River Conditions

Fishing Report - April 5 2009

Wheeewwwww....the weekend is over !

This weekend was CRAZY!!! Saturday was possibly the bussiest day I have EVER seen in my 17 years of guiding. And the fishing showed this big time, Saturday am was fine , we managed several fish in the first few spots we fished, but as soon as most places were fished the bite got very tough or not at all. Sunday started out tough also but as time passed and things settled down the fishing was quite good later in the day Sunday.

We took fish on egg flies,stones and spawn this weekend. You just have to be in the right place at the right time. I am looking forward to fishing this week and the cooler temp should help prolong the run even more.

Fishing Report - April 2 2009

Ditto....Ditto !!! The fishing continues to be great !

 I had a chance to meet up with a long time friend ,fishing guide today and jumped at the chance to spend a few hours chasing chrome with a great friend Russ today. We fished about a half day and had more than enough shots at steelies today. We spend as much time bull$#%&^ing as we did fishing...Floats and spawn still getting it done, but flies have also been fishing well.

I still have a few PRIME dates available and would love to fill them up, If you are looking to have a great day on the water and catch a bunch of fish please call me before its too late.

Fishing Report - March 30 2009

Wow...has the fishing been great the last week or so !

The fish are very well spread out this spring which has helped the fishing I am sure. There are a few fish starting to spawn, but there are plenty of fish in the pools and runs also. Water temps are in the high 30's and the fish are starting to move into faster lies.

I still have a few PRIME dates available and would love to fill them up, If you are looking to have a great day on the water and catch a bunch of fish please call me before its too late.

Fishing Report - March 25 2009

The fishing continues to be GREAT !! on my boat this week, others are struggling big time though.

There are plenty of fish around but some of the fish have been in rather un-traditional spots. Tis the season I guess...thinking outside the norm has paid off for me the last few days.

I still have some openings and would love to get them all filled, please call or email for current dates.

Fishing Report - March 23 2009

It seems that I have battled out of my slump and have been able to get the fish to go again the last few days ! Lets just hope that I can keep it up !

The last 2 days have fished great for my boat, others have struggled to find them. The fish are well spread out but there are a few spots that hold concentrations. Floats and spawn are still out fishing flies by a large margin.

Pictures from 3-23 show what it is all about !! I had the honor of having a wonderful young steelheader in my boat and was impressed to say the least ! Austin managed several fish to the boat and lost a few, he had a BLAST ! What better way is there to spend a day away from school. He even hugged a fish ! Now that's dedication !

Plenty of chrome fish coming in ! This year I feel we will see great fishing through mid- May !

Fishing Report - March 21 2009

The river continues to flow at a higher level and the silver fish of spring are showing up daily.

We had great fishing earlier this week, but the last two days in my boat have been a bit of a struggle getting the fish to go. There are plenty of fish around but with the massive amounts of water they are spreading out very fast. The key has been to cover a ton of places and be ready when you get bit.

Floats and spawn are still the best option in my mind. Flyfishing has been a little slower but eggs and stones are producing fish.

Fishing Report - March 16 2009

Wow ! We are half way through March already and finally it feels like spring. The fishing looks to be a week or so behind as far as numbers go, but there are plenty of steelies in the rivers with a good mix of both freshies and some winter holdovers. Look for bigger numbers in the next few days to show up as the water temps rise a bit. Float fishing still is out producing the fly bite. But big eggs are getting it done as far as flies go. Fish hard and keep notes as to where you get your fish...then find more places just like those, that has been the key. High water is the perfect time to think outside the box.

Fishing Report - March 13 2009

FRIDAY the 13 TH !!

Took a quick trip to the river with Steelhead Guru aka Al "jigman" . We float fished and ran plugs through some likely high water spots and connected with a few spring steelies.

Fishing Report - March 11 2009

The recent pics were taken Tuesday afternoon and show the river flowing a bit high as expected. Notice the color line in the pic taken at Croton Dam launch site. The water coming thru the spillways is clear but the water coming from the Little Muskegon side is very brown and chalky looking. This should improve drastically over the next few days as the run off stops and the backwaters get a chance to flush themselves.

I am planing on running trips by the weekend the water should be settled down a bit by then. Cross your fingers.

Fishing Report - March 9 2009

Well, the rain has stopped and the river has come up a bit....not as high as I would have though, but I am sure we have not seen the crest as of yet. I have re-scheduled my trips for early this week, hopefully by mid-week things will have settled down a bit on the river.

The good news is that it is sunny as I type this and things will begin to dry out today ,we are forcasted to see a little precip this week but I do not think it will amount to much. Cooler temps will help freeze things up a bit also.

Look for a bunch of new fish to be in the river later this week !

