Fly Fishing Report Muskegon River Updated 04/26/24
(Bottom Of Page)
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Tailwater
Species
Steelhead
Salmon
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Size
Large
Location
Northwest Michigan
Nearest Towns
Muskegon
Croton
Season
Varies with species
Special Regulations
Yes, be sure you check them prior to
fishing.
Access:
Fair
Non-Resident License
State of Michigan
Weather
National Weather Service Link
USGS Real Time Stream Flow:
Seasons:
The season varies with the species and location.
Spring:
Springtime is the best time fly fishing the Muskegon River for trout because of the numerous hatches. Steelhead can be caught as late as the first of May depending on the weather.
Summer:
Summertime continues to be a good time for trout thanks to the cold water discharge.
Fall:
Salmon first enter the river and the steelhead follow. Steelhead begin entering the Muskegon River as early as the first of October. The fishing is good throughout the Fall. Trout fishing remains good during the Fall.
Winter:
All but the coldest days of Winter can be good for steelhead and trout. The extremely cold water of January and February can make the fish sluggish but otherwise, fishing remains good throughout the Winter. .
Recommended Tackle & Gear
For Steelhead and Salmon
Fly Line:
7, 8 , 9 or 10 weight for appropriate typerod, sinking, sinking tip and floating
Leaders:
10#, 12# in 9 to 15 feet lengths
Tippets:
10# and 12#
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft. single hand rods
Fly Reels:
For 7 to 10 weight lines
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
KISS Strike Indicators, Lanyards, etc.
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing the Muskegon River Michigan
The Muskegon River is a tailwater that flows from Muskegon Lake through Croton Dam into Lake Michigan. It’s located in the western portion of the lower peninsula of Michigan. It’s popular for its large runs of steelhead and salmon as well as its trout fishing opportunities. Fly fishing the Muskegon River can be good all year long, thanks to its diverse species of fish. We update the Muskegon River fishing report often, so check back with us often.
The great fishery hasn’t always existed. The power company that operates the dam, CMS Energy, began a controlled release schedule in 1994 that greatly improved the tailwater. The thirty-five mile long tailwater averages over two-hundred feet in width and is best fished from a drift boat but plenty of wading opportunities also exist.
The Muskegon River is a smooth flowing tailwater that reminds us of Montana’s Missouri River below Coulter Dam. Current seams makes dry fly presentations tricky and the rainbow and brown trout can be very selective at times. The stream’s aquatic vegetation helps create the varying current. The bottom consist mostly of a mixture of sand and soil with small stones, cobble and some larger rocks.
Steelhead enter the river in October following the salmon. They can be caught throughout the Fall, Winter and early Spring months until as late as May. Salmon enter the river in late September and are in the river into November.
Aquatic insects are plentiful in the Muskegon River thanks to its good pH level, aquatic vegetation and consistent water levels. Mayflies, caddisflies and a few stoneflies provide plenty of food for the trout. Steelhead are taken on a wide variety of flies including nymphs, streamers and egg patterns. Spey fishing is popular and irregardless of the type of rod used, swinging the wet fly is effective most of the time.
There are a few areas of the river that are accessible from the bank that can be waded. There are access areas on both side of the river just below the dam.
A drift boat provides better opportunities, especially if your steelhead fishing, because it allows you to cover much more water. The Muskegon River is definitely one of Michigan’s top fly fishing destinations. Thank you for visiting our Muskegon River fishing report.
Muskegon River Fishing Report:
02/18/2020 The lower river is still turning
out steelhead. Fish eggs and our Perfect
Fly steelhead nymph patterns in the deeper
water.
03/08/2020 Steelhead, mostly holdovers,
are being caught.
05/13/20 The river level is normal and lots
of hatches are taking place. Send us an
email for a fly list:
sales@perfectflystore.com
06/14/20 The stream is a little high, too high
to wade in some places, okay in others.
There are good hatches taking place and
trout are being caught when levels are okay.
06/27/20 The river is still running a little
high but can be fished. There are some
good hatches. Trout are being caught.
07/11/20 We have been getting some
good reports on trout from customers.
There are multiple hatches taking place.
07/24/20 The river is turning out some
trout but many areas are too warm.
Smallmouth bass fishing is good.
08/12/20 The river is flowing a little above
normal levels. it is still too warm for good
trout fishing. Smallmouth bass are being
caught in good numbers.
