Winter Steelhead in Michigan - Float fishing guides. (231) 519-7348

Mild temperatures over the past month have made water temperatures above average and favorable for steelhead fishing. With the ridiculous numbers of Fall Steelhead that entered the river in November/ December, January and February should offer some outstanding Winter Steelhead fishing throughout the Winter months. Steelhead on the Muskegon River are certainly larger than average, as we have had three Steelhead near 17lbs, and one over 18 pounds! That is a trophy in anyone's book with most fish averaging in the 10 lb range!

Our best techniques over the past two weeks have been fly fishing with the Alaskan bead technique and floats/spawn combo is also working very well producing over a steelhead per hour. Trout fishing has also been excellent in the upper river with resident trout being healthy, fat and sassy!

Step on board for one of the best Fall / Winter Steelhead runs in over a decade! If you ever wanted to learn to steelhead fish, now is the time! Steelhead fishing has been very good over the past week making this December one of the best migrations in over a decade. Both the numbers of steelhead and the average size have been larger that years past. This trend should offer tremendous fishing oppetunities through December and the winter months. The long-range weather looks to have our run of above normal temperatures ending and seasonal conditions becoming the norm. Steelhead fishing forecast looks excellent!   Muskegon River Fishing Report

Muskegon River Winter Steelhead - Betts Guide Service

Muskegon River Steelhead fishing has been outstanding over the last few days! Spring Steelhead on the Muskegon River are starting to fish well near the Croton Dam. Jigs and wax worms and floats / spawn all fishing well for new spring steelhead. Mid-section - Thornapple to Pine st. has also been fishing well.

Fly Fishing has been doing well. Best pattern for the Muskegon have been the Mojo fry pattern, dark knight, Hex nymphs, clown eggs, and Ice Man minnows. Fry patterns have been outfishing clown eggs and egg patterns. Stone flies fishing well on sunny days. Had a fantastic three days with Dr. Steve and Josh. They landed 15 steelhead in three days on straight flies with both myself and Jimmy B. We fished mostly the upper river.

We should expect to receive good numbers of steelhead and trout over the next few days. Longer day light, Strong full moons, and slightly higher than normal water levels have steelhead on the move. Good number moving up from the lower river.

Steelhead dates available for this weekend. Steelhead fishing has been very good with warmer tempratures ahead! Both Floats Spawn or Fly Fishing!
Water levels are stable: 1900 cfs: Muskegon River Streamflow Data


Wednesday - Had a fantastic day with Wally Riker and Marvin! Today was the first day of the spring season that stones flies outfished and out produced all other methods including floats / spawn. There were a lot of stone flies in the water column - We landed quite a few steelhead today while fly fishing. Water levels are slightly up and stained. Perfect levels to bring in some great new chromers from Muskegon Lake.



Stone flies are now emerging along the frozen shoreline - This is great news for Steelhead and Trout fishing. Stone flies will be the primary food source for Trout and Steelhead for the next several months. Look for changes in fly patterns for Steelhead - going from egg patterns to Stone flies- Fish have begun to key in on small dark nymphs drifted along the bottom. Muskegon River Fishing Report