Muskegon River Fishing Report – February 5, 2020 – Newaygo, Michigan

Muskegon River Fishing Report – February 5, 2020 – Newaygo, Michigan

A Gray Drake “cluster”….ready for a big ‘ol trout to go “GULP”!!

The Muskegon river fishing report for February 5, 2020 in the Newaygo, Michigan area kind of sounds like a “broken record” over the last month+.  With sustained high water and questionable fishing at times, it has literally been a “coin toss” of a winter season up to this point.  As river levels remain high, fish have all kinds of “lies” to call home on any given day and once the river returns to more normal flows, fish will once again take up their traditional mid-winter holding spots.   Click HERE for current Muskegon river water flow data.

With the month of January having quite mild weather for Michigan and February starting off the same, there are signs that the annual Muskegon river spring steelhead run may kick into gear a bit earlier than normal this year.  With both short and long range forecasts calling for rather atypical February weather, it’s only a matter of a couple weeks before it’s too late for any additional harsh winter weather.  Click HERE for current and forecasted weather for the Newaygo, Michigan area.

All that being said, there are some steelhead in the river to be caught, but you have to get out to catch them !  I will continue to run my half day “winter special” through the month of February, which is about 30% off the normal half day rate and I encourage any who are considering getting out yet this month, to touch base sooner than later…..I only have about 10 opening dates for February.

Once on the river, we can use fly fishing or conventional equipment, to pursue not only resident Brown and Rainbow trout, but also migratory steelhead who are either wintering over in the river, or recently trickled in from lake Michigan.  By targeting key runs, we employ the old adage of “fish smarter, not harder” for such cold water, mid winter fishing.

It won’t be long before more signs of spring come rolling in and many anglers will be looking to scratch that fishing itch, so to speak, starting with spring steelhead, followed by our BEST dry fly fishing of the year on the Muskegon river – late May to late June – and then onto smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye for late June, July and August.  

***Addition to summer fishing options – I will be doing some July and August hopper/terrestrial fishing on the Pere Marquette river this year and encourage any who haven’t tried that, to give it some consideration.  With my new 15′ Stealthcraft drift boat, I will have much better access to the upper reaches of the Pere Marquette, specifically the “flies only” section.

As always, for any who are considering getting out on their own in the near future for some walk in fishing on the Muskegon,  Rogue, White or Pere Marquette rivers, don’t hesitate to call for a current report – 616-560-3195.  If I don’t have first hand information, I will touch base with those who most likely will and collectively, will get you the best report possible.

Lastly, I have some open dates in March for spring steelhead fishing, but not many and they won’t last long….if interested, touch base by phone or email.

Happy Fishing !