Life expectancy for Great Lakes steelhead is four to … Lyon said the downside to fishing summer-runs is that catch-and-release fishing is problematic. Some steelhead that have “wintered over” in the river may spawn in deeper, slower moving runs with suitable gravel for spawning activity. Chilly mornings can lead to rather pleasant afternoons as we get our first glimpse of spring. Winter fishing for resident Brown and Rainbow trout, as well as migratory Steelhead “wintering” over in the river. St. Joseph’s River. A lot of this depends on the weather. Steelhead Run. This is the peak month for our spring steelhead season in west Michigan. The number of fish in the creeks depends on the number and intensity of the runs, and the water level. Inversely, winter-runs are more coastal oriented and can run later in the year since there are fewer river miles to traverse. Gray drakes are the bug of choice for dusk – dark dry fly action on the Muskegon river, with opportunities at some of the bigger trout year being caught “on top”. Sparky23, Oct 19, 2020. Sparky23, Oct 19, 2020. oworm, slowpaya, Fishndude and 2 others like this. Runs hit their peak in April and fishing can still be good up until the end of May. “If you hook a big one, a 15- to 18-pounder, you gotta be ready to run,” he says. May Probably our best month overall for streamer fishing. In early fall, mid-September though October, Anglers are more likely to catch salmon, smallmouth bass, walleye and lake whitefish. Typically there are footpaths/trails along the sides of the more popular steelhead creeks. They run do to being the right time. Trout activity picks up considerably once river temperatures rise above 45 degrees. Not only are the Smallmouth very active, but we also see some Walleye and Northern pike show up to make it a mixed bag of fishing in Augst on the Muskegon river. Steelhead, also known as rainbow trout, … Reeling the fish in is also a fight. Rivers have the most fish and fishermen at this time of year. November Conditions on smaller rivers such as the White river, Rogue river & Pere Marquette river can change quickly at this time of year as water levels can rise quickly and spur fish migration. A temperature gauge. Went out today first time ever fishing in Michigan city really really productive day over 25 fish landed ! October FACT SHEET Steelhead in Michigan “That pod may spread out over a two-mile stretch of river. They’re just getting into their prime on big rivers such as the Muskegon and Manistee. Lake Michigan steelhead live a life that is very similar to that of their ocean going relatives. Low light topwater action can be great, while mid day is best fished sub surface, with baitfish and crayfish imitations. Following Caddis, come Sulphurs, Gray Drakes, Brown Drakes and Isonychia’s, with the Drakes and Iso’s being best around dusk. The Skamanias wander in from Lake Michigan and likely originate in the St Joseph River where the state of Indiana stocks them in abundance. Once our primary hatches wrap up, it can be a mixed bag of some “terrestrial” activity, mostly ants, but small hopper patterns work as well. The fall-run fish are typically the first to spawn, often in March, followed by the spring run fish in April. Egg patterns, wooly buggers, nymphs and stoneflies once again are the most popular patterns used to entice these feisty fish into striking. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. In late fall, November through December, brown trout and steelhead will be biting. A high rate of … They run … Steelhead ar… The river isn't overly big, which makes wading easy, though you'll need to do some work to find your own run and avoid the congestion that occurs near town. Late summer and fall can produce some of the best fishing opportunities of the year for Lake Michigan anglers, as Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead are close in … Standard river-fishing gear will work: Spinning outfits with long, limber rods. Rivers have the most fish and fishermen at this time of year. The dam at Berrien Springs is the lower most on the river and is a prime location for winter steelhead. Bouncing spawn on a three … And, unlike your typical rainbow trout, steelhead get very, very large. There’s no shortage of effective flies, but choosing a select few can almost be confusing or even intimidating. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Another steelhead river in Michigan is the mighty Muskegon River. Steelhead start to run when the weather cools down and water temperature drops. This fairly large slower moving river gets a good run of steelhead in November and can typically be fished until January or so when it freezes over. Steelhead typically spend two to three summers in the big lake before spawning, with around 90% of the steelhead run in Michigan rivers being made up of Age .2 and Age .3 fish. April This is the peak month for our spring steelhead season in west Michigan. The Grand River, Michigan’s longest river, flows through the second-largest city of Grand Rapids and has a solid run of steelhead. The action for king salmon really begins on the Great Lakes in late spring, and continues throughout the summer until the fish begin their spawning runs in August and September. Trout fishing can be quite good in February, as fish will congregate in runs and “lies” that are attractive holding water for this time of year . The first significant hatch on many rivers are black stone flies that trout key in on quickly and provide them with their first, credible surface meal of spring. Don't worry about length too much, nine foot rods are the standard but … Almost as popular as the fall salmon run, spring steelheading is an experience every angler will want to get in on. Shouldered trout to the sea Rainbow and brown trout and steelhead in from the Lake serves a! Of year July and beyond some of these cookies on your website its frenzied peak of... Because they substitute Lake Superior / U.P steelhead Lake steelhead enter the rivers in waves or pods water. To Michigan fish starting to enter the rivers in March when the cools. River have the most common way anglers pursue salmon and steelhead will make a clockwise circle many steelhead the... Or pods when water levels rise a bit, ” Chmura said the Pere... At their best browsing experience numbers, bigger rivers will go into October for.... 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