Michigan Rivers Fishing Reports & Conditions
September 3, 2010
Below are current fishing reports for the 6 rivers that we guide most often. At the bottom of each report is a brief description of that particular river.
Muskegon River
The Muskegon river near Newaygo, MI is running near average flows for late summer.
The upper Muskegon river, from Hardy dam up to Big Rapids, is running a bit below average, but still fishing good.
Hatches that are taking place now near Croton dam include morning BWO's and some Trico's, as well as green Caddis that should be hatching more frequently as we get cooler days and nights this coming week+.
Smallmouth bass are really the fish of choice on the Muskegon river for willingness to bite, putting up a good battle and revive rather quickly.
We've been getting some Northern Pike and Walleye on the upper stretches of the Muskegon as well.
Fly patterns to have on hand for smallmouth, include poppers in various colors, leech, crayfish and baitfish patterns, along with some bright pastel "attractor" streamers.
Water temps in the low 70's near Newaygo and mid 70's in the lower river and upper 60's in the upper stretches.
A traditional tailwater fishery, the Muskegon is a true "big river". It spans more than 100 yards at its widest points and flows over 200 miles south and west from northern lower Michigan, into the port town of Muskegon on the lake Michigan shoreline. This rich river system is home to numerous insects & hatches and host to resident rainbow and brown trout. The Muskegon river also receives migratory runs of fall salmon and spring steelhead that provide outstanding big game action for the fly fisher. Most all fly fishing techniques are employed on the mighty Muskegon, from dry fly to indicator nymphing, streamers and bottom bounce nymphing for migratory big game.
Pere Marquette river
The Pere Marquette river is running above average flows after heavy rains came through yesterday.
Daytime hatches include some Trico's and BWO's, both best in the mornings or cloudy days.
Terrestrial fishing had been bringing some fish to the surface, but with the rise in water levels and pending cooler temps over the next few days, this will likely shut down until warmer conditions return.
Some early migratory Chinook Salmon are in and willing to bite lures in the lower river. Recent trips have brought a few fish to the net and it will only improve with dropping water temps, both in the river and "hopefully" lake MI as well.
Heavy rains of the last day+ and forecasted high winds, may be enough to get some cooler water close to shore and bring more salmon in the river.
Water temps range from low 60's in the upper stretches to near 70 in the middle/lower river.
The famous Pere Marquette is a spring fed river system, which begins just east of the town of Baldwin, MI and flows nearly 100 miles west into Pere Marquette lake, neighboring the coastal town of Ludington on lake Michigan's shoreline. The "PM", as it's known, is home to the famous "hex" fly, which hatches at dusk, in June and traditionally brings the largest trout in the river to the surface for their once a year feast on these giant mayflies. The Pere Marquette, being a moderate river in size, spans from 15-40 yards in width for a majority of the river system and is best fly fished via dry fly, streamer and indicator nymphing techniques. Designated a "National Scenic river" by the United States Department of Agriculture, and with a protected "flies only - catch & release" stretch, the PM draws both anglers and outdoor enthusiasts from across the country.
Grand river
The Grand is running near average flows now and is actually at the lowest level it has seen in a month+. Smallmouth bass are a fish of choice on the Grand, but Walleye are also available to the persistent angler.
From Lansing, downstream to Grand Haven, warmwater species reign and after this cold snap moves through the Midwest, we should return to good fishing for Smallmouth and Pike.
Patterns to have on hand include leeches, crayfish & 3-4" baitfish patterns for subsurface and poppers, Dalhberg divers and small snake patterns for floating line. Both floating and sinking/sink tip lines work well. Best to have both available and be able to switch from one to the other quickly.
Water temps in mid 70's.
The Grand river begins south of the capital city of Lansing, MI and flows first north, then west through the agricultural towns of Portland, Ionia and Lowell before coming to Grand Rapids and ultimately entering lake Michigan through the port town of Grand Haven. Our largest river in Michigan, it spans over 250 miles in all. The Grand river is home to various warmwater species, including bass, pike, walleye, various panfish and more, but also gets a migratory run of fall salmon and spring steelhead that search out cold tributaries to the Grand river spawn in. Nearly any fly fishing technique can be affectively applied when fishing the Grand river due to the diverse species of fish that call it home and general makeup of such a big river.
Manistee river
Another Michigan tailwater, the Manistee river runs over 200 miles through the northern lower peninsula through the villages of Sharon, Smithville and others, eventually into lake Michigan at Manistee. The upper stretches of the Manistee above Tippy Dam is relatively narrow compared to its same water cousin below the dam. The upper stretches are home to the famous "hex" hatch, amongst others and holds some of the largest brown trout in the state. Below Tippy, the river takes on a classic tailwater appearance the first few miles, before it transforms into a slower moving, moderate current speed river system that resident rainbow and brown trout call home. Being a "run of river" tributary to lake Michigan, it receives excellent migratory runs of fall salmon and spring steelhead.
Upper Manistee River
The upper Manistee river is a spring fed river system, which begins around the Houghton Lake area, and flows nearly 100 miles west into Lake Michigan in the town of Manistee. The upper Manistee is known for the famous "hex" hatch, which hatches at dusk, in June and traditionally brings the largest trout in the river to the surface for their once a year feast on these giant mayflies. The upper Manistee, being a moderate river in size, spans from 15-40 yards in width for a majority of the river system and is best fly fished via dry fly, streamer and indicator nymphing techniques. Designated a "Michigan wild river" by the Michigan DNR, and with a protected "flies only - catch & release" stretch, the upper Manistee draws both anglers and outdoor enthusiasts from across the country.
Rogue river
The Rogue river in western Michigan is over 40 miles long and runs through Newaygo and Kent counties before joining the Grand river just north of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Rogue receives annual plantings of both rainbow and brown trout from the Michigan DNR, making for a nice small river for the fly fisher to pursue resident trout in. It also receives migratory runs of fall salmon and spring steelhead making it a great, near urban fishery for big game. The most common techniques for the fly fisher include dry fly for trout, as well as nymphing and streamer fishing for migratory species.
White river
The White River in the western lower peninsula of Michigan, rises from the extensive Oxford swamp in north central Newaygo County, into the rural town of Hesperia, through the Hesperia dam and eventually into lake Michigan at Whitehall. The White is home to resident trout both above and below the Hesperia dam, although most angling activity is below the dam as it receives annual runs of migratory fall salmon and spring steelhead. A rather small river, from 15-30 yards in width and can be wade fished throughout most of the river system. It's best fly fished with a dry fly for trout and with nymphing and streamer rigs for migratory fish.
Flat river
The Flat river is a tributary to the Grand river and emerges from a six a six lakes sytem in Montcalm county. Known for the bass and rather large carp that call it home, the Flat river runs through the town of Lowell, just east of Grand Rapids. Smallmouth bass are the primary quarry, from early spring streamer fishing through summer fly hatches that will bring bass to the surface for flies at dusk. Best fished early spring through mid-summer, the Flat flows from a 30-40 yard wide river with good structure and current flow, into a marsh before it's directed through a dam in Lowell and shortly after, feeds directly into the Grand river. Can be waded in many spots, best accessed from a boat near the headwaters of the marsh.
