The fall season has come and nearly gone in West Michigan, as the last of the leaves make their way to the forest floors and river beds across the state. With the change of the season, we see fishing options on the Muskegon River change as well. Gone are the chinook salmon that came in mass this year and were some of the largest salmon we’ve seen in nearly two decades. Taking their place from now through the end of the year are steelhead and the resident trout that call the Muskegon River home.
The months ahead will find more steelhead entering the river system and some will reside in the river through the winter months. Resident brown and rainbow trout will be strapping on the feedbag in preparation of the colder months ahead. Lake run brown trout are in the river system now and more are sure to follow, as they begin “staging” for this annual spawn in the coming weeks. Both water temperatures and levels have remained good and with a couple of wet and warm weather patterns forecasted to come through soon, we should see conditions remain good for fishing the Muskegon River up to and beyond the new year.
Steelhead are being caught using a variety of techniques for both the fly fishing angler and light spin angler. Swinging streamers with sinking or sink tip lines, on 1 and 2 handed fly rods is getting some fish to net, but patience and covering water is critical to “the swing”. Floating line indicator rigs are a good option as well, when fishing pocket water or runs that don’t require too long of a cast. Deeper water “drift” fishing, a.k.a. “chuck-n-duck”, is best when fishing very long, deep runs and troughs where getting flies down and keeping them down is required. Those spey casting 2 handed rods are doing so with 11-15′ long, 8-9 weight rods, “chuck-n-duck” and floating line indicator rods are 7-8 weights, in 9-10+’ lengths. Flies for swinging are wide open to imagination and conditions. Big, gaudy streamers in rich and vibrant colors are getting looks by fish. Egg flies-beads, nymphs, and very small minnow patterns are options for floating line rigs and chuck-n-duck.
For the light tackle spin angler, bottom bouncing beads, flies or bait is getting it done, as well as float fishing floating beads, flies, or bait under bobbers. Best setups for bottom bouncing spin gear rigs is 9-10′, med action rods and a bit longer for float fishing. Same flies can be used with spin gear as fly gear—bugs are bugs, the fish don’t know what kind of setup you’re using!
Other equipment/gear choices to ponder are fly-bait size and pound test of line being used. As water temperatures drop, fish will look for slower moving water to feed in and rest in. Reduce the size of your offering in slower moving water and you’ll be better off. Line choices can range from 6-10# test, water color/ clarity will help one decide.
Locations to seek out for fishing fall steelhead and lake run brown trout include most all water from below Croton Dam, down to Muskegon itself. As for resident trout, focus on the water from Croton Dam, down past the Thornapple Road access site, down to Newaygo itself. Trout numbers drop off considerably once you get below Newaygo. Access points for walk in anglers include below Croton Dam, up from Pine St. launch, Thornapple launch, the bridge in Newaygo, as well as the state land off 72nd Street via Pine Street and Thornapple.
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