Seasons

Fall and Winter Steelhead fishing

Early October to Mid-February

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We use Sink Tip Lines with marabou spey flies or weighted shooting lines tipped with egg flies and nymphs to target the "mini tarpon" of the Midwest. Fall is the time of year that steelhead are most aggressive and actively feeding. Fish are most aggressive in early October when water temperatures are the most favorable, but can be caught in the worst weather conditions all winter long.  A great thing about Winter is there is  virtually no pressure from other fishermen. Trips typically start early in the early morning for Fall steelies, and later as the colder weather hits. 

Spring Steelhead

March to May 10th.



Steelhead begin their spawning activity as soon as the water hits 42 degrees.  Smaller watersheds like the Pere Marquette or White Rivers warm first.  Look for spawning activity to peak in late March on the smaller rivers and in late April on the bigger tail water fisheries like the Muskegon or Big Manistee. Late steelhead season offers some excellent trout fishing with streamers between steelhead spots. Trips start in the morning and will start earlier as the angling pressure permits.

Streamer Fishing for Trout

Late April to Sometime in June 

  

This time period offers some excellent streamer fishing during the Salmon smolt out migration, where we fish sink tip lines and minnow imitations to catch bigger fish that will not become insect oriented until the peak of the dry fly season. Streamer fishing is the most productive method in Michigan to catch large trout on a regular basis all day long. On some occasions we catch drop back Steelhead  are feeding heavily in the pools on the way back to Lake Michigan. Typical start time 8am.

Dryfly season for Trout

May 20 ish to October

Grey Drake and Hexigenia hatches are the main trout fare! After they are over and the summer is in full swing, we can have daytime dry fly fishing with a variety of terrestrial patterns. 


Salmon Season

Mid August through Oct 10.

Salmon enter the rivers as early as late June on some of the rivers in West Michigan but mid August offers more consistent fishing as the water temperatures cool down. From Mid August to Early September we occasionally use heavy spinning tackle and cast large spinners for the Salmon. Salmon are used to feeding on Aielwives and smelt (baitfish) in Lake Michigan and do not always respond well to flies. We also will fly fish sinking lines and larger streamer patterns to early Kings, but do not have the results of spinners. Fish respond well to flies in early September when the water cools down more and they become more aggressive before and during spawning. typical start time 7am