Fishing Report – October 30, 2014

Chris, from IN, with a sample of “MO Chrome” from his recent outing.

Muskegon River

The Muskegon river near Newaygo, MI is running near “average” flows for this time of fall, but “average” has taken on a new meaning in recent years, with an overall drop of average river levels on the Mighty Muskegon.  Attempts at getting archived data to share in future posts is in progress at this time.

The annual Chinook salmon run is coming to an end here shortly, with a pretty good run overall this fall.  By no means as sketchy as the Pere Marquette rivers run this fall and possibly on par with the Manistee.  Overall, it has been an odd fall season in Michigan and the Midwest in  general, what does Mother Nature have in store for us in the months ahead ….???

The fall Steelhead run is going right now and will up to if not through, the end of December.  Water temperature is still a bit warm for late October, so we should see good conditions for quite some time.  Steelhead are in the entire river system, but with low water, some are hesitant to make if up near Newaygo and are holding up in water between Bridgeton and Muskegon  itself.  For fly fishing anglers, swinging flies, bottom bouncing flies with chuck and duck rigs or fishing floating line and indicator rigs are all an option for our silver fall friends.  Water levels and temps determine where fish will hold and ultimately, what technique one chooses to use.  Spin gear rigs would be very similar to fly gear, with swung/slow retrieved lures in similar runs one would swing a fly through, bottom bouncing bait or flies, as well as fishing floats/bobbers for conventional tackle anglers.

Lake run Brown trout are making their way into the river as well, with the best fishing yet to come for them.  They will be focused on getting up near optimal spawning grounds as we get into colder conditions.

Resident Brown and Rainbow trout are always around to fish to as well and they will be feeding more heavily as water temperatures drop and colder conditions of fall and early winter set in.

Present water temperature in the low to mid 50’s