Fishing Report - March 8 2009

Had a couple of long time clients out yesterday and we chased some Steel with flies. We quickly boated 2 fish and lost another before the rain set in and drove us and many others off the river by noon. I would guess that we got over an inch in just a hour or two. Combine this with an air temp of 36 degrees and it was very wet and cold.

The ground very saturated and I would guess that the river will come way up again if we get much precip today. This will be our fourth big push of water since January.

Fishing Report - March 5 2009

The fishing is better this week !

Had a couple of good days out with a wonderful father - son team !  Young Quinn was excelent on the rod landing most of our fish over the last two days.

Water levels are stable for the time being but with more precip and run off the next few days it may rise again.... Temps are still very icy and the fish still prefer slow structure laiden runs. Take your time and fish every drift like its going to get bit !

We have openings this Sunday and next week

Fishing Report - March 1 2009

Finally a new month ! 

The river continues to flow fairly high this weekend, there was a slight drop yesterday but there are still 2 flood gates open. Visibility is about 3-4 feet, which is very fishable. Hopefully we can get some warmer temps to boost the water temps later this week.

I am sure this big push of water combined with the longer days will get the spring fish moving up the river very quickly. Look for some big number days in the next week or two.

We have plenty of open days for this springs run, please call or email soon for availability.Dates are filling fast dont wait.

Fishing Report - Feb 27 2009

The fishing still continues to be on the tough side ! On top of that they re-opened 2 flood gates today. This is our 3rd big flush of water since January and its getting old.

I have postponed my trip for Sat. in hopes that the water stabilizes and settles down a bit.

Fishing Report - Feb 25 2009

The fishing for me has been very challenging the last two days, the fish seem to be in a very neutral mood and not too willing to feed. It seems if you hit them right on the head its game on....but lots of casts and drifts between hook ups has been the norm the last couple days. Cover water,lots of water and you will be rewarded...but be ready you dont want to miss them when they take the bait. Be ready to work for them this week for sure ....

Water level is steady but is very very cold !

Winter 1/2 day trips are still available, as are full day trips.

We are getting a bunch of calls for the spring run, dont hesitate now is the time to get a day or two on the river. Please call or email us for availability 231.250.9745

Fishing Report - Feb 22 2009

What a difference today....much nicer weather, only a little snow,still plenty of wind though and a VERY tough bite today. Today I had a couple of long time clients out and we threw flies today. It has been a few trips since I threw flies and we pounded the river hard today and found 4 willing participants to take the flies, (only one saw the inside of the boat however) still not the numbers we should be finding considering the number of fish in the river. Water temps are still very cold and I think this is having a major effect on the fly bite right now. All fish were hooked on eggs today... So all in all a great day on the water....when you think about it a day on the river with 4 steelhead hooked..how can you really complain?

Bait trip tomorrow....stay tuned !

Winter 1/2 day trips are still available, as are full day trips.

We are getting a bunch of calls for the spring run, dont hesitate now is the time to get a day or two on the river. Please call or email us for availability 231.250.9745

Fishing Report - Feb 21 2009

HARDCORE !!

What a perfect day to be on the river ! Today is proof that there is no such thing as BAD weather.... only BAD GEAR ! We hit the river just as the wind,and snow rolled into the area. Perfect timing.... The fishing was pretty good today, but the weather was not for those not prepared. We had to work hard for our bites in the afternoon but the morning fish came pretty easy.

Total snow fall in the boat measured about 5-6 inches

The river is now just about the way I like it, good level,good stain...although the water temps could be a bit warmer.

Winter 1/2 day trips are still available, as are full day trips.

We are getting a bunch of calls for the spring run, dont hesitate now is the time to get a day or two on the river. Please call or email us for availability 231.250.9745

Fishing Report - Feb 18 2009

It felt great to get back on the water today ! Although the river conditions have drastically improved the fish still seemed a bit "off" We managed to hook a few but only put one in the net. The fish we did hit bit right away in the pools or runs we were fishing. Slow water was still the key.

Water visibility is around 4 feet and the temp was running about 33.5 degrees. Pattern fished-spawn

Winter 1/2 day trips are still available, as are full day trips.

We are getting a bunch of calls for the spring run, dont hesitate now is the time to get a day or two on the river. Please call or email us for availability 231.250.9745

Fishing Report - Feb 17 2009

Right now the river is on a roller coaster...yesterday they hasd shut all the floodgates, this morning they had opened one back up. Combine this with cold chilly water and confused fish...you get those days where the fish dont know what to do. Be prepared to work a bit for them but they are there and the conditions are getting better with every passing hour.

Book a trip in early March to beat the spring rush...1/2 day trips special is going to be extended.