08/30/20 Trout are still being caught in
the upper sections of the river. Get your
gear and flies in order for the upcoming
salmon/steelhead season. Shoot us an
email and we will help you.
09/20/20 There are some salmon in the
river and steelhead are also starting to
come in.
10/09/20 There are lots of salmon and
steelhead in the river and our customers
are sending in good reports.
10/21/20 We continue to get good reports.
Steelhead are taking our nymphs,
streamers and egg flies.
11/07/20 We continue to get good reports
from customers fishing for steelhead. They
are nymphing, swinging and using eggs.
Shoot us an email for a fly list.
11/21/20 More good reports are coming in
from customers fishing for steelhead. Our
Veiled Beadhead Crystal egg is working
geat.
12/13/20 More good reports are in from
customers catching steelhead. Stream
levels are in good shape.
12/24/20 Steelhead are still being caught
by our customers in good numbers. Now
is the time to be on the river.
01/08/21 Resident trout and steelhead
are still being caught by our customers
fishing below Croton Dam. Shoot us an
email for recommendations:
sales@perfectflystore.com
01/25/21 Fish are still being caught near
the discharge of the dam where the water
is warmer. Use our Perfect Fly steelhead
nymphs.
02/09/21 We didn’t receive any reports
on steelhead or trout this past week. Lots
of slush ice in the water. Let is warm up a
little.
03/17/21 We are getting a few steelhead
reports. Fish the pools with our steelhead
nymphs for the best results.
04/30/21 The river is in good shape with good levels. There are some good hatches starting to take place. Send us and email for a fly and gear list and let us help you plan that next trip.
05/08/21 The stream levels are still well below normal in the tailwater. We are getting some good reports. The recent cold weather has had little effect on the water temperature.
05/16/21 The river is turning out some good catches of trout. There are several insects hatching and trout are being caught on the surface as well as on nymphs and streamers. Call or write us for a recommended fly and gear list.
05/22/21 More good reports have come in on trout. Now is the time to be there fishing for them.
06/07/21 The stream is a little low but we are still getting very good reports on trout from customers. Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.
06/20/21 Conditions remain about the same. The stream levels are still a little below normal but there are good hatches and we still are getting a few good reports.
07/01/21 The stream is flowing at a normal level with clear water. Fish the upper sections near the dam where the water is cooler. Good hatches are still taking place.
07/14/21 The stream levels are up to normal level and the stream in good shape. We are getting good reports from customers.
07/20/21 Stream levels are still in good shape and we continue to get some good reports from customers fishing for trout.
07/27/21 More good reports have come in from customers fishing for trout. There are good hatches and our terrestrial imitations are working.
08/03/21 The stream is still in good shape with good levels and clear water. We didn’t receive any reports this past week but you should be able to catch plenty trout.
08/12/21 Discharges and stream levels are up a lot due to recent rain but should get back to normal very soon. We have been getting very good reports from customers.
08/20/21 The stream is back down in good shape. Trout fishing should continue to be good. Get you flies and gear ready for salmon and steelhead. Call or write us. They start coming into the river in September.
08/28/21 Stream levels are up just a little above normal level. Trout fishing is still good and we should start seeing salmon coming into the river anytime now.
09/06/21 The stream levels are in okay shape and salmon are coming into the river in good numbers. We received on good report on trout.
09/17/21 Stream levels are a little high but that is bringing in the salmon in good numbers and steelhead will be coming soon. Trout fishing is still good as well.
09/26/21 More good reports came in this past week. Conditions are good.
10/06/21 Good numbers of steelhead have entered the river and being caught by our customers.
10/18/21 Both salmon and steelhead are in the river and being caught by our customers. Swinging and nymphing are both working.
10/28/21 More good reports from customers have come in. Steelhead are being caught in good numbers.
11/04/21 Stream levels are a little high but we are still getting some good reports from customers catching steelhead. Our Hexigenia steelhead nymph is working good.
11/12/21 The river is flowing at a normal level and clear. We received three good reports from customers fishing for steelhead last week. Be sure to check out our steelhead flies.
11/20/21 The river is flowing a little above normal level but okay. We received two good reports this past week from customers fishing for steelhead.
11/29/21 More good reports from customers catching steelhead came in this past week.
12/08/21 The stream is flowing at a normal level in good shape. We received two good reports from customers fishing for steelhead this past week.
12/16/21 The stream levels are very high. Give it a couple of days to fall out. We have been getting good reports from customers fishing for steelhead.
