The Muskegon River is now at full peak, King Salmon fishing! There are lots on fresh Kings entering the river from the Lake Michigan, with new fish entering the river daily. Good numbers of Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, and a handful of Fall Steelhead. Best methods for fishing have been floats and skein eggs. Red or bright pink, has been the ticket for fish holding in the deep holes. Casting Thundersticks has also been working very well, especially during the morning hours. Salmon are also beginning to dig gravel and spawn. Flossing is in full effect. Long leaders with pencil weights, and dark flies have been fishing very well for spawning salmon.
Water levels are low and clear, making for excellent wading below Croton Dam. Look for good fishing over the next few weeks. Plenty of Salmon, with a bunch more coming. If you need some Salmon fishing supplies, or rod and reel combos, stop in at Pappy’s Bait and Tackle. They have everything you need! You have Herb clean your fish. They also have Salmon for sale, from the Little Manistee River.
We have guided Salmon trips available for the Big Manistee River below Tippy dam. Full Day ( 6hrs) $450 per 2 people. Half days available (4hrs) for two anglers. Fish cleaning, and all gear and tackle is included. Text or book on the website. (231) 519-7348
Fully Guided Spring Steelhead Trips for Michigan Rivers. Full Day Trips ( 8 hours) $395 Half Day Guided Fishing Tours (4 hours) $295
** All Gear, Tackle, Rods, Reels, Fishing Cleaning Provided** Super Prime Spring Steelhead Dates & Half days available for Muskegon River.
Open May Steelhead Dates
After May 15th, guided steelhead trips are $395 for the full day. Half day afternoon trips are $295 for 4.5 hrs of steelhead fishing.
Open May Steelhead Dates:
After May 15th, guided steelhead trips are $396 for the full day. Half day afternoon trips are $295 for 4.5 hrs of steelhead fishing.
If you’re sitting in your office cubicle, bored, or sitting at home, NOW is the time to get out of the house and fish! May Steelhead dates are filling quickly. We are only offering the $295 half day Spring special until May 15th.
Water temperatures are still very cold! 44 degrees. We are landing at least one steelhead per hour on the Muskegon. It’s a great time to be on the water with little angling pressure and lots of fish. Fishing has been excellent with last week’s high water which shuffled the deck and brought in lots of new steelhead from the lower river. Likewise, Spring Chromers coming in from the lake with more to come!
It’s nearly May 5th and over 90% of the Michigan Spring Steelhead migration has not even begun to spawn. Similarly, all of the spawning hen steelhead have not spawned yet. Fly fishing for steelhead is phenomenal right now! If you seen the weather pattern for the past month, you’d swear it was March at best which makes this year’s spring steelhead feel the same way!
Water temperatures are just barely in the 40’s with the vast majority of the steelhead not even ready to spawn. Gravel fishing over the past couple days has been PHENOMINAL! Double digit days have been the norm with the weather finally warming up, and water levels dropping to a perfect level. The drop has made for some very good fly fishing! Visibly sight fishing for steelhead on gravel is probably some of the best steelhead fishing you’ll ever experience. Watching a fish take your bead or fly. Exhilarating!!
Best Steelhead tips and techniques
Right now, free style nymphing for steelhead has been our best bet for numbers of steelhead. Trout beads and small black stone flies, salmon fry patterns, or green PM Caddis have all been working well. Sight fishing to spawning steelhead on gravel has been very effective. Long leaders and quality drifts has been the key to success. Running lines with a small amount of weight, and a two fly rig, or one trout bead with a stone fly dropper.
How To Catch More Trout
Bobber fishing on spinning tackle has also been effective. Very small spawn sacks in natural colors have been the best for both trout and spring steelhead. Brown trout have also been very active around spawning steelhead. Look for big numbers of steelhead during May this year. Steelhead are now just getting started and should go well into June this year.
Super Prime Spring Steelhead Dates & Half days available. Text to book >>> (231) 519-7348
