The past several weeks here in West Michigan have been some of the coldest on record this winter, which has resulted in the most extensive ice coverage of the Great Lakes since the late 1970’s. With air temperature readings dropping to near -30, our inland waterways and lakes are feeling it as well.
As a result of the cold, fish feeding slowed considerably during the deep freeze, but fish DID still feed, just not very often and those that were caught, were quick to come to hand. Conditions have improved recently, with warmer air temperatures having come through to break us out of extremely frigid conditions. Water temperatures have also come up a bit, with most recent readings being in the 35 degree range.
Fishing conditions are good for this time of winter and with present water temperatures. Both resident rainbow and brown trout, as well as migratory steelhead that either wintered over in the river, or those that have recently come into the system, are being targeted by both the fly and spin fishing anglers.
Those targeting steelhead with flies are doing so with swung streamer flies on floating lines with sink tips or bottom bouncing nymphs and egg flies, a.k.a. “chuck-n-duck.”
Swung fly rigs range from 9-10+’ single handed rods to 11+’ two handed rods, with heavy Skagit type lines and Rio T-11 to T-14 sink tips and heavy tippet – 12+#. Streamer size can vary quite a bit based on time of day, day light/sun, water clarity, and river traffic. C & D rigs would be rods in the 9-10+’ length, with reels spooled with running/shooting line and egg and nymphs flies tied on 8# test tippet. Light spin tackle anglers are getting steelhead on spawn bags and wax worm tipped jigs, under bobbers or bottom bouncing spawn bags in the deeper runs. Rods range from 9-12+’, are spooled with 12-14# main line and 6-8# tippet.
Trout fly anglers are found with smaller and lighter rigs overall. A 4-5 weight fly rod, with floating line, indicator, #18-22 nymphs and 2-3# tippet gets the job done. The light spin tackle trout fisher is faced with similar requirements, it’s all about small bugs and lighter line. Not much for lure fishing at this time of the year, it’s too cold for fish to chase down baitfish imitations.
Despite the delay by Mother Nature, we’re seeing early signs of the spring steelhead run getting started. We’ve got some fresher fish on recent outings and look for the next change in water temperatures to get more migratory steelhead on the move in West Michigan’s mighty Muskegon River.
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