Muskegon River Fishing Report – December 1, 2025 – Newaygo, Michigan

The Muskegon river in the Newaygo, Michigan area is going through rapid changes with the recent and sustained weather patterns that have and are coming through Michigan and the Midwest.

We DID get some more water released through the Croton dam – LONG overdue – but it may be the “too little, too late” kind of thing, as Ol Man Winter gets a grip on this region.

River temperatures are rapidly dropping and fast approaching that critical 40 or below mark, where fishes metabolism slows down and fish can become lethargic. I’m all about doing some indicator nymphing for trout during the winter, but we just don’t have many steelhead in the system to justify a steelhead specific outing. So, if you want to get out before the end of 2025 or even into the new year before weather gets really sketchy and do some nymphing with 10′ long, 5 weight fly rods, touch base and lets look for a break in the weather.

Lastly, to put a wrap on fall/early winter steelhead fishing 2025 on the Muskegon river, it has been the strangest year overall of weather and river conditions, that I’ve seen since I started guiding full time in 1996. We had drought like conditions blanket a LOT of the country, while other regions was “100 year storms” come through and wreak havoc on those areas, but what a roller coaster ride here in Michigan with the weather over the last 8 months going back to late spring.

Most all who know me, know my perspective on doing guide trips during times when I KNOW fishing will most likely be poor and “catching” rather limited….I don’t do pricey boat rides when I know fishing is bad. If suitable or anticipated numbers of fish are around and it’s just a matter of them not biting on any given day, I’m ok with that. I have been on guided trips myself where we had fish – early 2000’s trip to eastern Quebec for Atlantic Salmon was a perfect example – but they just didn’t want to bite. Some “guides” are still running trips here as of late, but that’s more like being a river taxi than a GUIDE. I don’t know how they can continue to take clients money, day after day, and expect those same fish-less clients to re-book trip(s) for the future. Kind of shortsighted I believe…chasing the almighty buck -vs- doing what many consider to be the “right thing” in such a service based industry. I will save some extra pennies during busier times, so that I can cover my costs of “life” when such unexpected situations arise, as we all have them and I just plan a bit more in advance than some I guess. There, I’m off my soap box now !!!

Best to all for a good rest of your December, holidays ahead and welcoming of 2026 !

Jeff