Muskegon River Fishing Report – February 24, 2018 – Newaygo, Michigan

Many who travel in/around the Grand Rapids area know this bridge and the intersection it’s next to. This is West River Dr bridge, at East Beltline/Northland Ave, on the north side of Grand Rapids. I fish this part of the Grand river often in the summer for Smallmouth bass and Northern pike and run my 18′ jet sled underneath this bridge, with room to spare !

The Muskegon river fishing report for February 24, 2018 in the Newaygo, Michigan area is not much about fishing, but still about the massive flooding that’s happening not only in west Michigan, but all over the state.

With very heavy rains for 2+ days throughout the Midwest, coupled with 50+ degree temperatures, we saw rain and snow melt bring more water into the rivers than they could handle.  As a result, floods have dominated the news and this will surely change how our early spring season will kick off over the next  month.

Muskegon river water levels are dropping now and should slowly continue to in the days ahead.   Despite river temperatures still being cold, I would imagine that with THAT much water coming out of the mouth at Muskegon lake, we’ll see some new steelhead come in from lake Michigan.

Typically, when such big mid to late winter fluctuations in river levels occur, fish will take refuge in softer water and then return to their primary “lies” once levels come down.

Present water temperature in the 33-34 degree range.