12/24/21 The stream levels are down a lot and it is getting in good shape. You should be able to catch steelhead.
01/01/22 The stream levels are in good shape. We received one good report from a customer catching steelhead this past week.
01/09/22 We received one good report from a customer catching steelhead. The water is cold. Fish the deep water using our Steelhead Hexigenia and Giant Black nymphs.
01/17/22 We received another good report from a customer fishing for steelhead this past week below the dam.
01/25/22 We didn’t get any reports from anyone this past week. The fish were happy but not the anglers that can’t handle the cold weather.
02/02/22 We still didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week. Conditions are not that bad. Let us hear from you.
02/10/22 We received two good reports from customers fishing for steelhead this past week. Stream levels are still okay.
02/18/22 We received two more good reports from customers fishing for steelhead this past week. Conditions are still good.
02/26/22 We received another good report from a customer fishing for steelhead this past week. The water is cold but otherwise in okay shape.
03/06/22 The stream is flowing below a normal level and clear. We received on good report this past week.
03/14/22 Stream levels are okay and the water mostly clear. Steelhead are being caught. Try our Sucker Spawn fly and Hexigenia Steelhead nymphs.
03/22/22 Stream levels are normal and the water clear. The water is a little warmer, enough to help the “catching”.
04/07/22 There should be a good number of steelhead in the river but the stream levels are currently too high to fish. Fish when it drops some.
04/23/22 Stream levels are just a little above normal level and the water clear. Steelhead are still being caught as we have received some good reports the past week.
05/01/22 Steelhead is about done for the spring but trout fishing should be getting red hot very soon. The water is getting warmer and up near the magic 50 degree point.
05/09/22 The stream is in very good shape with good hatches starting to take place. Good hatches of Blue Quills, BWOs, Quill Gordons, Hendricksons/Red quills, little Black caddis and little Brown stoneflies are hatching.
05/17/22 Conditions remain about the same. We are getting good reports from customers.
05/25/22 The stream is flowing at a normal level with clear water. There are multiple hatches taking place and we continue to get some very good report from customers fishing for trout.
06/02/22 The stream is still turning out some good catches of trout for our customers. Steam levels are fine and multiple hatches continue to take place.
06/09/22 The stream is still producing good trout fly fishing opportunity thanks to some very good hatches taking place. We continue to get some good report from customers.
06/17/22 We are still getting good reports from customers fishing for trout. Very good hatches are taking place and dry fly fishing is good.
06/24/22 Conditions remain good, Good hatches are coming off and dry fly fishing is very good.
07/01/22 The stream is turning out some good catches of trout for customers. Very good hatches are coming off.
07/15/22 We received two good reports this past week. Hatches are coming off good and our terrestrial patterns are also working. Good stream levels exist.
07/22/22 The stream is still in good shape with good levels and clear water. We continue to get good reports from customers. Hatches continue to take place and our terrestrials are working good.
08/05/22 Stream levels are near normal and the water clear. Good hatches continue to take place and we continue to get good reports from customers fishing for trout.
08/12/22 Trout are still being caught in the upper sections of the river. Get your gear and flies in order for the upcoming salmon/steelhead season. Shoot us an email and we will help you.
08/26/22 The stream is still turning out some good catches of trout, especially large browns.
09/05/22 Get ready for salmon. They should start entering the river soon. Trout fishing is still very good.
09/19/22 Trout are still being caught by our customers. Good hatches continue to occur. Steelhead will be moving into the river very soon now, so make sure you are ready with flies and gear.
09/26/22 The stream is in okay condition with flows just a little above normal. We didn’t get any reports from the past week but it should be good. Get ready for steelhead.
10/09/22 Both Coho and King Salmon are in the river. It is still a little low. We didn’t receive any catch reports but it should be good.
10/31/22 Both salmon and steelhead are being caught. Conditions are good. Our steelhead flies are producing – both nymphs and streamers.
11/30/22 The stream is still producing good catches of steelhead. Swinging, nymphing and fishing our extaz egg patterns are working.
12/31/22 Stream levels have been rising and are running above normal. We continue to receive good reports of fish being caught.
02/03/23 The lower river is still turning out some nice steelhead. Fish our Estaz eggs and our Perfect Fly steelhead nymph patterns in the deeper
water.
03/09/23 We haven’t received any recent reports from anyone fishing but there are steelhead in the river. Let us hear from you.
04/08/23 We finally did get a good report from a customer catching steelhead.
