is where the Majority of action starts. Three miles below the Croton dam is solid spawning gravel and expansive riffles. This section is loaded with many resident trout from 12" to 16". The three mile section below the Croton Dam offers some of the best trout fishing in Michigan. Prolific hatches in this section of river offer excellent trout fishing with very good hatches. Cinnamon Caddis, Rhyacophila, Beatis, Midge Larvae, Gray Drake, Stone flies abound in the upper stretches of the Muskegon River.

The Mid-section, Thornapple public access through the city of Newaygo is where large numbers of Great Lakes Steelhead and Salmon migrate to hold and spawn throughout the winter and spring months. This section also offers great trout fishing, quality gravel, and great wading areas.

The months of November, December, March and April are some of the best times of the year for Steelhead. Ten pound steelhead are common but there are Steelhead up to 20 pounds!
Chinook Salmon also ascend this section of river during late September, October, and November.

One of the best times to come fish the Muskegon River's Chinook salmon run in October. The Spawning migration of salmon on the mighty Muskegon is short but sweet! Large, expansive riffles with 200 plus salmon are normal, with hook-ups exceeding forty or more. Average Chinook is 15 pounds but fish over 30 pounds have been brought to hand!

Fish Species in the Muskegon River are varied, Steelhead, Chinook salmon, Rainbow and Brown Trout but also includes Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and Lake Run Brown Trout. Sometimes Lake Trout and Sturgeon ascend the Muskegon as well.

Due to the great quality and diversity of fly fishing in Michigan, the Muskegon River offers fantastic angling opportunities.

Muskegon River Fall Steelhead - Great Lakes Steelhead migrate into our rivers in late October. These hard charging, acrobatic, exhilarating chrome bullets enter the Muskegon River in mid October while Michigan strain- Chinook salmon are spawning. Bright silver egg robbers cruise spawning salmon redds searching for free egg samples. Drifting egg patterns behind the spawning Chinook is the preferred method for taking early fall Steelhead.

Later in the the season when when the water temperature cools, greater numbers of Fall Steelhead enter the lower Muskegon River. Fishing spawn drifted under a float just can't be beat. These Steelhead are fresh, just in from the lake.

Peak Dates: Late October, November, December

Muskegon River Winter Steelhead - During the winter months, fall and winter steelhead stage in the lower Muskegon River below Newaygo. Due to colder water, these Steelhead group up in deep holding water and slowly make their way up river. This is exceptional time of year to focus on good numbers of Fall and Winter Steelhead with few anglers on the River. Both Fly Fishing and Floats & Spawn are very effective for targeting these great fish!

Peak Dates: December, January, February, March

Michigan's Spring Steelhead - In late February, the winter steelhead move up river and begin their migration to their spawning areas. Steelhead feed heavily on stone flies, caddis larvae, and Chinook fry. During March, April and May, Steelhead begin to polish gravel and begin to spawn. During this time, Fly Fishing Steelhead is at it's absolute best!! Anglers can visually seek steelhead and make casts to the spawning Spring Steelhead. Sight fishing to Steelhead on gravel and watching them take the fly makes this an exhilarating experience!!

Peak Dates: March, April, May, early June

Summer Steelhead - (Skamania Strain) Probably the most noted, the St. Joseph River, located in southwest Michigan, is perhaps the most reliable River in Michigan for Skamania Steelhead. Both Michigan and Indiana, plant more than one hundred thousand summer run steelhead a year into the St. Joe River. Numbers of adult Summer Steelhead return to the river as adults. Skamania Steelhead stage at the mouths of cool spring creeks flowing into the larger main stream. Large groups of steelhead cruise clearly visible to the fly caster. Casting the fly to particular fish, managing the drift, and watching the take make this fly fishing experience extraordinary.

Peak Dates: Late June, July, August

During the Winter Months, ( December, January, February, March) the Muskegon River is loaded with Fall & Winter Steelhead. Unlike the Grand and Pere Marquette Rivers, the Muskegon is a tailwater fishery, this means the Muskegon River never freezes. This allows us to guide anglers throughout the winter months for Steelhead and Trout. Fly fishing during the Winter is a beautiful time to be on the water with good numbers of Steelhead and lots of wildlife along the rivers banks.

Michigan fly fishing can be at it's best during the Winter. Few anglers fish this time of year, the Steelhead are eager to feed well with little angling pressure or guides on the water. Our guides love fly fishing during the Winter months. Michigan is blessed with many great rivers that may be fished year-around.

We offer guided fly fishing adventures year around for Michigan's Winter Steelhead on the Muskegon River. March, April, and May are also great times to chase Spring Steelhead. The stone fly emergence during March produces excellent fly fishing for Steelhead in March. We have guide dates available for Spring Steelhead on the Muskegon, Pere Marquette, and Manistee River.

Scott Murphy from Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters holds a magnificent 20 LB buck Winter Steelhead landed on the Muskegon River.

We are proud supporters of Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters.
1279 N Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 944-3474