Muskegon River Fly Fishing Guide

The Muskegon River,
named Muskegon by Native Americans, a Chippewa term meaning River with Marshes. The Muskegon river is the 2nd longest river in Michigan at approximately 219 miles in length . Its also the river that separates the warm water rivers from the cold water rivers to the north.

The Muskegon River off Lake Michigan The first Dam built on the Muskegon River was in the town of Newaygo in 1854, mainly for the mills that sprang up during the logging era. The next dam was Rodgers, at 56 feet tall near the town of Stanwood. Then came Croton Dam at 60 feet tall upstream from Newaygo near the small town of Croton. It was the first hydroelectric dam to generate 110,000 watts of electricity in the world. The last major dam was Hardy, upstream from Croton Dam. At 120 feet tall and the world's largest earthen dam at the time, it was quite a feat for 1931.

Trout fly fishing guide on the Muskegon River

Newaygo Michigan Fishing Muskegon River Steelead Fishing

The Newaygo Dam, the first built was removed in 1969 since it was getting dilapidated and no longer of much use. This opened up many miles of prime spawning areas for the newly planted salmon and steelhead and would prove to be the best stretch for both trout and salmon. From Croton down to Newaygo there are holes that run for yards tailing out to gravel riffles that stretch from bank to bank. The classic hole-run riffle that Trout and Salmon so desire and need to propagate their species was now open to them.

Fall salmon Fishing on the Muskegon River

Muskegon River Salmon, Steelhead and Trout fly fishing guide

The Muskegon River starts from spring-fed brooks that flow to Higgins and Houghton Lakes, the latter being the largest inland lake in Michigan. Most of the upper Muskegon River is too warm, slow, and silty for trout and supports fisheries for walleye, northern pike, small mouth bass, and other warm water species. Some of the tributaries that are cold enough do support trout but the main focus for local and visiting anglers, on the Muskegon River, is the nationally renowned stretch from Croton Dam to Newaygo.

This stretch has the greatest abundance of brown trout, rainbow trout, and steelhead. This stretch also has the greatest abundance of aquatic insects which makes for great hatches of caddis flies, various mayflies, midges, and stoneflies.

For the nymphs and dry fly enthusiast, Muskegon River steamer fishing can also be excellent with patterns that imitate the natural minnows that inhabit the river such as sculpins, dace, chubs, small trout, salmon fry, and shiners. also abundant are crayfish. Slow heavy Streamer fishing can bring browns and big smallies to the net for a very nice mixed bag of fly fishing for the day. Leach and lamprey patterns also have their times so being versatile can definitely pay off. For the fishermen that's not into all fly fishing, using spinners and jigs and various crank baits can produce the same results.

Newaygo Michigan Fishing Muskegon River Fly Fishing Muskegon River Steelead Fishing

Muskegon River Trout Fishing The Muskegon River is a large river at 150+ yards across, swift current and deep holes. It offers outstanding fishing and outdoor beauty. One hundred and fifty foot banks and large oak, maple, cedar, aspen and white pine forests coupled with an abundance of wildlife make for a very memorable fishing trip. The Muskegon River has a lot to offer as an all-year fishery, from spring steelhead and walleye to summer trout and small mouth bass. Don't forget about the fall Salmon run with steelhead right at their heals looking for an easy feast of salmon eggs. The Muskegon River is world class fishing with something for everyone.