Spring Steelhead & Rainbow Trout in West Michigan.

As the ice begins to melt, and the early morning sun warms the air, our thoughts drift into one direction, chrome bullet early Spring Steelhead in the rivers of Western Michigan. 

Dream streams like the Big Manistee, Pere Marquette, White, and the Muskegon River start to swell, and flows increase with the melt snow.  Temperatures begin to warm, drawing anadromous Rainbow Trout - Little Manistee Strain Steelhead, into the mouth of these great rivers.  Longer days, and moon phases draw steelhead into these rivers like a magnet. 

For steelhead fishing anglers in the mid-west, late February, March, and April offer some of the best fishing available for migratory species.  Covering many miles of river each day, steelhead are on a mission!



During the Spring, Steelhead crave stone flies! 

 

Primary Food Sources:  Steelhead crave Stone Flies & Eggs

 

Most steelhead food sources are broke into three groups, insect nymphs, eggs, and opportunity feed...

Examples of the prevalent nymphs are hex nymphs, stone fly nymphs, midge larvae, and green caddis larvae.  These nymphs and very common in Michigan rivers, therefore provide the bulk of their food source. Anglers can score steelhead and trout big time when fishing representative flies. Steelhead are especially selective towards small black stones flies in early spring.  Huge masses of stones climb onto the shore line.  Steelhead gorge on the these during mid day and afternoon.

 

 Naturally occurring eggs supplies are not as common in the early spring, however, they are like crack to steelhead! They are loaded with protein and an easy meal.  There are is almost always something spawning during the spring.  Whether it's late Fall Steelhead spawning early, Skamania Steelhead, or late season Brown trout, eggs can be available.  Egg patterns, and trout beads represent eggs very well. Keep your colors natural and should hit some fish!

 

 Steelhead love eggs above all others! 

 

Opportunity foods for Steelhead consist of less common items, suck as minnows, crayfish, leaches, basic foods that aren't as common or require more energy to catch.  Many of the sources can be replicated with the swung fly. Steelhead and trout that take these foods are usually more aggressive so big swung work well.  Focus your energy casting or swinging against the bank or drop ledges. 

Most opportunity foods are within ten feet of the banks or shoreline. 

 

Baitfish such as Goby and great opportunity foods for steelhead.

 Thinking about food sources for steelhead and trout, they can help and score big time! 

Use flies or baits that are small and offer a realistic approach to the food the fish are keyed up on.  



Muskegon River Fishing Reports

Sucker Spawn & Steelhead Fry. Trout gorge this time of year!

Since 1996, Betts Guide Service, in Newaygo, Michigan has provided anglers with the best in Muskegon River Fly Fishing. With an excellent team of professional fly fishing guides, our staff pride themselves in offering the very best in guided Steelhead fishing, lodging and hospitality. Our river guides are knowledgeable, courteous and professional.

Rainbow Trout Fishing on the Muskegon River.
(Nymphing Sucker Spawn for trophy Trout.)
 
 Michigan Steelhead -In late February, Steelhead move Spring Steelhead - In late February, 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!!

Fall Steelhead - The crown jewel of Great Lakes Steelhead- Fall Chrome is the most sought after and Jump like no other! We will be offering floats and spawn and fly fishing trips for Fall Steelhead on the lower Muskegon River. These fish are chrome and we average well over a fish per hour!

Muskegon River Trout - There are lots of suckers spawning and encouraging the bigger browns and rainbows to feed on nymphs behind sucker redds. Excellent numbers of cinnamon caddis seen in the last couple of days, mostly during the afternoon period. Many of stocked Trout targeting dry fly Caddis with an occasional big fish on the surface. As water temperatures increase, larger Trout will come up. Sulpher emergence is soon to come. Streamer stripping with salmon fry patterns has been working well for larger Trout - We need warmer water to get the big boys to chase streamers.

Muskegon River Smallmouth - Smallies with be available in good numbers during June, July, and August. We have several locations with private water with larger than average Smallmouth. These Fish are great fun and fight like crazy. Smallmouth also take a fly well. We offer both light tackle spinning with soft plastics, and fly tackle.

Muskegon River Fishing Reports - Updated fly fishing reports for Western Michigan and the Muskegon River, Pere Marquette River, and Manistee River. Our fishing reports are accurate to the best of our ability and updated daily.

 

 

Betts Guide Service - Updated Fishing Reports

Muskegon River Salmon - Salmon fishing Manistee River

Salmon fishing on the Pere Marquette River and Manistee River generally kicks off during the month of September. Cooler nights get the Salmon run in full swing. King Salmon ascend these rivers in search of prime spawning gravel. Fly Fishing for salmon is also excellent at this time with good numbers of salmon in all West Michigan Rivers.

The Big Manistee River fishes best for salmon and trout during late September and October. Fly fishing is usually the method of choice. Anglers may also choose to cast deep thundersticks or float spawn under a bobber for fresh kings. Spawn fishing offers good numbers of Salmon and Steelhead landed on these rivers.

Betts Guide Service offers anglers guided fishing trips on the Big Manistee River, Pere Marquette River, and the Muskegon River throughout the year. We also guide fall steelhead during November and December. (231) 519-7348.