04/22/23 Stream levels are near a normal level and the water clear. Steelhead are still being caught as we have received some good reports the past week.
05/01/23 Steelhead fishing is about done for the season. Trout are being caught from good hatches taking place.
05/10/23 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. We received two good reports from customers fishing for trout this past week. Good hatches are taking place.
05/21/23 Good hatches continue to take place. We received two good reports from customers fishing for trout this past week.
06/05/23 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear.
Good hatches are taking place and we are getting good reports from customers fishing for trout.
06/13/23 Conditions remain about the same as last week.
06/24/23 Stream levels are a little low and the water clear. We received two good reports from customers fishing for trout.
07/01/23 The stream is flowing near a normal level with clear water. We recommend fishing the upper sections near the dam where the water is cooler. Good hatches are still taking place.
07/12/23 Good conditions continue to exist. Very good hatches are taking place. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.
07/21/23 Fish near the dam discharge for cooler water. Good hatches are taking place. We received another good report from a customer fishing it this past week.
07/31/23 The stream is still getting a little warm in its lower sections. Again, fishing near the dam discharge will solve that and bring some good success.
08/04/23 The river is turning out some trout but many areas are too warm. Smallmouth bass fishing is very good.
08/11/23 The river is still producing some good smallmouth bass fishing. Customers are using our crayfish patterns, popping bugs and stealth bombers.
08/20/23 Smallmouth are still being caught in good numbers. Get ready for salmon as they usually start by the end of this month.
08/27/23 Smallmouth bass fishing is still good. Salmon and then steelhead should start coming into the river the first of next month. Let us help you get set up for it.
09/11/23 We are still getting good smallmouth bass reports. They are taking our crayfish patterns very well.
09/18/23 The stream is in good shape with good smallmouth bass fishing opportunity and ready for salmon and steehead to start being the headline.
09/25/23 Stream levels are normal. Salmon should start coming into river any time now.
10/02/23 The stream is at a normal level and clear. Trout fishing should still be very good although we didn’t receive any reports. Salmon should start showing up soon.
10/09/23 Both Coho and King are in the river being caught. Get ready for steelhead coming soon.
10/20/23 Good levels on the river are bringing steelhead in and our steelhead nymph and streamer patterns are catching fish.
11/02/23 The river is slightly below normal, but conditions remains good.
11/03/23 Steelhead are in the river. We received one good report of them being caught. mail us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.
11/16/23 Conditions remain good. We continue to get good steelhead catch reports from customers. Swinging and Nymphing methods are both working.
11/26/23 We received more good reports from anglers fishing for steelhead. Nymphs and streamers are both working good.
12/09/23 Conditions remain good. We are getting lot of catch reports on steelhead.
12/29/23 We received two good reports from customers fishing for steelhead this past week. Swinging our Hex nymphs and egg sucking leech patterns are working good.
01/12/24 The stream is in good shape flowing at a good level and clear. We are still getting good catch reports from customers fishing for steelhead.
01/21/24 Conditions remain good. Good stream levels and good catch reports.
02/01/24 The stream is flowing at a normal level and clear. We continue to get good steelhead catch reports from customers. Our Hexigenia steelhead nymphs, Giant Black steelhead nymphs and Egg sucking leech patterns are working good.
02/12/24 More good reports have come in. Stream levels are still normal and the water is clear.
02/23/24 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. We are still getting good catch reports from customers.
03/01/24 The stream is flowing just a little above a normal level and clear. We received one good report from a customer fishing yesterday.
03/08/24 The stream is flowing above a normal level and stained. Give it some time to drop and clear.
03/14/24 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. We received one good report of steelhead being caught.
03/22/24 Conditions are good. The water is clear and flowing near a normal level. You should be able to catch steelhead and trout.
03/29/24 Condition are still good. We didn’t receive any catch reports but you should be able to catch trout or steelhead.
04/05/24 We didn’t receive any reports on steelhead catches but they are still in the river. Trout fishing will be getting good soon as the water is getting warmer.
04/12/24 Steelhead are being caught as we received two good reports from customers this past week. Trout fishing should also be starting to get good with new hatches taking place.
04/19/24 Steelhead fishing is over. Trout are being caught in good numbers thanks to good hatches.
04/26/24 The stream is flowing below a normal level and clear. We are getting good catch reports from customers fishing for trout. Good hatches are taking place. Shoot us an email for fly recommendations.
Click Here to see our Steelhead Flies: Click Here to see our Salmon Flies: