The Muskegon River near Newaygo is in great shape, despite the spring rain, which has kept water levels above average for the last month. Present levels are around the 4000 cfs mark, with our average for this time being closer to the 2500 cfs mark. The water still has a tea stain to it, but that’s fine with me and good for the fish. The river is coming alive with early signs of insect hatches, which could set the table for some of the better trout fishing that we’ve had in over a decade. My reasoning on this is because of the rebound of caddis hatches that we saw last year and the size and health of the resident rainbow and brown trout that call the Muskegon River home.
A good number of steelhead are still in the river but will be wrapping up their annual spawn soon. Trout fishing behind the remaining steelhead with floating line and indicator rigs will produce some quality trout and even two year old steelhead, which we’ve seen a fair number of recently. Other options for trout right now include stripping streamers with sinking or sink tip lines, while casting imitations of either small salmon fry or recently stocked rainbow trout. Some late stone flies have been fluttering about, but not enough to bring trout up. We did not have any dry fly fishing with stones this year…maybe next!
With rising water temperatures, caddis fly emergence is picking up and I have seen a few trout rise for them in recent days. This will continue to improve and my hopes are for some explosive dry fly fishing by mid-month. Techniques for getting after the last of the spring steelhead include chuck-n-duck (bottom bouncing), floating line + indicator and swinging streamers with fly gear, as well as bottom bouncing and bobbers/floats with spin gear. Regardless of technique, fishing beads/yarn to imitate eggs, as well as #10 & 12 stone fly, hares ear, pheasant tail nymphs and #14 green caddis nymphs are getting fish.
Fly gear rigs for bottom bouncing would be 7 or 8 weight rods, with 8# test tippet. The same rods could be used for swinging streamers, as well as longer 2 handed rods (11-13′) for spey casting, matched with lines to get flies down 5-8′ below the surface, depending on the run you’re fishing and with heavier tippet, in the 12-15# range. Floating line + indicator rigs would be with 7 or 8 weight rods, appropriate floating line and using tippet in the 6-10# range.
Spin gear setups would be with medium action rods in the 9-12′ range, longer rods best for fishing bobbers/floats. Same tippet used for spin gear as one would with fly gear.
Access points to get into areas for wade fishing are a bit limited right now because of high water, but a few do exist. Walk-in areas off of 72nd Street via Thornapple Road will get you into some good water. Get here off of M-82, which runs from US 131, into Newaygo itself. Other access points include the section of 72nd Street off of Pine Street, closer to Croton Dam, as well as the water within sight of the boat ramp off Thornapple, the High Rollaway roadside park off M-82, walk in water in Newaygo itself and the water close to the Newbridge boat launch as well.
The next month is going to be very interesting to see unfold because of water conditions. The hatch schedules are off a bit, but how much is anyone’s guess. I saw gray drakes flying over riffle water yesterday about three weeks early! We can also look for good smallmouth fishing come July and August, because of good water conditions in the river and Muskegon Lake.
I have the feeling we’re in for something special this late spring/early summer. The overall trout population is good and we have a few giants swimming amongst the masses. Some world-class trout have been caught this spring and will continue to be caught this summer, hopefully one is on the end of your line! Happy Fishing.
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