Muskegon River Spring Steelhead - Fly Fishing Steelhead - Muskegon River

March is the time of year for Spring Steelhead to ascent the Mighty Muskegon River. Longer days, warmer water tempratures, and higher river flows have steelhead in the over drive to enter the river and spawn. With the longer day light comes great numbers of spring Steelhead with more entering the river each day. Michigan Fly Fishing really play a role during this time of year. Stone flies for steelhead is a key element as the waters warm. Stone fly emergence take place during mid day into the afternoon. Steelhead both feed and key in heavily on theis pattern.

Over the past week, Fly Fishing has been outstanding for Muskegon River Steelhead. Josh, Steve, and Dr. Reily all had great success on flies. The best Great Lakes Steelhead Flies have been the Dark Knight, the Ice Man Minnow, Hex nymphs and of course, nuke or halo eggs. Best fly fishing on the Muskegon River takes place during the mid day through the afternoon.

Spinning tackle and Floats/spawn has also been fishing well on the lower river, below the Newaygo area. Bright Spring Steelhead have been moving through the lower sections for the past two weeks. We should have good numbers of Steelhead in the river by mid March. Walleye migrations have also begun to move forward. The Muskegon River is home to huge amounts of lake run walleye. For updated Muskegon River Fishing Reports please check this out! We update and post new photos daily at BettsGuideService.com

Muskegon River Steelhead | Steelhead on the Muskegon River | Spring Steelhead Michigan

As the length of day light begins to lengthen, our focus turns to the crown jewel of the Muskegon River - Spring Steelhead! Steelhead begin their annual spawning migrations during the the first part of February, gaining momentum for the spawning gravel and full spawn taking place during mid to late March and April. May is also a great time to catch these great fighters...

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of fishing with Dick Lemmerman. We landed some great Muskegon River Steelhead, the largest was about 12 lbs.. Some Spring Steelhead fly patterns that worked well for us were the Clown eggs and dark Stone fly nymphs. Later in the season, stone flies play a huge role in the Steelhead's diet. The small larvae are dark in color and swim in the middle of the bio drift making an easy meal for Spring Steelhead.

Join us for the search for Chrome! Spring Steelhead are availablle on the Muskegon River during March, April and May. Flies for Spring Steelhead are available at Mojo Flies - Great Lakes Steelhead Flies Michigan Fly Fishing Guides in another great resource for the Muskegon River Steelhead. We look forward to fishing with you for more Michigan Steelhead.

Centerpin Float Fishing For Muskegon River Steelhead.

Over past few days, Centerpin float fishing for Steelhead on the Muskegon River have been outstanding! Low and clear water has made this our technique of choice for good numbers of Steelhead landed. Float fishing allows anglers to stay a long way from wary steelhead making a stealthy drift and perfect presentation.

December should be an outstanding month for fall - winter steelhead on the Muskegon River.

Michigan Fly Fishing Reports

Betts Guide Service (231) 519-7348 - Since 1996, Betts Guide Service, in Newaygo, Michigan has provided anglers with the best in Muskegon River Fly Fishing. With an excellent team of professional fly fishing guides, our staff pride themselves in offering the very best in guided Steelhead fishing, lodging and hospitality. Our river guides are knowledgeable, courteous and professional.

Muskegon River Steelhead - The crown jewel of Great Lakes Steelhead- Fall Chrome is the most sought after and Jump like no other! We will be offering floats and spawn, and fly fishing trips for Fall Steelhead on the lower Muskegon River. These fish are chrome and we average well over a fish per hour!

Spring Steelhead - In late February, 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.

Fall Steelhead- Steelhead ascend the Muskegon River in late October and November. Acrobatic and chrome! Muskegon River Fall Steelhead are the finest gamefishing found in the Great Lakes Region!

Muskegon River Smallmouth Bass -Smallies with be available in good numbers during June, July, and August. We have several locations with private water with larger than average Smallmouth. These Fish are great fun and fight like crazy. Smallmouth also take a fly well. We offer both light tackle spinning with soft plastics, and fly tackle.

Muskegon River Chinook Salmon - We will begin guiding Salmon on the Pere Marquette and Manistee River around August 25th. King Salmon begin staging off the river mouths during mid- August preparing for the Fall spawning migrations.
Early in the season, we will be casting crankbaits for big chrome Kings. Later in the season, we will be fly fishing for Chinook and Coho Salmon. Many hook-ups and many fish landed are the norm for the Big Manistee River!

Muskegon River Trout - There are lots of suckers spawning and encouraging the bigger browns and rainbows to feed on nymphs behind sucker redds. Excellent numbers of cinnamon caddis seen in the last couple of days, mostly during the afternoon period. Many of stocked Trout targeting dry fly Caddis with an occasional big fish on the surface. As water temperatures increase, larger Trout will come up. Sulpher emergence is soon to come. Streamer stripping with salmon fry patterns has been working well for larger Trout - We need warmer water to get the big boys to chase streamers.

Muskegon River Fishing Reports - Our fishing reports are updated to the best of our ability from our experiences on the water that day. We post primarily on the Muskegon River but also guide on the Mansitee River and Pere Marquette Rivers. Our fishing reports are updated daily.