
Steelhead
- Steelhead
are the ultimate game fish in Michigan Rivers. Like Salmon, Steelhead
are born in rivers but spend their growing years in larger bodies
of water. Our Great Lakes Steelhead return after three or four
years, then head out to the big lake again.
These beautiful
fish average 8-10 pounds and occasionally a monster close to 20
pounds is caught. Natural reproduction is increasing so join us
to catch a Wild Trophy Steelhead and the memory of a lifetime!
Muskegon
River Fall Steelhead - Great Lakes Steelhead
migrate into our rivers
in late October. These
hard charging, acrobatic, exhilarating chrome bullets enter the
Muskegon River in mid October while Michigan strain- Chinook salmon
are spawning. Bright silver egg robbers cruise spawning salmon
redds searching for free egg samples. Drifting egg patterns behind
the spawning Chinook is the preferred method for taking early
fall Steelhead.
Later in the
the season when when the water temperature cools, greater numbers
of Fall Steelhead enter the lower Muskegon River. Fishing spawn
drifted under a float just can't be beat. These Steelhead are
fresh, just in from the lake.
Peak
Dates: Late October, November, December 
Muskegon River Fall Steelhead!
Muskegon River Winter Steelhead - During the winter months,
fall and winter steelhead stage in the lower Muskegon River below
Newaygo. Due to colder water, these Steelhead group up in deep
holding water and slowly make their way up river. This is exceptional
time of year to focus on good numbers of Fall and Winter Steelhead
with few anglers on the River. Both Fly Fishing and Floats &
Spawn are very effective for targeting these great fish!
Peak
Dates: December, January, February,
March

~ Muskegon River Winter Steelhead ~
Michigan's
Spring Steelhead - In late February, the winter steelhead
move up river and begin their migration to their spawning areas.
Steelhead feed heavily on stone flies, caddis larvae, and Chinook
fry. During March, April and May, Steelhead begin to polish gravel
and begin to spawn. During this time, Fly Fishing Steelhead is
at it's absolute best!! Anglers can visually seek steelhead and
make casts to the spawning Spring Steelhead. Sight fishing to
Steelhead on gravel and watching them take the fly makes this
an exhilarating experience!!
Peak
Dates: March, April, May, early June
~
~ Michigan's Muskegon
River Spring Steelhead ~
Summer
Steelhead - (Skamania Strain) Probably the most noted, the
St. Joseph River, located in southwest Michigan, is perhaps the
most reliable River in Michigan for Skamania Steelhead. Both Michigan
and Indiana, plant more than one hundred thousand summer run steelhead
a year into the St. Joe River. Numbers of adult Summer Steelhead
return to the river as adults. Skamania Steelhead stage at the
mouths of cool spring creeks flowing into the larger main stream.
Large groups of steelhead cruise clearly visible to the fly caster.
Casting the fly to particular fish, managing the drift, and watching
the take make this fly fishing experience extraordinary.
Peak
Dates: Late June, July, August