Muskegon River Fishing Report – February 24, 2021 – Newaygo, Michigan

Muskegon River Fishing Report – February 24, 2021 – Newaygo, Michigan

Some new streamers to taunt Muskegon river trout with !

The Muskegon river fishing report for February 24, 2021 in the Newaygo, Michigan area is all about the unusually warm weather that has come into the Midwest in recent days and the significant snow melt and runoff that’s happening now.

Unseasonably warm weather finds most of Michigan well above freezing for the last couple days and the warmer weather is forecasted to stick around for a number of days.  Click HERE for current and forecasted weather for the Newaygo, Michigan area.

Even with all the melting snow, the Muskegon river is running below average flows at this time and remains cold, with temperatures yesterday being in the 33-34 degree range.  Click HERE for current Muskegon river water flow data.  This delay in seeing the river conditions change is common due to how long the Muskegon river is and the fact that “new water” has to make it through 3 dams and reservoirs, before getting down stream of Croton dam.  It typically takes anywhere from 2-4 days following such a melt and runoff, before we’ll see river conditions change below Croton dam.

My brief outing yesterday was for boat maintenance, as well as equipment check and not fishing, but I did come across a few steelhead in likely “winter lies”.   Most of the steelhead I saw were darker in color and this means they’ve been in the river for a while.

Upcoming outings will find me fishing both conventional and fly fishing setups and we’ll target those same winter lies that I saw fish in yesterday.  The river is still running VERY clear, so stealth will be the focus with our upcoming fishing.  This translates to lighter tippet, more sparse flies, egg imitations and general attractor patterns, fished meticulously through key runs.

We’re not far from March, which is THE month that things start to happen on the Muskegon river with our spring steelhead run.  Once river temperatures start to rise, we’ll see steelhead come in from lake Michigan on their annual spawning run.  Trout will be eager for their arrival as well, as they bring easy meals to the resident Brown and Rainbow trout in the form of steelhead eggs and insects that get kicked up during the spawning process.

Should anyone be looking to get out in the near future for some walk in-wade fishing on their own and would like a current report, feel free to call or email.  My number is 616-560-3195 and email address can be found under the contact button on this site.

Lastly, I am down to 3 open dates for the 2021 spring steelhead run as of now and prime early trout-dry fly dates from late May – early June are going quickly as well.

Enjoy the nice weather and good fishing if you head out !

Jeff