Winter 1/2 day trips are still available, as are full day trips.

We are getting a bunch of calls for the spring run, dont hesitate now is the time to get a day or two on the river. Please call or email us for availability 231.250.9745

Fishing Report - Feb 12 2009

Today I tried to squeeze my trip in under the conditions with rapidly rising waters...we decided to give it a go this am and found the conditions not in our favor. The fish are a little put off by the rapidly rising water and the decreasing visibility isnt helping. We did manage to hook one steelhead in the time we were out but it was short lived. We decided to try again in a few days and quit around noon.

This am they opened two flood gates and the river came up about a foot in a very short time.

Winter 1/2 day trips are still available, as are full day trips.

We are getting a bunch of calls for the spring run, dont hesitate now is the time to get a day or two on the river. Please call or email us for availability 231.250.9745

Fishing Report - Feb 10,11 2009

Had the pleasure to fish with a long time steelhead veteran the last two days on the Muskegon River. The fish were there but we had to work very hard to get bit. We landed several fish on the 10th,but only a couple on the 11th. A few camera shy fish were hooked each day. The crazy changing weather patterns and rising water has the fish a little off the bite. Sunny warm and very windy one day ....cold VERY wet and rising water the next. Look for fishing to improve leaps and bounds once everything stabilizes.

Please check back often for the most current and honest fishing reports. As we all know fishing just isnt RED HOT, GREAT everyday we go....but we are catching fish !

Beware of the guide services that say that the fishing is always AWESOME,GREAT,on FIRE....The reality of it is that fishing is fishing......no two days are ever the same. Certain guides are afraid to admit how the fishing really is,in fear from not getting a booking or two.

I have been at this game since 1992 and see no need to fabricate fishing repots or raise expectations of my clients or potential clients. Honesty,hard work and the love for what I do has allowed my business to grow even in todays economy. My repeat customers speak for themselves with over 95 percent of my business being return customers.

Winter 1/2 day trips are still available, as are full day trips.

We are getting a bunch of calls for the spring run, dont hesitate now is the time to get a day or two on the river. Please call or email us for availability 231.250.9745

Fishing Report - Feb 9 2009

Did a quick half day with a great father son team, Henry a great 11 yr old did a fine job landing a nice buck steelie after trying his hand on a few others that ended up winning the battle. These first timers picked up the float fishing fairly quickly. Its good to see young kids getting into the outdoors and enduring the chilly day while fishing for winter steelhead.

Winter 1/2 day trips are still available, as are full day trips.

We are getting a bunch of calls for the spring run, dont hesitate now is the time to get a day or two on the river. Please call or email us for availability 231.250.9745

Fishing Report - Feb 8 2009

The fishing this weekend was decent to a little on the slow side for the conditons....the great weather brought a bunch of guys out of the house...and who can blame them...it was nice not having ice in the guides for a few days. The increase in traffic had the fish a little on the spooky side, as well as the bright blue skies. Although I do look forward to a few more cold days just so I can have the river more to myself.

Lost of traffic made it necessary to fish secondary and less popular spots in order to catch fish. Water levels havent bumped much nor has the water temps, still hovering around 33 in the am and then warming only slightly.

Winter 1/2 day trips are still available, as are full day trips.

We are getting a bunch of calls for the spring run, dont hesitate now is the time to get a day or two on the river. Please call or email us for availability 231.250.9745

Fishing Report - Feb 1 2009

Finally January is gone !!!

Went fishing with a couple of good friends today and found the fish very perceptive to our presentations today......no flies were thrown today,we floated bait and had a wonderful "spring like" day with temps in the 30's today it felt rather balmy in areas out of the wind. Plenty of action with a few really nice fish coming to the boat...Here are pics of a few of our fish.

Plenty of openings from here on out, please dont hesitate if you want to get on the river. 231.250.9745 The winter 1/2 day special is now in effect ONLY $200.00 !!

Now is the time to get your spring dates! Call or email for current openings.

231.250.9745

Fishing Report - Jan 31 2009

I was out with clients the last couple days and found the fishing to be a little on the slower side while fishing flies. With the extremely low water temps the fly bite just isn't happening right now. Although we did get fish both days we had to work hard for them. Water temps are hovering right at the 32 degree mark, with temps around 31 degrees in the am...so I figure with the water temps where they are a few fish is great fishing. Even better when they are caught on flies. I am sure the bait bite is much better ! Fish are more willing to move for something that smells and looks right.

Plenty of openings from here on out, please dont hesitate if you want to get on the river. 231.250.9745 The winter 1/2 day special is now in effect ONLY $200.00 !!

Now is the time to get your spring dates! Call or email for current openings.

231.250.9745